The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-16
4 GRE.5T HNEl coon ZF,dN.

|
lived IN Fairfield county. After hay
ing received the high Office ex-governor
at the hands Of the State, he volunteer
ed in her defence, and fell willie lead
ing the Seventeenth Regiment at the
second battle of fManassas,-the field
in which five South Carolina Coloncls
poured out their life's blood.
The article was written by q devoted
army friend of Governor Means, and
is as follows:
"Thcrc is ncvcranything lost by hold
ing up 10 the living the shining exam
pies ofthose who have passed away.
Lii fact it always does good, and there
is nothing SO refreshing to the weary
pilgrim on this earth as to dwell in
sweet remembrance upon those Who
were once dear to him and who have
now passed into that land from whence
no traveller ever returns. Whatever
may be the aspcritics oflifc- however
| harsh-no matter how bitter the
"wormwood and gall" may be, there
is, nevertheless, much to tighten, much
to cheer, and much TO wipe out the
clouds that sometimes grow so dark.
Nothing more than u true man, good
man, a Christian man, can do this, and
rs we pen the namc Of the immortal
John Means, every tribute that godli-
ness, holiness, truth and love can bear,
clusters around his sacred name.
Yeas have passed since amid fire and
shell he poured out his life blood.
Years arc now nearly numbered by
the score since he gave up his all in be-
half Of everything that he thought sa-
cred. But these years arc vet green
and to-day the illustrious hero stands
in our memory as bright rs he did The
day that his gliLtcring sword flashed
upon the battle field ofthc second Ma
nassas, or his eye grew dim as his
lilc's blood cbbcd away.
| The writer who pays this feeble trib-
ute TO this good man knew him from
his early boyhood. at his feet, by his
side, in tho lonely camp he knew him,
aud often when The weary sentinel pac-
ed his night watch and the camp fires
were all dim, and nothing but tho dis
| tant fire Of the enemy could be heard,
he has listened to the blessed words of
Governor Means with love that he
held next to his father. In all Of South
Carolina's history We fail to find q
character in which arc blended more
of the soldier and citizen, statesman
and scholar, tho brave man and the
gentleman than was typiticd in him.
Governor Means was always n States
lights man. lie advocated secession,
and when war came, though the irosts
OF many winters were upon him, he
lett his home, his family and all, to do
what his convictions required ofhim.
and in the discharge Of that duty pour
cd out his blood as so much water.
When South Carolina needed him, he
answered her call. He remained in
her service while large portion Of the
press ofthc State were loudly calling
him back to again be her governor,
and, perhaps, he would have been, had
not he scaled his devotion to her with
his blood. If the files of the old Co.
lumbia GW0'Itiun could now be pro-
duccd, VIC would find there, "Up
| COUNTRY, first calling him back :;
Glow COUNTRY" responding to that
call, and when he gave up his immor-
tal spirit, tho voice Of our State was
| ripe for his reelection to the Office
hat he had once before adorned. In
honoring him tho State honOrcd her
sell. She placed 10 flower upon his
brow that did not perfume her own,
and rs the hand of this noble man grew
cold and was committed to the dust, a
long deep swell Of bitter anguish pc:-
mcated every soul throughout The
length and breadth of our State. /
cannot forget the zeal and grandeur of
his bearing upon that memorable day
that his spirit went to it's God. The
night preceding had been dark, wet
and disagrccablc. His physical power
was oycrtaXcd when the morning sun
arose, but his unconqucrablc zeal was
as bright and unchanged as the noon
day sun at meridian splcndor. Duty
was bis guiding light; to follow it let
come veal or woe, death or life, was
his greatest pleasure, and but few
hours before the awful combat came,
though exhausted to n great extent,
his smile showed tho inwartlncss of his
heart, and rs he ate his bareback and
bacon his eye beamcd with q sternncss
that we'll cvinccd his sacred belief in
the never failing justice OF his cause.
Soon, however, tho combat came on.
lie commanded his regiment in no.
bic style. He seemed almost to be in
spircd. TIis face grew radiant and
while his voice was ringing like sill
YER bell in that terrific combat, an aw-
ful shell explodes, and turning to his
youthful comradc he said: "My boy,
I, am wounded" Quietly amidst tic
roar ofthat great battlc was he laid
down, and while his blood was oozing
1rcm mouth and chest, and he was fast
passing away, time and again could his
powerful voice be hoard: "Go on my
brave boys, 60 on" 1t is familiar too
almost, rs yesterday when in his dying
breath, while bidding farewell to home
and all, and to his gallant son, then
commanding portion ofthc regiment
OF which he was Major, he, though
writhing in agony, repeated Inc beau
tul words of Cambcll:
1.Sball victor exu,t or In death DO laid low
WIZ III MS back TO the flc'd and his .ccL TO tht
Leaving In battle no blot on his nrme;
) LOOK proudly to rcavcn from tho dealt
| bed or ialnc.
Soon Gnnnrol AToo,>o 1:,l NJ.