The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-04

Che uaWnlng OF u better aav in view
let us hope that they may continue tile
battle to rs glorious end, md when
the victory IS won, rs ii surely will
be, they will be enabled to stand be-
fore their irllow-citizcns with their
honor untarnishcd. and with the white
ness Of their souls unSullicd.
Surviving soldiers Of the Lost
cause, nearly twenty years have pass
cd since the elevation of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency or the Unit
cd States made il necessary for South
Carolina to sever her connection with
the American Union. | will not tax
your patience by going through The
causes that lei your State TO take Ibis
momcllous stop, norwiIl now discuss
the propricty or tho improprictv Of the
issue then made. 'Tis enough for us
TO know that the dignilarics Of tho
lnnu, our representatives in cOnvcn-
ton assembled, unanimously dccrccd
that tho State should assume her SOW
crcign rights under the constitution.
Ana for four long, weary years, years
into which arc crowded the most siuual
events Of our history. the Dcoplc, men.
women and even children OF South
Carolina, most nobly sustained them
in the steps then taken.
Comrades You had not lone to
await the result of the issue thus innu-
guratcd by your State, and Joined in
by her sister States Of the South. Tho
Commonwealth was in danger. and
her sons rallied to tho rescue. From the
cloud-cappcd peaks Of GrccnviIlc to
where Old Ocean battles our shore.
they answered to her call. Amonr
that band Of gallant patriots Fairfield
county was most ably represented.
and though not actually engaged, tlicy
were ut least on hand, and shared in
tho glorics that. attended the first
blood!css Victory at For. Sumtcr-a
Carolina battle, fought on Carolina
soil, by South Caroiinians. And fins
was triumphanlly flung to the breeze
another ilaS among the nations of the
world.
FclIow-aurvivors, Won carried that
flag. ball-ridtlcn and saturated with
your hearts blood, for four Years and
lhcn Iaiu II down sorrowt'ully, but in
good faith, ut ApronatoX. ga ma
al"'l cannot DC born without pangs and
agony, cannot be reared in solid Gran
ucur unless tho rich libation OF heroes
blood DC poured upon the blazing
affairs OF lis dedication. TO lnnI;
around upon these wuod-crowncd hills
bathcd III the golden sunlight, while
the wind that kisses the trrmbIinm
leaves rust les thcm into whispers OF
'arcwcli to look upon thc peaceful
valley SlumbcrinG in the shadow,
hllShcd and still as dream of the
grave! to look upon The gently flow
ing rIvulct, its ccasrlcss current
sweeping past like the light of time.
20 look upon The blue sky antl flcciing
ct"ndS, like air ships sailing DER that
l!mlt'c"s sea, TO think Of home and all
tl.s, makes il dear. to listen for the
distant shout and laughter Of the chill
u'ch at play, Tor the cooling Of the
babe in tl!H cradle anl The tender Sonu
OF the mother as she hcn.s over II:
and then turn from all Of This, and
with StralEt>t purpose and unl!ltcrinu.
heart, step down into The terrible dark
ness OF the grave, for love ofcnuntry"-
thus cHcmpliiyin." your comrades love
OF irccdom~-thrir Willingness 10 make
brcnSiworks of their manly hearts, and
even to dic-that the country might
DC clearer TO some ono else.
"a fearful sacrifice you claim O Freedom.
from MOrinlS IN whose avoal2in:c hearts
. Na'n'rlS strong as DEATH"
The smoke Of battle had scarce
cleared he ramparts Of old, Sumter
ere tic !in@cr Of time pointed to the
historic fields Of Virginia, as tho arena
where the life blood Of The youth and
Hover Of your state was TO be offered
upon thc shrine OF liberty.
In the organization Of the different
ronmaltls Is that Immediately followed,
The manhood Of the county was
promptly enrolled. Nor do we find
them alone among organized Fairfield
companies, but minglinG with the sons
OF other counties or sister States as
circumstances or choice would seem TO
dictate. However, it matters not
about tho communal, SO long as they
were enrolled under thc Banner of the
Bars. That banner, Mr.. President
and comrades. chat yoi. carried to VIC
tory on the CORY fields Of The first and
second Manassas, tha; was ..'.:nIl
with the best blood OF the county in
the seven days struggle before Rich
mond, thai was again triumpha,tly
flung to the breeze on The victorious
fields Of SllarpsburM and Chickalnauga,
that was carried with dccimatcd ranks
plou9hcd through by shot and shell to
the murdcrous heights OF Gettysburg,
through The burning wills of the
Wilderness, through The trenches be-
fore Petersburg, that banner has en-
b,aZoncd upon its folds s'cccsSi0nvillc.
charlottesville, Drcwsy's Bluff, and
Il host Of other well fought fields, that
was carried, tattcrcd aud torn, on
Wc'don's ratcd field, where hcmncd
in as by a living wall. those hammered
deeds inspired that gallant command
TO clcayc back its way. It was carried
TO the last, comrades, by those gallant
heroes who were untanght as yet to
yield through the last struggle at Ben
toivillc, by those who gave away their
life in the gathering gloom Of the last
hours Of the Conlcdrracy at Appomat-
toN, where your commanding general
seeing his dccimatcd, starving army
SO terribly outm,mbcrcd, with all
the dignity Ola Roman Emperor, sur
rendered il. In good faith nc laid
down his sword and retired to private
life.