The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-06-08
GENERAL CONNER'S AD-
DRESS.


classic address was delivered by
Gen. Conner, at Magnolia Gene
terry Charleston, on Mcmoria
Day, before the Masonic Fraterni-
ty and a large concoursc Of citi-
zens:-
AS we stand here to-day, be-
meath these quiet skies, in this
sad, silent city of the dead, all is
so calm and peaceful, that it is
hard to realize that but a short
while ago and he who stood upon
this spot could almost touch the
samparts, which, stretching from
river to river, guarded from as
sault beleayurcd city, while far
as the eye could reach. scanning
the horizon on land and sea, We're
the camps and fleet Of the host
that surrounded her. From where
we stand, on 4 day as bright and
beautiful rs this, could be seen 4
powerful and stately fleet advan-
cling in battle order through the
gates Of yonder harbor, while
within, behind the long line of
works that crested each shore,
stood in grim silence at their guns
the defenders cf the soil, conscious
that upon them rested that day
the fate of the city. Slowly and
steadily the feet advances, scarce
replying to the few first batteries
that opened, as though assured Of
success, and across it were sweep
ing proudly on totriumph. Near
CT aud nearer it comes, until the
anxious throng watching its ap.
proach from the city painfully al
ternate between hope and despair.
y moment, and from the grassy
slopes of Moultrie, the battle
SCARED walls Of Sumter and the
deep emerasures Of Johnson, burst
the iron storm. The fury of man
rivals in grandeur the war Of the
clements.
Thick clouds envelope assailant
and assai.cd, and only the quick
lightning flashes Of the guns, rift
ing the smoke, tell Of the fight
But slowly the smoke floats away
and shows the feet departed and
shattered, making for the outer
harbor. -.
The victory was ours, and JOY
filed all hearts as they realized
chat the city is still their own.
But the conflict ceased not then.
The efforts Of assailant and as
sailed were renewed, while the
passions and the pride Of either
section swcIled the contest into
Srandest proportions. Here the
first thought OF resistance had
been conceived and maturcd.-i
From yondcr forts had sounded
the bridal dawn Of thunder peals:
proclaiming that thought had we'd
dcd fact.
The very efforts to close the
ports had excited tic livelicSt in
tercSt in its fate, and the attcn-
zion Of the world once attracted,
the world rang with the achieve
ments Of its defenders. The glory
which had crowned the old Pal
motto walls Of Noultrie was re-
newed in the grander events of
the second struggle for indepcn-
dencc, while beside and around it
arose new forts, which, dividing
with it the guardianship Of the
city, divided with it the glory Of
the defence, until the eye can
scarcely rest upon 4 spot which is
not memorable by the events
which it witnessed.
Brilliant us were the achieve
ments Of the war, there is hardly !
one which holds more promi- |
ncnt place in its military history
than the siege Of CharIcston.-l
This is due to many causes, but
particularly to the union Of the
highest qualities Of manhood with |
the rare skill which SO signally
adapted the means Of resistance
to the attack. The experiment
which won for the distinguished
Russian engineer Of Sebastopool
the highest rank in military cir
Giles, was repeated on . more ex-
tended scale and under more try
ing circumstances. The compare
tive powers Of iron-clads and land
forces, which he left as pattern,
still perplcxcd and divided the en-
gineers of the most advanced na-
tions, until the genius and courage
Of Carolinians solved the problem
at Sumter, and left it's shattered
walls the grandcst monument Of
their fame.
Or, turning from Sumter, VIC
look upon the ruined parapcts Of
Wagner and recall its glorious de-
fence. The recklcssness Of the as
sault, equa!lcd only BY the stub
bornncss Of the defence, and ac-
companied by . carnage which
Shockcd us even in those days Of
blood-shockcd US BY its cnormi-
ty and the long siege, which
saskod the nerves, the patience
and the tortitude Of the boldest.
Day after day and night after