The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-02
IN MEAORIAM.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT BRYCE.

The subject of this sketch the third son OF the
late Peter Bryce, Esq, of Columbia s. c. He devoted
two or three years to ssdy in the Citadel Academy,
Charleston, where he imbibed rs all do who have
been so fortunate have had any connection with
that admirable institution acknowledge and taste for
military tactics which amer distinguish them
through hfe year previous to the breaking out OF
the present difficulties with the United States Govern
ment, he removed to Charlotte, n c. for the purpose
OF engaging in mercantile pursuits with his older bro
ther, Col J. Y. Bryce Not long AFTER however the
State with which he cast his lot CALAMITY defined
and took her position ranging herself by the side of
her Southern sisters in opposition TO Federal msrule
family of military age have done, he enrolled himself
in one of the first compspies tho "Hornets Nest" In
the LIST Regiment N. @. State Troops under the COM
mand of that gallant and meritoriOus officer Col d. H.
Hill (now Gen. Hill) He served during the whole or
greater part of the period Of his enlistment the
Peninsula, in front OF Fortress Monroe where amidst
difficulties of no ordinary kind, such the extensive
prevalence OF intermitnnt and typhoid fevers few
regiments, under command of Gen. MRgruder met and
repulsed with heavy loss TO the enemy, 1T Bethel
Church. vastly superior force under command of Gen
(be"st) Butler This was, up TO that PERIOD the heayi
est conflict Of the The troops although for the
most part and undiscp lined acquitted themselves
to the satisfaction Of the commanding general and the
country nj large aud the general results OF the battle
gave an anmating and highly encouraging feeling 10
the army and country everywhere.
Upon the close of this campaign, the period OF en-
listment of his Regiment having expired, he returned
home with constitution never robust, but much
broken down from active service in IA unfrendly
cmate Durlng TINS short period of absence from the
army IN the vain hope of recruiting his health he suf
fered two or three violent separate attacks of typhoid
fever, which greatly Frustrated him and occasioned
serious fears amongst his friends of his ultimate recov
cry. Animated, however, by that indomtable spirit
which is characteristic Of the young Of his native
State, he could not remain inactive, but in conjunc-
ton with an elder and younger brother and others,
they lost no time in organizing fine cavalry corps Ia
Charlotte, C., and in The neighboring country which
tEey attached to the Cavalry Regiment OF CoTFerebee
one of the finest regiments in the army o. the Potomac
In this service his company actively aud eff
fcieny engaged for the past eighteen months the
neighborhood of Goldsboro and Winston N. C.. and
Suffolk, Va. When some six months ago, having been
transferred to the body of he army on the 22d
OF September last his regiment became engaged IN the
battle of Jacks Shop, where he was MORALLY wounded
and taken prisoner. After receiving his wound, he
sought shelter ina country house, where he cap
tnred, and under pretext that the wound compar
atively slight Federal Surgeon, who with the
Yankee FORCES extracted the ball and hustled him into
an ambulance, Notwithstanding the entreaes and i'm
poruuites Of the ladies of the house where he took
shelter to permit him 10 remain he cruelty hurri-
ed off Culpcper Courthouse, then in possession of
the vandal foe. He arrived there the next day In
State OF insensbility, and never spake There
he occupies, for the present, a soldiers grave SO
Marked however that his friends have hope at soms
not distant day. of retaining his remains and having
them brought back to the bosom ofhs native soil and
laid beside those relatives whom he dearly loved
Thus has terminated the life and career brief though
be, of one OF the best spirits of the land. Such in
deed the short but melancholy history of thousands
of Carolinas best sons. Within two short days OF
each other, the cousins Robert Power Bryce, on the
goth September, 1863, modesty but vaanty gave his
life to his country the ensanguined battle field OF
Chicamauga; and on the ed September, 1863 only
two days after, his cousin, Robert Bryce yielded his
spirit to his God and his life 10 the sacred OF his
country the historic streams Of the Rapidsn. He
had just completed his Gath year.
OF his individuality much need not be said. His
tive modesty always inclined him to shun notoriey
He never was happy when contributing to the
happiness and enjoyment Of others. Honor and in
tegry distinguished his character, thnt the slight
est imputaion Of want of either never known TO
have been even insnuated against him. Unselsh and
retiring in an eminent degree those only who had the
happiness to know him could duly appreciate him.
To those relatives and friends who survive him,
who know him well, and who estimated him at his
true worth, the writer needs do more than point
them to the consultations sprnging from the contem-
pation of all his manly virtues and qualities that he
lived in the discharge of every social duty and last
laid down his life willing sacrifice tie altar Of bis
country. SSH+