Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-08-28

the representative OF the old banner and is enti-
tied to all its honors. [Applause. A stranger
who looks upon this flag sees only a piece OF
bunting stamped with cross mark. A Conted-
crate soldier sees the Southern Cross-the battle
flag of the Confederacy. When you turn your
eyes upon it, you see the old banner OF the
Twelfth.the flag which waved above you at
Cold Harbor; which led the charge at Gettys-
burg> when one-half of the Regiment teli oe.
meath it; the flag which outtanked itself at
Sharpsburg and the Wilderness. You see more
than all that-you see the flag under which
Barnes and Miller and Bookter fell, in the arms
of their comrades, amid the shouts OF victory.
Forever honored be that flag! [Cheers.]
Comrades, for four years you served your
country on the perilous edge of battle, and now,
in respect to your character as Confederate SOL
diers, you have no country The Contederacy IT, +,
self has pershed-gone 'as a watch in the night"
You are citizens of the great Republic, and may
sit in the counsels of the nation, but as soldiers,
that Republic brands you only as rebels. The
good women of the State-always patriotic, new
er too gentle to admire heroism-for the purpose
of having some honorable and durable memorial
of South Cardinals dead of the Confederate
Army, have raised on the public square, at the
Capitol, marble column, on which is placed
statue of a Confederate soldier. He stands, every
inch soldier, with gun and fixed bayonet, look
ing boldly to the front. Not man will go by
without casting look upon it. Every mother,
as she thinks of her boy in an unknown grave,
will thank God that here is monument TO his
memory! [Applause.] The spirits OF the gal
liant dead when they revisit the '.glimpses of the
moon" will hover around it. Generations un-
born, as they read the. monumental lnscrlption'
will say-these were heroes [Applause.l
War, it has been said, is the science OF baroa,
rism. The Reconstruction Of the South it would
seem, was born of that science The fiery march
of Sherman through this State was scarcely more
al ifcr N time nrOfOunQ
peace. Never has conquered people been so
oppressed at home and at Washington: Some
faw years ago. misrule had assumed such mon
strous proportions, the ''robber band had be.
come so open and shameless in their work, that
a Republican Governor cried out to his guilty
followers to pause, and solemnly warned them
that reform in all departments and in every way
was public necesslty-"or the State woula
sinkv'
1t is the boast of England, says Mscaulay, that
it has always been her weakness never to press too
hardly on the vanquished. The worst and most
brutal of her people cry shame, II they see man
struck when he is down. The shame of America
is that she has dealt in peace the blows that belong
only to war. She has oppressed when defense
was impossible. She has struck when we were
down. For all that let us stand by the flag of
the Union. 1t is the flag of our fathers. 1t Will
vet vindicate the principles of American liberty.
We have, in turn, crushed the ro6ber oand tne
bayonet no longer controls the ballot; the test
oath no longer excludes white citizens or the
South from the courts of their country and the
Federal Government can no longer Interfere IN
elections.
It is fortunate that our memories are short-that
we have the power to forget The late Caleb Cush-
ing. it is said, never forgot anything Comrades,
that: He never forgot anything-but an injury
Let us forget the injuries of the past Let US
right up the good old ship which has carried us
through so many storms and tempests. Let us
stretch every threadbare sail, and, invoking the
blessing Of Heaven upon her destiny, look hope
e.. S..I- Inl>na
Col. Jones address was most entertaining
one and was full of interest alike to the veterans,
whose valorous deeds it recounted, and to the
general audience He was heard with marked at
tention throughout.
At the close of the address, Colonel Davis an
nounced the arrival of Capt j. G. b. Smith, OF
one of the Pickens companies.
Loud calls were now made for Capt. John Il.
Kinsler, the we'll known and worthy Senator
from Richland. He spoke as follows:
SENATOR KINsLER's REMARKS.
Comrades, I thank you for your kindness in
calling upon me to speak to you on this happy
occasion. Justice to myself would require that
Ishould throw myself upon your kindness and
ask you to excuse me. I did not expect to be
with you to-day. ! expected to be in another
county, where am called by pressing business.
But in response to what conceived to be duty,
as much as it is pleasure, I am here with you:
AS the time for your meeting drew near. as old
times and scenes came up before my mind,
longing took possession of my heart to shake the
hands, to see the faces and hear the voices of my
old comrades, and naturally gravitated to this
centre of attraction. [Applause.] wish could
command words to express the qualification l
feel to see my friends of the Twelfth once more:
am proud to have been connected with that
command. It is an honor that would not part
with for all ether honors upon earth. There was
not better Regiment in the Confederate service.
1t was highly esteemed by officers and men OF
other commands. I talked once with the colonel
of the First. He said the Twelfth was the best
regiment in the Brigade; and the Twelfth used
to say that the First was the best. This colonel
told me thaswhen called into battle along with
your Regiment, his men would say. Its all
right to-day, boys, we've got the Twelfth on our
right" [Applause An anecdote occurred to
me while Colonel Jones was speaking. which
will relate. We were in camp at Orange Court
House. At such time, as you know, the men
would talk with each other about the merits OF
the different commands. James McMeekin, OF
Company F, one day met member of the Four
teenth, who was not aware that he belonged to
the Twelfth. After discussing, for some time,
the merits Of the different regiments, McMeekin
said "What do you think of the Twelfth?"
"Well," said the man, 81 don't know very much
about them, but I'll be burned if they amt pups
to fight" [Applause and cheers.]
Calls were made for Capt. J. c. B. Smith, Lieut.;
w. J. Kimbrell and D. j. Carter Esq, each of
whom responded in happy manner.
THE SURVIVORS MEETING.
On motion, the Fairfield Association now adj
journed, and Col. Fl. c. Davis moved that gen.
organized, with COL Jones in the chair. The mo-
ton was unanimously adopted, and Col. Jones
took the chair accordingly.
On motion of COL Davis, a committee of two
members from each county, represented in the
Regiment, was appointed to frame a constitution
for the Association. The following-named gen.
tlemen were appointed: Fairfeld-H. G. Davis,
John A. Hinnant; York-W. j. 'Kmbrell, w. j.
Boyd; Lancaster-D. ]. Carter, D. L. Adams;
Richland-John H. Kinsler, A. F. Ruff; Pick
ens-J. G.. B. Smith.
The committee retired, and after brief con-
sultation, submitted the following:
We the survivors Of the 18th Regiment s. c. Volunteers do
This Association shall be known as and called by the
Of the Survivors Reunion Association of the 18th Reg
ment, first Gregg's, afterwards McGowans, Brigade.
H. Every person In any connected with this Reg
men from Its first organization, shall be eligible for membership
In this Association upon application therefor at any annual
meeting thereof.
ILL., The objects association gather preserve
all facts connected with and illustrative of the history of the
Regiment to preserve and perfect s records and keep alive
the memories and friendships formed in the and field
w. This association shall annually the third Thurs
day In August such be fixed by the Association
al Its previous meeting and default thereof such place
may be fixed by the executive committee thereafter.
" The officers of the Association shall consist of pres
dent FIVE presdentsone from each county in which
or more companies were omedand secretary and easu
all of whom shall be elected the annual meetings. hold
year, and until elected Also, correspond
Ing secretary, who shall be appointed by the president of the
Association, and to be of the county the president
Sec. l. The president, and In his absence the senior
vcepresden shall preside the annual and other meetings Of
the Association, ofder appoint committees and dis
chafge the usual duties of presiding officer.
Sec The officer known secretary and treasurer, shall
s sd the
book selected for that purpose all the facts and information
presented In the annual reports and receive and keep the funds
OF the Association and dbue the he be ordered
by the president and executive committee and make report
thereupon annually.
This constitution was unanimously adopted