Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-04-21
For the Advertiser.
GARY.

spoon GARY received "kind natures signal
TO retreat, and was called from the Battle
OF I8fa. On the 9Th April 1865, he was
called from battling for his country. A
strange coincidence this, and yet such
condolences are not infrequent. Ihos.
Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration Of
independence, and John Adams, one of
its most able advocates, died on the 4th Of
July, and other deaths equally remarka-
bic will be remembered. Henceforth, in
the annuals of our country, the 9th of
April can not be marked with a white
mark"-in '65 fraught with grief and
gloom to the confederates, .andin 81 South
Carolina and Edgefeld particularly, sus-
tam loss, the memory of which time
will scarcely ehaceR
Both were days ST extreme suffering to
Gary; the anguish Of the one was almost
equal TO that of the other. never knew
Gary to shed tears except at the surren-
! render, and then be wept like child. His
Brigade (which had been the advance
guard of the Army for two or three days
previously laid down on their arms for
| few hours rest, on the night of the 9Th,
after fighting in darkness, doubt and un.
certainly till past midnight, and awoke to
find the enemy almost surrounding US,
and at very close quarters. Gary at once
commenced an attack. After fighting
short while, Federal staff officer rode up
from our rear and begged Gen. Gaiy to
desist, as Lee had agreed to surrender.
Gary, in very emphatic language, ordered
him away or, he would have hole put
through him-that he was not the proper
person from whom he should receive such
intelligence Soon after, one of Gen. Cor
dons staff officers confirmed the sad fact.
Gary, with tears in his eyes, turned to-
one of his couriers, and said: go and
find Rosser for me" but before the cou-
rier's return, he, with few men, had cut
his way through the lines and was on his
way to Joe Johnston-ths only organized
army left us. Faithful to the last This
little incident is not inappropriate just
now. One or two others may net come
amiss.
In the winter of 81 we were encamped
on Occoquan Bay. The weather was in
tensely cold, and good many Of the men
needed warmer clothing. BY the cart
and forethought Of Capt. Gary, and the
kindness OF the good ladies of Beach Is
land, one hundred warm red flannel shirts
were distributed to the men. The next
morning the whole company came out un-
Horned in the Red Shirt-the first organ
lied company had ever seen IN that uni
form. How intimately associated with
the Red Shirt will his memory now be
Gary was always thoughtful for the COM
fort Of his men.
On the 30th August CO (the first day
of the Second Manassas) the Hampton
Legion-Col Gary commanding-support-
ed one of the Regiments of Evans Brig
ade and went into the action short dis
tance in their rear. Night coming on, We
lost of sight Of the Regiment which We
supported, but nevertheless marched on.
thinking they had outstnpped Us. We
soon found ourselves face to face with 8 |
Pennsylvania Regiment only few steps !
intervening. A pause, CONSERVATION and
uncertainty in the ranks OF both Regi |
ments The darkness no doubt magnify
ing and multiplyinging the enemy to each.
The Pennsylvania Colonel orders a sur
render; then the clarion notes OF Gary ring |
out 1--WE are South Caroiinians, and did |
not come here to surrender. Charge 'em
boys" That voice and those words set
tied the fate of that regiment. Maj. (at-
forwards Gen'l one of the most gallani
officers in the army Logan killed the Col
onel by pistol shot, and we made pris-
oners of such Of the scattered troops as
we could find. Our own loss was nearly |
nominal Such was Gary's qulckness at
critical times.
At sharpsburg, Capt. r. W. Tompkins
(another most Gallant ofiicerl was KILLED.
The officer-commanding the company af-
ter his death-requested PERMISSION of
Col. Gary to have his body carried to the
rear. We had just been relieved by fresh
troops. He replied "Yes, take poor Bob
back to the woods and bury him. ne can
do more than care for our dead
and wounded now" We had lost two
thirds of the men whom we carried into
the action. He felt sadly the loss OF his
men.
The onlv battle-where any large num-
ber of troops were engaged-in which he
acted as commander-in. chief, was a few
miles below Richmond Il forget the name
of the place. Here he fairly defeated
the celebrated Gen. kautz, capturing ar
tillery, provisions, baggage, and adding
fresh laurels TO his brow as an Independent
commander For this victory he was much
by officials and the press.
could go on and multiply incidents, but
consideration for your space forbids.
With what sad and monrnful interest
will his former associates dwell on these
incidents now! Gary has been accused Of
great rashness and imprudenee. He was
certainly very impetuous, but there al
WAYS seemed 70 be method in his mad
ness. 7, for one, although very conserva-
tive in feeling, had learned to entertain
great respect for any radical or extreme
measure which he proposed, as results
usually proved him correct. In war, IN
innumerable battles, he never had his men
although at times it seemed
In peace, where his counsels
prevailed his courae was almost invariably
justified by events. His Revolution OF
'7G proved q bloodless one How few of
US doubted that this rashness would pro-
duce much bloodshed This plan had been,
for years before, his pet project, and was
urged by him on the Democracy of tha
country as the only solution of the pollti-
cal problem. This was his manner of un-
tieing the Gordian knot.
AS Gary was no tims-ssrver, and scorn
ed to bend the knee 10 wealth and rank,
his position in civil life was not what it
should have been. Handicapped by The
weight ofthe opinions ofmany less worthy.
but more inhuetial politicians, he did not
attain that eminence which his friends
thought and fondly hoped he would. Be-
ing one of the "outs," it was usually his
lot to be in the opposition. He. however,
always looked to his country's good. and
even IN that capacity did much good OF at
least restrained from much evil. A healthy
opposition, judiciously and energetically
conducted, ever purifes Legislation and
Government in all lts branches. Where
shall we find Leader of the opposition
now? Gary's friends cannot claim for him /
a high degree Of religious life. We regret
that he did not leave US as bright an ex-
ample in this respect as in others. Still
many lofty traits and christian virtues
found lodgment in his heart, and few of
the greater vices had much hold on him.
When he INDUCED IN any OF them, it was
al. :~l;uro-anca ond prnHanra that |