Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-14
0riginaI Dgpers.
TpUpLrsnrD pr aEQvrsr.l

SN"thoih hNPSHNthb OuhldSt Pluu'"S
adieu to home aud friends, when starting
Tor the war:
The time has at last arrived when we must
bid farewell to all the endearments of
loved home. Yes, We must bid adieu to
all our friends and relations 1--we are going
TO fight for them as well as for aprselyes.
With tie bold step OF a soldier we viii
march wherever We see we are needed -
Those bills and dales which We have tray
elcd when in youth, and which are even
nov fresh in our memory, will soon grow
dim. All this we have thought Of, bit
still it does not keep US from going. Yes,
and our mo hers will anxiously await until
at some lone hour when she NAV hear at
her cottage coor the footsteps Of her sol
dicr boy. But still this may be in vain.-
Many Of us, perhaps, may never return
II Sc 90 not, and our lives will avail any
thing for this loved land, they are freely
given. Our foot prints here will soon grow
dim and be obterated, then fathers aud
mothers will begin to think, where is my
loved boyl Yes, sud when the tap Of our
drum shall be heard ~ tic distance aud
Il shall echo from valley to mountain top,
then you will think where is my loved
boy Those Young men who do not feel
disposed TO 70 with us. let them stay in
ease aud comfort, unharmUd and unlno-
Tested.
Fellow so1iers, let MS 90! Let never
the finger Of Indignation aud contempt be
pointed ut us, when it is said you did not
fight for the liberties you enjoy. 1t is a
cause in which we ali should be engaged,
we are not Mt all the aggressors. The Con.
federate States Of America have declared
their indcpeudence-thc Lave assumed
among the powers of the earth that scpa--
rate and equal station "to which the laws
OF Nature and Of Natures God entitled
them" Upon tic issue Of this contest
hangs not only our destiny but the hopes
Of the friends Of tree government through
out the earth. IL is no longeF question
OF redress grievances, but one of personal
and natural freedom. And this Young re
public of the new world is about TO enter
the lists and measure arms with one of the
6TTfiet eafrtifffi -ntqst,, poyerhI eGayerRalepts
us in the contest that will be maintained
by the wise and good Of all nations. The
noble deeds YOU may perform upon the
battle field will not only win for you laurel.
in youth, but garauds in age. Noble
achievements upon the battle field viii
mark YOU ont ms q model of courage, en-
ergy and decision. Your presence here
ma be missing, but your name will neve
die.
We are fighting III good cause and un
der glorious banner whose motto is in.
scribcd upon It's bars" God aud our Ma
tive Land" Yes brave soldiers, let MS 9
TO the battle field. North Carolina bloc
has been shed. She was slow in going on
of the Union but she got ont time enoug
to fight the first battle, and proud am | t
saw that am native Of North Carolin;
Here | was born aud reared, and here
expect to die, unless my life blood is poure
out in defence OF my country, and in re
sistibr Abe Lincoln and his muions.
Fellow soldiers, our time here is CROWN
short we must soon leave those brigf
faces. perhaps To- see them no more. w
know that your sympathies are with u
by the kindness you have shown for IL
few past weeks. We know not VIII
words to employ to express our gratitud
and how fully to appreciate your numero
f,yers. But when in our distant camE
and there shall receive our ratons per da
aud have the cold earth for our beds, tn,
we can realize those comforts that y'
have bestowed upon us. Aud the brig
sun that shines with spIendor over Il
wide earth, when we are gone and a
fphting for independence, we can see it
30 can you--though we cagnot see ca
~ other. Aud il il sh III be our lot to ia
\. hen death Is drawing its gloomy veil ov
oar eyes, thea we will think of the low
ones left hehnd.
n Our'honors viii cluster around that fl
that will never be lowered TO mortal foe
whether it lifts to heaven its gllttcring st;
oG freedom OF rolls out to the wind
blended bars whether it rustles to t
hrcezes OF the Atlantic or dalIies with t
: phyrs OF the Pacfc--whether it rust
over some bristing rampant orsthc dot
of our Capitol--it cannot be seen, it ca
not be hoisted, neither in the present he
of sorrow nor vet in the roll of far
aIes, WltnOul lelllS vi VIC hcioI pdli
and statesman.
The houors OF war are terrible! A
hard fought battle, no gentle sister
he present to weep over us; no soft b;
will lie there TO ease the dying posture
to bind mp the wounds that were g,ver
the maddening Jury Of the combat III
death spreads It's pale ensign over ev
conntenanee. When night comes on
darkness gathers around, how man
loved one must take up the bloody hel
the bed of his last sufferiDgs, without
friend to bear the message Of tendernes
his distant home, without one compaI
to close his eyes. Fellow soldiers,
shall be our lot TO fall, as our last br
hopes arc fading, and the last spark OF
is being extinguished, let us fall with
recollection that our skirts are unsta
with dishonor.
And il this kind people should shed
tear over our departure, let it 60 to lig
the sorrows Of the poor soldiers who
fighting in defcuce of your country.
0. Ii.