The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-10-17
The Birth Day Orator of the Wash
inCton Artillcry.-Gcn. MCGOWAN.

From, the Charleston News and Courier.
The distinguished Carolinian who has con-
scented to deliver the annual address before
the Washington Artillery, on the occasion OF
the celebration of the anniversary OF that
command, Washington's birthday. Fcbrua-
ry o., 1875. needs no introduction to the people
of Charleston; and yet IL Is good for uS to re-
call. as the meeting at the Hibcrnian Hall lust
night. recalled, the ral0r, truth and cnIu-
rance Of those who bore aloft the battle-tiaG Of
the south during the days of the ill-Starrcd
.Confederacy. Only inc presence OF tAe sue
cessor OF Maycy Gregg was needed to make
the grand gathering last night complete.
4 hero OF two wars. Gen. MCGOWAN served,
with honor and distinction, on the enSln-
ruiped fields Of Mexico. In the piping times
OF peace he was IL Major General of Militia.
Tpon the secession Of South Carolina he drew
tile sword which flashed like n meteor amid
the smoke and dust OF war, unit ~ iay IS Sh ny
Confcdcracy. Gen. MCGOWAN went out with
The Fourteenth South Carolina regiment. and
was its Colonel when the regiment WAS or.
of NuHcy Gregg. he participated in the nights
AROUND Richn,ond, at Second Manassas, OK
1Iitl. Harpcr's Ferry, Botclers Ford ana
ed commander and friend, Gen. Gregg, he
was promoted to the command OF the Brig
AIDE, which dc fearlesSly led through the vic
;~toriOus struggle ut charlottesville, where he
was severely wounded. At SpottSylvanla he
received The warm commentator OF Gen. H..
F.. Lee, pRo knew him intimately in Mexico,
and whe appreciated his sterling qualities as
10 soldier and citizen. OF large stature ana
commanding presence. he was o conspicuous
mark Scr the deadly missiles of the enemy,
,and while charging with the brigade, when
death was reaping a rich harvest, he was shot
Through the breast. He did not r~clinquiSh
command or retire from the field until com
rpGEkcd to do so by loss of blood. and even then
he stopped to cheer and encourage his brave
companions. As soon as his wound had sur
.ticicntly healed to permit him to return to the
army, lie again took the field and was well
coined back with demonstrations of joy and
affection. During the closing battles OF the
wal Gen. MCGOWAN was placed In command
.of two brigadeS, and his courage sllone far In
the front OF the deadly fight. At sutherland
;Station, the last struggle the brigade had
with the enemy, he made q noble stand, and
for several hours held in check, with his two
'brigades, column after column OF Federal
troops, only retiring when completely flank
command rctreated In good order and were
kept well together, and on the ill-iated morn.
ing OF the 9th of April they presented n bold
and unbroken front when the sad tidingS
were borne on the breeze that the peerless
Lee had surrendered his SpotlcsS sword and
the heroic remnant OF his army.
Gen. MCGOWAN was fairly worshipped by
his men. They had the most unboundcd con-
tidence in him. In battle no seemed To he in
sensible to fear. Danger appeared TO be his
favorite element. And yet he was as gentle
and generous to his soldiers as he was daring
when his clarion voice rang clear and loud In
the midst OF the fray. Bold, stern and In
fic1 bile, riding on his gray charger through
the flame of battle. he would dismount, when
: the fight was ended, and knecl, with culver
ing lips and tcar-dinmed eyes, by the lifclcsS
I,Trn of the comrades who had fallen ut his
slds
The braveSt are the tendcrcst,
The loving the most daring!