Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-09
THE PALMETTO REGIMENT.

THE PALMETTO REGIMENT.
We have received. SAYS the Charleston Standard,
from Messrs. S. g. Courtenay & Co., copy of the
Address delivered by General Samuel McGowan, be-
fore the Palmetto Association at the celebration OF
is first anniversary, on the l4th Of May last is
an able, eloquent and appropriate production, and
we take pleasure in laying before our readers SO
much of it as our space will permit:
"The Palmetto Regiment was also remarkable tor
the materal-the character Of the men-of which
it was composed The war with Mexico has proved,
beyond all question, that citizen soldiers may be re-
lied on as sure national defense, and that the re-
publican principle of opposition to large standing
armies. is not only economical, but practical and
safe-that it does not necessarily result, as has
sometimes been supposed, in confusion, and military
weakness. Some of the greatest battles in Mexico
were Tough, and won principally by volunteers. But
it is also true, that the learning of the military pro-
esson is Indispensable that yalor is comparatively
impotent without skillful direction The scientific
knowledge of the officers Of our little regular army
was apparent in all the operations of the war. In
our Judgment It is impossible to over-estimate the
Importance of,the West Point Military Academy, as
a school for the education of limited number of
officers, who may keep pace with the Improvements
in their profession, and always be ready to direct
the patriotic efforts of the of their fellow
citizens. A true history of the war would serve to
remove the jealousy with which the regular officer
looks upon undisciplined, but patriotic troops; and
also bring shame upon those scrblers who, Pretend
ing to give true accounts of battles won by the com
mon efforts of ALL carefully ignore the most gallant
services of the volunteers, bat never let an opportu
nifty pass to magnify the exploits ofthe regular soldier
The volunteers were soldiers from choice-not
from necessity. In going to the wars they were not
following profession, seeking the means of v-
ing; but were moved by patriotism, and love OF
eory The privates not inferior to the officers,
whom they elected from their number Many
of the best names, and much of the best blood of
South Carolina went through the campaign in the
ranks The patriotic volunteer soldier deserves
more credit than his officers, because he endures
greater privations and fights with less chance Of
honorable distinction As the whole Regiment was
COMPOSED of such material, it would be invdious to
make particular reference to the personal services
of any number of them. 1t would be impossible to
do So without committing the great sin of injustice,
either by omission or commission The Regiment
won laurels enough to encircle the brows of all its
members and there should be no partial preference
in the division of those honorS.
But surely we cannot be upon doubtful ground,
if we aude very briefly, to some of the departed
brave who fell far away from those who were near
est and dearest to their hearts; who have fought
their last battle and are alike nSensble to
praise and blame The fortunate survivors are still
among Ms They have their reward in the thanks
and honors of their grateful countrvmen and no.
thing that we could say would either stimulate, or
heighten the just appreciation of their merit. We
see no reason, however, why should withhold
our humble mention from the dead There is to us,
sweet sentiment in the very plain but appropriate
monument, which stands yonder hill in front of
the Capitol-the emblem tree, eponym of their State
and device of their banner in honor of which they
poured forth their blood-inscribed simply with the
names of the dead of the Palmetto Regiment. In
reference to the cold tenants of the tomb whose
names thus constitute their only eptaph, there
eloouence in silence, which speaks their culpgium
et-tongued.
"Solier rest thy warfare DER,
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,
Morn of toll, nor night of waking.
:: There was the noble chief, the father Of his Reg
ment, bearing name honorably distinguished
throug hout the revolution, identified with every
since our independence and brimfu of every asso-
citation connected with chivalry; name which can
not be heard without exciting sentiments of honor
and patriotisn-Pierce NJ. Butler. He not in
the State when he was elected Colonel. 1t was I'M
derstood that he about to return from the west
where he had been engaged in some service of the
General Government, and, without solicitation upon
his part he elected, believe unanimously
Colonel of The Palmetto Regiment. better seec-
ton could not have been made He was by name,
by education, and by nature, soldier He had
been officer in the army. he had fought calamity
in Florida, and he had been Governor of the State
He brought with him age, experience end character,
and he devoted all to the service of the Regiment
when he was called to The command of that Regi-
ment he resolved to return with it in glory per
ish. No one could mistake his manner when he
received the flag which he loved so we'll from the
hands Of the Mayor of Charleston. There was a
tone in that clarion voice, and fire in that eye
which plainly promised
With il when the battles done;
Or, on it, from the field
There was one sentiment which inspired him
throughout the campaign, and which. upon every
occasion of peril, spoke forth in eloquent harangucs
to his Regiment. He would say that South Carolina
had always claimed character for spirit and had
sometimes been tainted as the chivalry," THAT
the Regiment bore her ens gn and her honor, and
that they must perish-perish to man-rather
than have her bright escutcheon furnished by any
act Of theirs. He succeeded eminently in breathing
his spirit of intense State pride and patriotism
into his Regiment, and the result is known
From the commencement of the campaign Col
Butler in bad health. His frame was shattered
by complication of diseases, which were aggrava-
ted by the exposure of camp life; but he was ever
at his post. He shrunk from no service, and actu
ally courted danger with the enthusiasm of lover
When he was unable to march, he had himself car
rled on an ambulance, which might always be seer
moving near the head of the Palnettoes On the
nineteenth of August he quite indisposed, bu
when Shields Brigade ordered to JOIN the forces
on Nalencias left he mounted his horse and led tn,
Regiment through the pedrgal on that terrible night
Inc ram eli in cold torrents yet he toed through
Egyptian darkness over volcanic rocks and rugged
chasms, the greater part Ct the night and before
dawn of the glorious twentieth was at his post t,
assist in the bloody rout of Contreras. He mas man
aged to get his horse-old Roan-over the pedigral
and on him, he kept with his Regiment in the no
pursuit towards Mexico. 1t now half past tw,
o'clock in the afternoon; the day was very sutr,
after the storm of the night BEFORE one had eat
en- anything for nearly twenty-four hours, except
few apples which had been plucked by the way
side; Col. Butler was resting for few moments, an
perhaps endeavo-ing to get something to eat in tn
hamlet Of San Angel, when the firing commenced i