Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-09-26
For the YorkvIllc Enquirer.

For the YorkvIllc Enquirer.
iNcssrs. Editors would congratulate
you upon the late accession to your list of
Army Correspondents, in the person OF
"Jasper." It was we'll known, that he has
the tongue of an orator. have myself,
with great delight listened to his words of
impassioned, burning eloquence. In his
late communication to the "ENoUIRER, I"
he shows. that he can also WELD racy,
graphic pen. l must confess, however, to
no small measure of surprise, that one SO
shrewd, as | know the writer to be, should
have 50 entirely Inexperienced the mean
ing and spirit of the author of the address
to Capt. McCorkle's Company. Heinsists,
that the speaker, in saying, "the imaglna-
tions of many, no doubt, invested the camp
with romance, sort of gala-day attire,
that made it attractive to many enthusiastic,
Youthful hearts," detracts somewhat from
the corps to which he belongs. 10 what
time, did the speaker refer? From the
sentence Immediately preceding the one
quoted, it Is manifest, that the reference
was not to the 18th of April, when Fort
Sumter was bombarded; nor to the first OF
June, when the 9Th Regiment set out for
Virginia, but to "the beginning of our con
test" that is to the close of last and the
first of the present year. Is it not true,
that then, ''the hope was very generally,
(not unioersaUy) entertained, that our diff
fculties might be adjusted without actual
bloodshed?' "Jasper," may have felt 9th
erwise. Is it not also true, that then, "the
imaginations of many (not alD invested the
camp with romance, sort of gaIa-day
attire, that made it attractive to many
enthusiastic, youthful hearts?" So that
for any thing that is said to the contrary,
the entire company of ''Jaspers'' may have
been an exception. 1t is evident at least,
that the remarks had no more alluslon to the
corps, to which my gallant young friend be-
longs, than to scores Of other companies. In
stead of being disposed to "lavish praise
upon the last Volunteers at the expense of
the first, it was really believed, the speaker
paid very high compliment-not to the
Jaspers exclusively, it is true-but to the
"York Volunteers" of the 9th Regiment,
by holding them up as an example for the
imitation IF Capt. McCorkle's Company
Their ulnds and hearts were not directed
ske the heroism of our fathers at Kings
Mountain, but they were reminded of the
additional responsibility Of sustaining the
reputation achieved for "Old York" by her
sons on the Plains of Manassas. They were
exhorted "to play the men, like those noble
sons of York who have been already tr'ed
in the tres-(of the enemy and the Missis
sippians o)-for our people aud for the
cities of our God" 1t is admitted, that
love is Jealous for the honor of the loved
object; but such praise as this, it would
seem, ought to have satisfied the most SEN
sitive, jealous spirit
In further vindcation of the motives OF
the speaker, l might tell, why he hurried
off to Virginia after the 2lst Of July. |
might speak of all that it was in his heart
TO do for the 9th Regiment; and which,
to the extent of his ability, he would have
accomplished, had it not pleased most
holy aud wise Providence to lay him aside
by sickness. | might also appeal to the
decided, enthusiastic testimony, which the
speaker, in the presence of a large assem-
bly, at York c. H. bore to the cool, deter
mined, & nching bravery oi the gallant
9th in their daring charge and terribly cx-
posed position on the memorable 2lst OF
July. | might also ada, that the author
of the address in the presence of three Re-
lief Associations said emphatically, that
our Virginia volunteers are worthy of the
highest esteem of their fellow citizens, and
that the ladies especially, could not love
them toe much, nor do too much for them.
1t may well, therefore, be imagined that
the author of the address was panied to see
that he was charged with detractlng aught
from the honor due the gallant "Jaspers u
If the speaker had been guilty of any in
Justice, | would most decidedly object tc
Jasper's making the last volunteers respon
sible for his wrong. They ..ave never, Sc
far as I know, boasted of themselves, mol
said anything in their own praise, hence II
is a matter of sincere regret, that Jasper
travels out of the record to add: 81 might
adduce motives ola far different character,
(from those stated by the author OF the ad
dress) (which might possibly have actuateo
them who volunteered last" We Will all
however, cheerfully excuse Jasper for the
little irritation, into which he suffered him
self to be betrayed on the grounds, that nj;
letter was written "hurriedly;" and proba'
bly, before he had recovered from the eff
fects of that long, wearisome, hazardous
march of 90 miles to the Potomac and back
again, "without sleep or rest" which must
have been very trying to one who had ST
recently had measles.
Hoping that Jasper may not suffer hi
easy, spirited pen to rust, but may emplo.
it often for the interest and instruction O
your readers,
am very truly yours, &c.