The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-13


Association. You cannot forget that th.
Washington Light Infantry owes il ex-
istenoe to the patriotic impulse which
called its, founders to repel foreign inya
sion, and made them resort to arms to
defend that liberty which their fathers
had achieved. Need recall to your
memory the name of your first captain
"a name justly dear to every Caro-.
linian's heart, honored wherever integ-
rity Of purpose, purity of life, or powe,
OF intellect, are esteemed-the name OF
one, of whom Henry Clay said "OfaA
the mon 1 have ever kno,on, the best man
the acisest, the purest, and the Creates
statesman ,oas IVillian, Lowaades." On
the roll of your Company, illustrated
first by this great name, are to be found
many others worthily distinguished in
the annals of our State, fit successors Of
your illustrious captain. Nor need you
fear to place the record you made for
yourselves during the late war by the
side of that of any other command nor
to compare the officers and men whom
you gave to the "lostcause p with auy
who served the Confe leracy. You gave
three general oficers-Pottigrew, Con-
ner and Logan-all worthily distinguish.
ed to that cause, and with as field
officers, Johnson, DeTreville and Simon
ton; while almost every command from
this State drew from your ranks, so
prolific of gallant soldiers, many Of its
most efficient subaltern officers and mon.
How the rank and file of the Washing
ton Light Infantry did their duty to
their country is told in mute, but elo-
quent language, by the long list of
honorcd names that meet your eyes on
this monument, which you have dedica.
ted reverently and affectionately to your
noble dead. Well worthy are they Of
all the honor you can pay them, for they
fell blessed martyrs, and this conviction
on our part is full of comfort to those
who SEQ the names of their kindred
written on tho South's Roll of Honor,
that list which records her dead.
know how vain is all human conso-
lation to the heart that is called on to
give some object around which the
tonderest affections cluster. know that
many parent in our mourning land,
as he looks through eyes blinded by the
tears that will swell up from his heart,
at some loved name, perhaps on that
tomb, or some stone that covers all that
was mortal of one who was his pride, his
hope, his darling, cries out in the pathe-
tic language wrung from bereaved
fathers heart: ooh, my son Absalom
my son, my son Absalom Would God
had died for thee! D, Absalom! my
son, my SON." can understand, can
fcel--I have felt all this. But still feel
ing deeply for those who mourn their
kindred slain, knowing how and for
what our sons have died, cannot each
Que who has given his children to his
country, concealing the grief of the
father, in the holy zeal of the patriot,
say proudly as ne stands by the grave
Of his sou,
"Why then, Gods soldier be ho,
"tiad MS many sons, rs have hairs.
IL would not wish thom fairor doath."
1t is right and proper that you should
preserve the memory of our dead heroes.
Would that we could erect to them o
monument whose foundations should be
as eternal as the great truths for which
they died; lofty as their fame; pure as
our love; lasting as our gratitude ris-
ing proudly from tho earth that holds
their clay, and pointing with its spot
less shaft to that heaven where We de
voutly trust they are now at rest. It is
q touching and beautiful article of be.
lief in the creed of that strange system
Of theology which takes its name from
its founder-one of tho most wonderful
men of the last century-that those
who fail in battle, fighting honestly and
truly for their country, are Immediately
to Heaven to partake of tho
highest joys of that blissful abode
Though no such promise is held out by
our religion to its votarics it surely is
not inconsistent with it's holy spirit or
divine teaching, that this may be the
case. The trust of the patriot and tho
faith of the Christian may then unite in
the hope, so full of Joy and consolation
that our dead patriots-"God's sol.
licrs"-purified by the great oblation of
their lives for their country's liberty,
standing now in the presence of the
Eternal God looking down with CRATE
Ful hearts on this solemn scene, bring,
ing thcir prayers for you, who arc now
manifesting your reverence and love for
them, to the very footstool of the throne
Of grace, arc invoking with dovout
from the Father of Mcrcies
for you, all those rich blessings which
He, and He alone, can bestow.
Before Gcn. Hampton had concluded
his address the rain began to fall, but a
largo number of the immense throng
hoisted their umbrellas aud hoard the
address out. And many an old veteran,
as he stood beside the grave of his loved
comrade aud heard the words of his
beloved leader, wiped tear which
flowed down his check.
So Charleston has done tho honors
for her departed sons. May tho Memory
Of the bravo dead ever remain fresh in
our hearts.
- Josh Billings thus speaks of now
agricultural implement, to which the
attention OF farmers is invited John