The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-02-16
[Pubishcd by Rcqucst.

| [PuNishcd by Requcst]
MIR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
just forty-two years ago, on tho
11th of February, 1886, amid the
salvos Of artillery, tho rattling of
drums, the huzzas Of mon and tn
tender adious of loved ones, q com
pany of mounted militia, the flower
of Fairfield, filed off from tho Col
/ lcgc Green, and wcndcd it's way
through tho principal streets Of the
town to the capital Of the State.
Tie United States government had
been waging % prolonged and
wearying war with q handful Of
Indian braves, who, relying upon
their own native vigor and tho
impenctrability Of tho semi-tropical
jlngles Of Florida, bade eternal
defiance to the Stars and Stripes.
AT this particular juncturo these
savages, under tho leadership of
the renowned Oscoola, had turned
the tide Of battle in their favor, had
massacred detachment under
General Dade, and were threatening
dies truction to General Gaines and
his small but intrepid band, whom
they had reduced to tho severest
straits In this emergency the
government called for volunteers to
uphold the honor Of tho flag, to
rescue their brethren from death or
a fate worsc than death, and by ono
supreme struggle forever to crush
out tho hostile bands Of Seminoles.
70 this Call twcnty-one companies
from the State of South Carolina
made answer; but none responded
with groater ulacrity than tho sons
OF Fairfield. The arms bearing
population Of the district were as :
sembled in Winnsboro; and tho
call being made, SO large number
stepped promptly to tho front at
the word of command, that it was
+ found necessary to detail the
requisite number from the younger
men and to remand tho balance to
their homes. An election was held
forthwith in tho Court House, md,
i in q brief space Of time, eighty
seven men, rank and file, set out
. upon their march, under tho cons
mand Of Captain Dorrcl Smith, q
gallant spirit, who, as if to add
romance to glory, had, in obedience
to his country's call, abandoned tho
nuptial couch for the tented field.
Tt would be impossible for me to
narrate all the details of this ex-
pedition, through South Carolina
and Georgia, and thence to tho
scene Of action in Florida Nor
is it necessary, for it is yourselves
who have made this chapter of
history, and woven this laurel
wreath among the many that press
the temples Of your native State.
It is for yourselves to take a
retl ospecjive glance tn-day through
the dim vista of the past and recall
to mind the lights and shadows of
that spring campaign, the bouyancy
of spirit, the holiday pageant, the
ensuing perils and hardships, and,
finally, the return homo after tho
completion Of your labors. I shall
not dwell upon tho skirmishes in
which you were engaged, the earn-
est effort and distinguished bravery
expended in endeavoring to inter-
cept tho treacherous foe as he
lurked in swamp and morass and
Jungle, nor of tho short yet fatal
experience at Tampa Bay, where
disease, that mortal enemy of man,
fell upon your ranks, shattered con-
stitutions already debilitated by
the erervating climate of that land
which was once fondly believed to
contain the fountain Of perennial
youth, and claimed as it's victims q
number of your noblest spirits,
among them your young leador,
who returned home only to bid his
loving bride a fond farewell. Nor
is it in my power to follow your
gradually depicting ranks, as one
by one the stragglers were gathered
in by the keen sickle of the reaper,
Death, or to detail tho histories of
those Of your former comrades
whose tongues were silent as your
roll was called to day. Your
orderly sergeant, who once was
won't to repeat your names at
,ouo;l1o opI t,,,; ~ hoot hoo uoo,io1