The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-18

the grand old Army of Northern Vir-
ginia. Each Of these reflections fur
spishes Sasuhiect frgeggbtywiths many
valuable @and useful 'a1esson5, Sand
which as survivors and descendants
Of those brave and noble men who
took part therein, should carefully
and reverently contemplate and
study. For no one should be wholly
ignorant of the history of this mighty
struggle for freedom from oppression
and wrong, by the people of the
South.
Secession, in the language of DR..
Dabney, in his life of Stonewall Jack
son, "was no dishonest after-thought,
suggested by growing sectional am.
bition, but the ancient, righteous
remedy,,t to whislsthe sohthernS States
were reluctantly driven by Ia long
course Of treachery and oppression"
The secession Of South Carolina,
says an honest historian, '.was had
without discussion, and with perfect
unanimity; the people of the State
were convinced that tho season for
discussion had passed and the season
for action had arrived"
"Oh. land Of heroes! Spartan State!
In numbers few, in daring great,
Thus to atfront the the frowns of fate"
South Carolina immediately set
about preparing TO defend that indie
pendcnco which she had by the ordi-
nance Of secession resumed, and
which her people, educated as States
Rights Democrats Of the "most
straightest Sect" felt and believed
they had right 10 resume, from the
nature and spirit Of the covenant en-
tered into by the States in their SOW
erign capacity. In the first twelve
months Regiment raised for this pa
triotic purpose the Edisto Rifles, with
full rqnkssbrayeq hearts napd an es-
prit de corps Which Amerited- the COM
mendation of all officers and men
with whom they came in contact,
mustered for service-and by their
prowess and deeds Of daring upon
many holly. contested fields, won for
themselves laurels which will never
fade, while the names of Wagner
and Sumter are remembered among
men, or while the heroic deeds of the
Army of Northern Virginia adorn
the pages Of the faithful historian.
The history Of the Army of North
ern Virginia, with which was connec-
ted the immortal Lee, the intrepid
jackson, and our own gallant Hamp.
tor and fearless Hagood, is destined
to live forever. The cause for which
it fought and suffered, is lost, but its
splendid achievements will ever be
remembered by brave and patriotic
people; win encomiums from those
who opposed it, and excite the admi-
ration Of the world, long after the
last survivor of that grand army is
"otT duty forever"
The able and candid historian of
the Army of the Potomac, in speak
ing Of its achievements, adds these
words, which, says Miss Mason, in
her life Of Gen. Ice, may be accepted
as not unworthy epitaph from Il
generous enemy:
"Nor can there, fail to- arise the
image'ofl thut other lafmyltliat Mas
the adversary Of the Army OF the Po-
tomac, and which-who can ever for
get that once looked upon it?--that
array of "tattcrcd uniforms and
bright lnuskets - that body of;incoln-
parable infantry, the Army Of North.
ern Virginia, which for years carried
the revolt on its bayonets, opposing
a constant front to the mighty con-
centration Of power brought agains,
it, which'feecieinge terrible blows 1did
not fail to give the like, and which,
vital in all its parts, died only with
its snnihilation."
In that array Of "tattcrel uniforms
and bright muskets" were the Edisto,
Rifles. They formed part of that
"incomparable infantry." ,lli,
When volunteers were called for
the Edisto Rifles, with but single
exceptions marched to the front, CO.
ger and ready to go "where camp
fires light the reddencd sod" Num-
bers of the bravest and best blood of
tho ronntv p,cra5 b,, tho ,on,o -.