Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-08-26

tent by that hardy Scotch-Irish stock, whicl
in all ages and centuries, has been distinguish
ed for tenacity of purpose, devotion to tn
principle of liberty, and gallantry in the field
| True to her historic name and her charac
! ter as the defender of the milk-white Ros
of York, she presents to history this roll
honor, which adds even to the fame OF coun
| ty, which includes within it's limits King
Mountain, whose glory is as firmly established
as the everlasting foundations OF the noun
tain on which it was achieved.
It would be impossible on an occasion of thi
kind, to give anything like history of th'
Twelfth Regiment, or tell half it's gallant deeds
That would require volume. If we were tt
undertake it, we could not escape imumerab
sins of both commission and omission. 1t il
to be hoped that the Survivors Association
will collect the facts for some future historian
1t would be rich subject for pen or pencil
Surely there will arise some descendant of thu
actors to record their achievements. We cal
only state in general terms the exact truth
that the Twelfth Regiment was one of th'
finest of that immortal army commanded b.
the peerless Lee, distinguished alike by it,
good conduct in camp and it's gallantrs> lin tx
field. 1t was composed Of ten companies: Ont
from Richland, two from Pickens, two from
Fairfield, two from Lancaster and three from
York. Organized originally by the election Of
r. G. NJ. DunovaDt us Colonel, Dixon II
Barnes as Lieutenant Colonel and Cadwalladel
Jones as Major. 1 have always thought that
the good conduct of the regiment and its re-
markable steadiness under fire, were largely
due to the high soldierly qualities of the gen
tlemen named as it's first field officers. Col
Dunovant had seen service in Mexico. Lieu.
tenant Colonel Barnes had a remarkable apti'
tude for drill and discipline, and Major Jones.
in tone and bearing, was born soldier. 1t is
a great mistake to suppose that any association
of men, without discipline, can make a good
regiment, no matter how brave the individual
members may be. Citizen soldiers, fresh from
the pursuits of civil life, especially need the
iron hand of discipline. Col. Dunovant soon
resigned, and Barnes became colonel, and he
devoted all his capacity and energies to the
care and discipline of the regiment. In the
progress of the war many changes took place
from casualties, PROMOTIONS, sc. Other good
officers commanded the regiment-JOnes, Mil
ler, Bookter, Clyburn, Kerr and Bell-but it
is believed that it never lost the effect of its
early training. The first impressions are al
say that the Twelfth Regiment was in every
battle in which the brigade was engaged, from
Mechanicsville to Sutherland's Station. No
one knew it better than I did, and / always
regarded it one of the best regiments in the
Confederate service. Generally selected for
the post of greatest danger, the gallant Twelfth
never failed. Some general idea of the SER
vices of this model regiment may be formed
from the simple statement Of the casualties in
it's commanding officers, which is no eXaggera-
ted expression of the comparative losses OF the
whole regiment. Three cOlonels fell at the
head of the regiment while leading it to victo-
ry-Barnes, Miller and Bookter.
The Twelfth was always a part of the brig
ade, known at first as Gregg's, which was COM
posed entirely of Sonth Carolnians, viz: the
First, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Orr's Regiment Of Rifles.
TIE OLD BRIGADE.
This brings in view the old Brigade. In it's
presence let us pause That glorious body of
men, with whom, by day and night, in sum-
mer and in winter, in scorching heats and in
cold rain, sleet and snow, in joy and i'll sorrow,
in victory and in defeat, wemarched, suffered,
hungered and fought. Who that was mem
Der of that command and now survives, can
recall without emotion that little but compact
body of brothers as they appeared in the camp,
on the march, or in the deep column, or the
heightened line of battle Memory delights
to bring them back to me at the hour of day
break, when they were in the act Of breaking
camp and renewing for the day the business of
marching and fighting. The whole scene is
before me. The gray streaks of morning are
just appearing in the East. The field and staff
are mounted. hear the strains Of Seagle's
band and the drums beat to arms, and 1 see
the different regiments forming and marching
into line The Brigade, as an organization,
has ceased to exist. 1t has passed away for
ever, but there are memories connected with
it which will never die.
The Brigade was formed about the middle
of June, 1862, while the army was before
Richmond. 1t was placed in the Light Di-
vision of A. P. Hill, which was a part of the
famous corps Of "Stonewall" Jackson, who in
his marches never seemed to remember wheth-
er he commanded infantry or cavalry, and
hence was known as the "foot cavalry" This
corps was part Of the grand old army of
Northern Virginia, which, as Swinton the
historian says, "Carried for four years the
fortunes of the Confederate South upon the
points of it's bayonets."
The old Brigade was present at all the great
battles of Virginia, from the first struggle be-
fore Richmond, until they fired the last shot at
AppOmattox. 1t is not believed that any SIM
liar body of men, fresh from the comforts of
home, ever fought more battles, assisted in
gaining more victories against superior num-
bers, or endured more in the same period.
Their record is not inferior to that of any
military body ever organized not excepting
that of the Old Guard of Napoleon, or that of
the Tenth Legion of Caesar. This is making
strong statement, but we believe it can he
maintained. In three years, whose summers
were spent in constant marching or fighting
without supports, reserves or reliefs, and
whose Virginia winters were passed in con-
nd oil f1ro,
iments, never having five thousand men in
the ranks, lost in battle 1890; from disease
1928; and from discharges for disability
1151 men making the startling aggregate of
more than three-fOurthS of their original num-
ber It is matter of record, taken officially in
the last days of it's existence, that very near
ly every man then in the ranks had been
wounded once, twice or three times, so that
in the little remnant of true men, who stood
firm to the last and witnessed "the huge
eclipse'' Of Appomattox, there ,rere more scars
than nauskets. And at that time the Brigade
was one of the largest that was surrendered.
We are informed that there was only one
larger, and that was another South Carolina
brigade, then so well and gallantly command
ed by General John Brattol.
During the winter Of 1864, the army lay
on the banks of the Rapidan in Orange county.
previous campaign. The end seemed to be no
nearer. The clouds were gathering thick and
fast, and as misfortunes always come in bat
taliOns, it was claimed that the three years
term of service of the soldiers had expired.
In this emergency, in one of the darkest hours
of the struggle, the members of the old Brig
ade voluntarily came forward and unanimous
ly re-enlisted for the war. This act thrilled
the whole army and inspired fresh courage.
No higher exhibition of self-sacrifice, devo-
tion or moral courage was ever given by men.
The Confederate Congress passed resolutions
of thanks, the original manuscript of which,
by the kindness of friend, is now in my pos