The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-05-21


with full powers to treat for peace, and
for full and equitable settlement of all
matters in dispute, And what was the
result? A refusal to treat with the State.
Subsequently vessels of war-monitors
with all their great armiture and huge
..blacksmithcry" vcxing the bosom ofthe
ocean-appeared off the bar, to supply
and reinforce Major Anderson BY force,
and ready to run in, when wind and
water should favor, and, if need be, to
lombard the city and reduce it to submis-
sion or ashes. OF all this We had notice
Upon this last notified exhibition OF a
purpose to subjugate the State, the man
hood of the country, supported by con-
scious right, could not longer forbear.
Honor and safety forbade it. Still, to
avoid unnecessary bloodshed, aud pro-
posing terms most courteous and hon.
orabls, time and again, we demanded
the surrender Of our fort Still all
was in vain. In the supreme peril OF
that moment there was nothing left for
us but pusillaLimously to surrender no
the State and city without blow, or
to attack the fort and endeavor to expel
the invader from our soil. We chose
the latter, and the bombardment of the
fort followed.
Then was witnessed one Of the most
sublime spectacles that ever filed the
human eye. First one signal she'll as
cended in the darkness Of the hour,
like globe of FIRE Kissing through its
parabolic path until it fell and exploded
on the fort. Immediately thousands OF
similar missiles from the circle OF our
batteries illumined the sky-all having
the same destiny and the same end. If
| it were possible to be, it seemed as If
myriads Of lesser suns had left their
spheres to hold high revelry in the har-
Dor of Charleston, and all with con-
centric movement on the bead of
that devoted fort. All the rest you
knew. IF the assault was grand. per-
sistent and irresistible, with professional
Justice we must admit that the defence
was stubborn, heroic and full OF forti-
tude.
The recital of tue few facts stated
above prove that the war waged on the
part of the State was defensive
and that all the evils resulting there.
from must justly be laid at the door OF
the Federal power.
This truth will survive. Not num-
bers, nor arms, nor force can crush it.
Though its voice may be gentle, 1t will
pierce beyond the din Of thousand
battles. and be heard amidst the up
roar of blind ignorance, or Of conscious
wrong seeking to cover its own ID
quity.
When the State was thus invaded
her city beleaguered-her autonomy
denied-her liberty and existence
threatened-she called upon her sons
to rise, to strip for the fight and rally
10 her standard. And what an upsis-
ing was there It seemed as if some
god had struck the earth, and every
living soul upon it sprung up respon..
sivs to the blow, like divine call
which all obeyed.
We read with admiration ofthe spirit
of the Spartan mother, when she sent
forth to the fight her son armed with
javelin and shield; Of the Roman matron
gathering her jewel, around her and
giving them as fit presents to the State.
But no Grecian or Roman mother ever
exhibited greater and more persistent
devotion and heroism than did our Con-
federate Women. How may thousands
Of Carolina Cornelias have we seen
bringing their Jewel boys and with a
mothers pride deliver them up, with a
smile and tear and prayer, into the
bloody hands Of the Moloch Of war
And have we not seen these noble youths
with the light Of battle in their eyes,
pressing to the front? And, if we were
permitted to call the long roll of honor,
how many would be able to answer,
"Here ?" Alas too many obsent; but
thank heaven, they can all be accounted
for.
Every man who rallied to that stand
ard was a patriot. Every patriot be-
came soldier, and every soldier hero.
Nor was the enthusiasm eyanescep'.
In the forefront Of battle--amid the
hardships of the bivouac-in the suffer-
iug of the hcspital-for four long years,
without an ally, ard against overwhelm-
ingodas. did this feryor last. Every man
had offered his all. Love and devotion
to his country were burning deep down
on the altar of his soul, and kept him
true to the last.
The leading virtues OF the Gonfede-
rate soldiers always seemed to me to bo
devotion TO their cause, constancy, cour-
age, endurance and fortitude. They
possessed the elan Of the French and
Irish, with the steadincss Of the German
and Br;tou. Their valor never suffered
the slightest eclipse, whether the
field they contested was lost or won.
Their bravery took new honor from the
fight. Allow me to read here few
verses descriptive of the Confederate
private;
Only private! his jacket of gray
Is stained by the smoke and tho dust
As Dayard he Is brave, as Rupert he is gay,
Reckless as Murat in heat of the fray,
In God is his only trust.