Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-17

enjoy; and, if at any time he did not fare just as
well with Us as he would have done in his mothers
house, il was because we were compelled occasion
ally to remove him on the armys changing posi- :
ton, when the condition of his wound would have
required perfect quiet and repose. But my purse
and the purses of many other officers were his
own for the procurement of his necessaries, and
for the qualification even Of his veriest caprices.
A mothers tenderness would have done but little
more than was done by his sympathizing comrades
in arms to aay his anguish and to soothe his dis
quieted spirits.
: When he died, Dr. Bland, Capt. Cantey, myself,
and other friends after consultation determined TO-
have the best leaden coffin prepared for him. Hill
larry Cooper, man from my company, was permit
ted to do the work, and Dr.. Bland paid him for y
the sum of one hundred dollars Such was his
treatment at our hands. When we resolved to
Send Lieut.. Moragne home on.account Of his SICK
ness, and some other men on. ACCOUNT of Their ,
wounds and sickness, and as assistants TO those
who could not help themselves, the body Of Brooks
was sent along with them, under the charge, not
only of Joe, but of others whose duty it was to
attend to its transportation. However, from some
neglect or nadvertence Of the escort the body was
left at Vera Cruz, and the faithful Joe delivered
himself to the ,Oido,oed mother Of young Brooks,
whose husband, through the mercies Of God was
still liping. Some time afterwards. through other
agencies, the bodies of Brooks and Of others were
conveyed safely to their mourning relatives and
friends in South Carolina, and inferred in the bo-
som of their State, with all the Circumstance be-
fitting their noble career and honored deaths.
What induces me to speak out 50 fully in reply
to an inflated but apparently harmless narrative,
such as has no equal for its touching pathos " in
legendary annals,"-(I agree fully that it has no
match a in classic story, Y, is that have felt ag-
greved in the premises. This is not the first time
that have heard Of the melancholy deprivation
of young Brooks in his dying moments. was
then the commander Of his company, and know
discharged my duty. No idle story - TO split
the ears Of the groundngs, shall therefore cause
me to remain mute, and suffer my good name to
bc tainted by the breath Of fiction. n 3f 8
Poor Old Joel Iwould not deny him; fun praise
for his affectionate devotion TO his young master,
nor for all his share Of the hardships of the memo
rable struggle in which he bore his part; high
ly as appreciate his good conduct I,would most
positively aver that II be was ever in sight, hear
ing or smell of the thing the Honorable gentle
man denominatcs " the hot ignition Of stratagem,"
he was just then occupying about as small space
of earth, air or water, and was generally as ur-
happy and as uncomfortably situated, as the live
liest imagination could conceive Blessings and
honor on the names, and the names Of Whitfield
B. Brooks ianid his honored brother, Preston 8.
Brooks for they were both high specimens of
men-gaIlant and brave; but am not yet SO fond
of romance as to submit to the apotheosis Of
common negro, who feared 5he reports Of firearms
as the ceilings of so many shapes hot from Tar
tarus." never saw but one negro DeityHaad
that was an ink-black Jesus in church at Faebla,
arrayed upon cross in desecration Of the religion
Of Christ and in devilsh mockery Of his most sa-
cred worship. 4s, ~. -
It is with pain and regret unaffected, that have
been called upon to controvert any Of the remarks
Of Mr. Keitt should hate to give him grounds
of offence really esteem him. He is honora-
Bile and poetical, at least so much of him as lean
see. He is imbued with much chiyalry and pat
rotism; but his best friends must concedc that lle
is occasionally so eucompassed about by cloud,
(you may call it fancy, vapor, smoke, fire, or what
|gon;wm) hat his propef form siormeaa.s
ing can at all times DO well discemed. Nothing l
have said of him though, I own, has been uttered
in spirit of fault finding, but always in admira-
ton Of and in Difference to his versatile talents his
lively wit, and varied high accomplishments,
But the Honorable Gentleman intimates, that be
obtained his information from Col. Preston s.
Brooks, who for time was the commander Of our
company. Yet, if so, his friend Col. Brooks nust
have derived his knowledge from third person,
for when be got permission to return to- the army
from the recruiting service, all the battles were
| over and negotiations for peace were in active
| progress. .<.l :.
There is another mistake wish to recty here, not
for the purpose Of dctracng from the well.merited
renown of any Of my companions in arms. God
knows, for their conduct was too conspicuous. 10
bear detraction from any one, if it were attempted
The reply of Col. Butler to the intcrrogatory OF
Gen. Shields, at Chu ubusco, on the eve Of the last
| charge of our Regiment, was an indignant reply
not reply intended to eyince any particular brave
ry. Such was the reply Of all Others who spoke OF
responded on the occasion, and their name was
legion. It was though, ill-timed and ungraeious in
Gen. Shields 10 ask such question, when the
whole Regiment, for sometime, had been clamorous
to charge, and to mingle in deadly encounter with
the. men, who were so surely destroying them from
safe retreat inaccessible to the fire of muskery.
For several minutes before the final order was given
could hear nothing all along the lines Of the Pal
metto Regiment, but the imploring cry, For
Gods sake let us chargep' :" Let us charge"
This can attest and verify; ior feeling oil the
anxiety that the others felt to sell my life as dearly
as possible, nevertheless thought the mpatience.
manifested to charge, indicated rather too much
uneasiness, in view Of death, which then seemed
inevitable; and had just been rebuking soneof
the men near me, telling them that their deport-
ment did not reach the very highest standard OF the
soldier, who in perfect trust and obedience to the
commands of his superiors, and in quiet submls-
sion to his fate, met his last end with camness and
composure remember that ut that awful mo-
ment, either discovered myself or was informed
by soldier, that the Mexican Cavalry were aP-
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