The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-11

4 At the first reunion of the Third
Maine Regiment. (of. which Lieut.. John
son is q Inember,) held in Augusta on
the 4th inst, the following resolution,
among others, was adopted:
RESOLVED, That We have lively appre-
citation of the soldierly and chivalric
conduct of Capt. j. G. b. Smith, of Co.
X, 18th South Carolina Regiment, in re-
turning to member of our organization,
his sword, taken from him under cir
cumstances rejecting nothing but honor
on both parties.
a letter was then read from Capt. John
c. b. Smith, of Columbia, S. c., return
ing to Lieut.. II. A. Johnson, the sword
captured from him during the rebellion.
The letter speaks in high terms of Lieut..
Johnsons bravery, md closes with the
following sentiment:
May all animosities be buried, and
hereafter may amity and nn earnest
cooperation prevail between the States
of the Union, for the general good.
The sword was then presented to
Lieut.. johnson by Lewis Selbing, in the
following remarks:
COMRADES OF THE OLD THIRD: Appa-
rent misfortunes may sometimes turn to
pleasure, IN instance of which we have
to note tonight. A comrade of ours,
who faithfully performed his duties, and
thereby we'll earned his promotions, was
unfortunate, within the short period Of
one month at which the term of service
expired for which he had enlisted, to bo
taken prisoner of war, and although
being On officer and could as such ex-
pect moro lenient treatment, it is re-
ported, and the report must be true, as
1T came direct from the cnptors, he be-
hayed In such manner Ms to win the
admiration of his enemies, and we are
even indebted to him for the opportunity
we have this evening. The sword, IN
emblem of war, is in this case the olive
branch of peace, the harbinger of the
return of true brotherly feeting between
tho North and South, and the assurance
that there is the mutual regard and
honest admiration existing between the
North end South, which can only result
in the assurance that this is but one
country undivided. -,3
Lieut.. johnson, I have now the plea
sure to place In your hands the sword,
which, through circumstances beyond
your control, WIS taken and kept from
you; but permit me to assure you that
even In the act of surrendering the same
to the gallant Capt. Smith, of South Caro-
lima, you have proved yourself true to
tho trust which the company put in YOU
when first presenting this sword to you
May you have the pleasure of keeping it
for many years, not to be drawn except
in defence of right and justice for our
beloved country, side by side, and
shoulder to shoulder, South Carolina and
Maine against n common foe.
Lieut.. johnson, on receiving the
sword, replied MS follows:
COMRADES: 1t is with pleasure and
satisfaction that I receive this sword q
second time from your hands, not for it's
mere intrinsic value, but for the associa-
tons that are connected with it. Most
OF you know that it wns given ME in the
field by members of my company, and
for this reason was very denr to ME, and
on that memorable day in the Wilder
ness, when the fortunes of war threw
me into the hands of the enemy, and
this sword wns taken from me, 1 felt as
If was parting from friend, and it
was not without struggle both physical
and mental, that I gave it up.
The history Of this sword since that
hour is not known to u.s. only this, thnt
it fell into the hands of brave South
ern soldier and gentleman, and the re-
spect l have for Capt. J. c.. B. Smith.
Company X, 12th South Carolina In
fantry, is such as one true soldier bears
to another; for had he not been all l have
represented, there would have been no
opportunity for this second presentation.
Very likely this sword hns been worn by
my cnptor, and used against our cause
during the Inst few months of the rebel
lion, but such are the tickle chances of
war. But, comrades, the war is over and
an event of the past, but its scenes and
incidents will always live fresh in our
memories, and think it is we'll That they
should, for it was struggle for princi-
pie, not glory; justice, not possession,
and We have II sacred right to cherish
and keep fresh in our minds all the
fruits and results of that contest. We
had duty to perform then, and there is
still work and duty to be done now and
in the future; for if we wish to make our
republic strong, one section cnnnot alone
do it; We must have the aid and assist
ance of our Southern brethren, and we
cannot work together harmoniously
without we understand and trust one
anOtbNr rn1 tOrpivc on1 foro,nt ,,o.l <l;r