Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-06-29


them had bled, they manfully endured ev-
cry trial. and heroically confronted every
peril. They were scantily fed, they we're
poorly clad, they were often ineficientIy
armed, yet amid tho SHOWS Of Virginia
winters, amid the deadly malaria Of Caro-
lima swamps, amid the bleak winds that
sweep our ocean shore, amid the burning
heats Of Mississippi, amid the bayous and
| wilds Of the for West. in labors and watch
ings, in hunger, uakelness and cold. in the
dreary trenches, on the exhausting march,
and on the red field Of carnage and death.
they attested their fidelity TO cause whicA
was common to them and us. Who Of US
in this concourse which was spontaneously
poured forth, not as a triumphal procession
with floating banners and clashing Gym
balls, but as a community of stricken mour.
ners-who ofus can forget the Little worn
out handful Of heroes that Oh this day four
years ago stood an immovaJle breastwork
before this city, and met and broke the
thunder.clond which bust upon them
IN fury with that mornings carli-
est light9 Who of us can forget the gal
'ant men who fell amidst tempest of
fire, and hail of iron, at Wagner and
at SUMTER Who of US can forge.
those who saturated with their blood the
fields Of James Island, Johns Islan], POGO
taligo, and Coosa whatchiol Noble old
city; poor as she is, she is rich in such
memories as these. Torn, afflicted, impov-
erished sho may be, but none can wrest
from her the inheritance Of that immortal
Legacy which was bequeathed her by her
dying sons. The crown has fallen from
her quoeny brow, and she sits in dust and
ashes, but there are still left, in her dead
and living children, Costly and g'ittering
jewels which blaze upon her bosom, and
are pressed with ineffable fondness to her
breast. Our brethren fought and bled,
and died, AS vicarious sufferers on our be-
half. Our profoundest gratitude is, there
fore, due them; and every generous emo-
sion Of our natures inpels us to do what
we can, consistently with our present rela--
tions and duties, to honor their memories
and to consecrato their names. Their
spirits have passed from amongst us, but
their graves are with US; and, although
we may not lay upon them the laurel gar
f,f 1ct,,
place upon them the tokens of our indy
ing gratitude, and our quenchess love.
1t would be as idle as it would be uncan-
did to deny that in performing this office in
memory OF our dead, we offer silent pro-
test which, however feeble and useless it
may appear, is still solemuly rendered
against the judgment which would con-
sign them to infamy as the perpetrators of
unnatural and monstrous crimes. Let
Others say what they may, it is not in our
natures to regard as criminals those whom
revered and loved as our fathers, husbands,
brothers and sons, and who freely yielded
up their lives for principle which we deem
ed worthy even of suoh sacrifice. We
would be guilty Of grossest consistency with
ourselves, and OF deepest injustice to them,
did we refuse to do them such honor as it
's possible in our circumstance to pay.
We cannot frame our speech to pronouno Q
augbt but blessings upon their names and
paIs'ed W ould BIZ our tongues should they
ever be schooled to utter syllable Of re-
proach upon their memories. Were it so
that we were required to do it. our answer
must need be, by Gods help We cannot.
Better, far better, in that ease, would it be
for US to say of our dead oountrymen, as the
great Roman poet makes his hero exclaim Of
his Happy. thrice happy they, to who m it
was allotted to die before the faces Of the
fathers" and to look forward to the
hope Of sharing their graves as the last, the
only consolation that would be left Us,
The world, which has misunderstood US in
the past. and which misunderstauds US
now, may withhold from the soldiers OF an.
il!-starred country the need of praise for
the performance ofheroio deeds: It is ours
we cannot help it. It is ours to repea,
their names with a8setionate vspsration--
to oherish them in our hearts, apd to bold
them in everlasting rsmembrance ss the
symbols~ of every. quality which we are
wont to honor as noble, brave and
true. The great and good Jackson
never could have obsen q leader of
.oonspirators, outlaws and .bsudist.-
His Efs--and it|was: one Of those
bright and glorious visona wRRsnuh once Be-