Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-08-19

DEATH OF CHARLES HENRY C. Wat.

AT the carly ago Of sixteen ycsr..,a and .. half
this gallant youth attached, hilnself tys Co. e.,
Capt. A. P. Butter, 1st Reg. 8. G v, Col. Gregg,
subsequently Col. Hamilton, In August1 1881:
. Private WAITE Wa. the eldest non If Mr.. 'DA-
y1p WARE and Mrs, A, A.. WArx, of this District.
In his thirteenth yesr he ~prsfcssea convsrsisn,
and in his sixteenth year no united with the sis-
sr Springs Baptist Church,.of which no eontin-
.ued q brilliant ornament 10 tho day Of bis death.
At tho battle OF Mechaniosville he received 81
slight wound in the neck, and WIS requested, by
SOME Of his comrades to rotire from the Regi-
mont, which he refused to do, saying that he was
able and willing to remain at his postof dutJ,
which he did and performed hisSParss faithfolyj
fearlessly a1d nObly.
He passed unsasthed through. the battles Of
Cold Harbor, Savage ststisn, Malvern I'LL, So
oond Mlnassns, Or Hill, Shnrpsbury. Shsppards-
town, fredericksburg and ChancoilcrviAc Both
officers and men testify to his uuainching courage
in all Of these grcat Engagements. But in tho.
bxttle Of Gettysburg, July 1st, be received ase.
once that night.
We hazard nothing in saying that . -brarsr
soldier, pursr patriot and more Devoted Chrtstjsn
has not.deseended to the tomb at The hands Of our
relentless fnes since the commencement Of this
unhappy war.
To name hi,. was t. praise"
Would to God that all the youth Of our coun.
try would emulate, his bright example, bath Of
piety aud Of patriotism. Ills admiration Of the
Christian and heroic character Of the lamented
| S~tonowall Jackson Was unboundsd. k.highly
respectable gentleman Of this District, yisited the
army Of Northern Virsinix last winter to whom
Captain Butler said, "Tell Mr.. aud Mrs. Wxte
tat they have two noble boya {C4kRLxY and
'ruoMAs} ID my Company; th.y give ne IA
trouble they are twoo Of my best soldiers, and are
always at their post rssdy aud willing to'esocats-
any order" 49,
Heaven aud Eartb, that no prayed daily with his
mess, invoking the Divine blessing on the glorious
cause of our country
Before joining tho Army he told his mother
that be wished to do so, but at first she opposed
it on account Of hi. youth. lie however reasoned
tho case dispassionately and %senaibly, sud said
~ DO not think it right TO remain at home while
others arc fighting the battlcs Of my injured
ceuntry,"-an6 made other similar remarks. His
argument prevailed, and hts mother consented.
lie then said to Der seriously, do you think |
will ever return" Sae replied !" [ don't know"
/" Wcll," continued lie, al do not s1pecrSOvert to
return aa.in, but if I die in the camp, or fall on
the batIie field, you must MT weep ur grieve for
me. I will cheerfully and willingly give my life for
the achievement of Southern independence" Hs
then made made q statement. on paper what dis
tribution be dosirsd made of the little property
he possessed, in due time. babe the family faro
we'll, and started ON his patriotic mission never
again to return to the home Of his ohildhUoa.
While in the nrmy no wrote many m ction.to lpt-
tors 10 his father, mother, and youngest brother,
10 one OF with he stated rhAt be had rather pass
safely through the war and return to his native
Stsrs, but if the reverse was the WILL of God, he
had r, ther die in the army Of Northern Virginia
than anywhere elsc. IL another letter to bis pa
/ rents he says, "When I left you and came out
here it was to save my country, or give NY lite in
her Defence and if I mnrt die, and could nnre my
choice, l would rather it would be iu~the 1sid VI
battle
-h-se pstr;otis parsn.s eXclaim With.
one Of Gd,"W. WOULD not exchange our dead
SON Tor any living one in Christsnd3In" u in.S
with proprie.y. to sail Of this youthful martyr,
lie fell a gallant soldier # his country and rose 3
triumphant so!aier Of tho Crors he fell in tho
sacred cause OF freedom, and biz noble memory
is cmbnimtd in the husrts Of his NUMEROUS friends.
"Neep not for hin,-hc passed away
Like music on the sea
When W We to answering wave impnrs
Tn. dying melody;
Like rainbow huop that leave the earth
TO seek the fount that gave them birth.
Or the sweet cherub forms that bare
Thor bright wings to tho l"wer air.
% /! rather gire toy :-nrs to'shose
Der whom long life its shadow throws,
Whose carcs and srisfs and folies mast
Weigh down their spirits to the dust"
r Moe.