The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-23
voices Heard softembefore amid tile fire?

voices Heard often before amid tile fire.
and rising high above the din of bstt!IAa?a
These sights and these sounds have
stirred mylheart to its Depths md I
would not I.cannot, go hence without
extending to my dear old comrades in
arms one word OF cordial and HEARTFELT
greeting. Men of my 2old command,
brave soldiers, true friends, you know
that have not forgotten. you; looking
into your own hearts, you feel that can
never do this.r The ties that bi nd me, to
you are craven on my heart with a., pen
OF fire. Looking on you again, after
years OF absence, memory, carries me
back to those years Of 'heroicstfife, when
it was my pride to lead you Z recall
with the profoundest emotions, your
deep suffering, your constant priyations,
your dauntless courage, your devoted
service, your cheerless 5ivduac amid the
SHOWS . Of Virginia, your trusty picket
posts on the Potomac and the Kappa
hammock, your solitary watch fires which
have blazed ON nearly every hill and val
your battle-fields which stretched from
Gettysburg to the Savannah, ali crowd
on my memory as I stand among Won
once more. recall to that scene in the
dark woods of North Carolina-who of
you has forgotten it-where, rs the ear.
llest rays Of the last sum that shone on
the Southern Confederacy, lighted up
the forest. the old "First Brigade"
always in the fght-first in all noble ac
tions and honorable enterprises-fir
everywhere, save in retrent, werc mar
shaled before me for the last time. The
banners they had borne SO often proudly
to victory, were furled-the sabres which
were wont always to CLEAN in the front
OF battle, hung idly in their scebbards.
and instead ofqthe glad shouts which
used to herald the welcome approach of
battle, in deep silence, with detected
conntenances u dropping figures, the
men clustered around me to saw and hear
that saddest OF words, ''farewell!' while
on many, many q cheek, bronzed by the
smoke OK more an hundred battle
neids' the SIG ar told more eloquent
~ than words Id do. how derp was
the affection ound us together.
These recoll as come tbicl, ami fost
as greet agaA gallant old soldiers
OF georgia, andS ould be false to you
and false to evef Astinct of my nature
were MOTTO fore, this audience
OF your klndr Se the virtue, tho
lnteilect, the ye4h, the manhood,
and beauty OF h's!noble State arc SO
largely repres| Ed. willing and heart.
ielt testimony to those high soldierly
qualities whiah made your career in orr
noble army OF heroes, second to nono
You will pardon, Mr.. President. I
trust. this DEPRESSION from my legitimate
theme, when you consider how strono are
the ties with which men, who have for
years shared together common DANCERS.
comn.on sorrows and common glories are
bound to each other, and even those who
were once our foes can sympathize, I am
sure, with the feelings which prompt an
old commander to yield just tribute OF
praise to the brave men who once follow
ed him. 10 you, my old friends, beg
to otter few words of counsel, for I feel
that can speak to you with authority;
not that authority with which accident
once invested me, but that given by af-
iectlon: In by-gone years, you never
refused to hear me; never called on
you In vain; I meyer appealed to YOU
that you did not respond, and I would
tnin hope that my words will not now fall
unheeded on your ears. Let, me adiure
You, then, to be true soldiers in the cause
OF peace, f,s you were in that of war.
dedicate yourselves to the service of
your State, and aid in advancing her in
the noble career she is entering. March
on bravely in.the line duty points out.
shoulder to shoulder, as you ,used to do
amid the roar of battle. Resort to no
violence to redress public wrong, but
seek to refiiedy them by peaceful ngcn-
cies. Help epch other along the path of
life; extend the kindly hand, of charity
to your disabled comrades, and forget
not the widows and orphans of your dead
brothers. For myself, 1 ask you to keep
place for me in your hoarts, as shall
do for yon in mine, and believe that |
utter no idle phrase, when 1 say, that I
pray God to keep and bless you.
Solomons' Bittera.