The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-14
DEATH OF GEN. III. w. GARY.


death was borne over the telegraph wires
to the people of this and the neighboring
States, and in every town and hamlet
genuine expressions Of sorrow and regret
were uttered over the deceasc Of the great
man whose life and services mad contri.
buted SO much to the prestige and fame
and welfare Of his native Carolina. For
some ten days previous to the fatal
period, Gen Gary had not been in good
health, but, with his accustomed energy
and will, he did not succumb to the at.
tack until Friday morning, when he was
taken violently i'll with an affection of
the brain and kidneys. The ablest ply
sicians within reach were summoned to
his relief, but the sands OF life were we'll
nigh gone. He had passed the point at
which human aid could avail, and at 2
o'clock on Saturday morning, calmly and
without struggle, his spirit passed from
the stage Of time, upon which he had
been so eventtul an actor After funeral
services in the Episcopal Church, the re-
mains were carried by an escort Of tho
bar and citizens of EdgeGed to Cokcs.
bury, the place Of his nativity and youth,
and there placed to rest in Tabernacle
Cemetery, where the remains Of his kim
dred who had gone before him sleep.
The following sketch of his life up to
the close of the war, taken from the .Ncics
and Courier, presents succincty the skel-
cton of a history which would, if fully
written, fill q volume of great interest to
all of the people of South Carolina;
Martin Witherspoon Gary, tho third
son Of DIR. Thomas Reeder Gary and his
wife, Mary Anne Porter, was born In
Cokesbury, Abbevilln County, South
Carolina. He attended the well known
High School at that place, and in De-
cembcr, 1850, entered tl.s South Carolina
College. Two years later, in consequence
of m unsuccessful attempt TO induce the
Hall, he left tho College, with n number
of his fellow-students, and entered the
Junior Glass of Harvard College, where he
was graduated with distinction in 1864.
Returning to South Carolina, he removed
to Edgefeld and studied law under Chan
cellor Carroll. In 1866 he was admitted
to inc .zac, acd quickly achieved SUCCESS
ms criminal lawyer.
Gen. Gary was member OF the South
Carolinn Legislature in the years 1860
and 1861, and made strong speech in
support of the proposition to call State
Convention to adopt an ordinance Jf
Secession. Secession being accomplish.
ed, he went Mt once into service rs Can.
tain Of the Watson Guards, Company B,
Hampton Legion. At the First Battle
of Manassas the command of the Legion
devolved upon the gallant Gary, when
Col. Wade Hampton and Capt. Conner
had been disabled and Lieut.. Col. John.
son killed. He was with the command
in the subsequent engagements until tho
reorganization, in 1862, when he was
elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Infan-
try of the Legion, consisting Of eight
companies. In the battles around Rich.
mond, ut Seccnd Manassas, at Boones
boro' Gap ard at Sharpsburg he shared
the glories and suflerings of the Legion
After the campaign the battalion was in.
creased to full regiment and attached
to Jenkins's Brigade. With the regi.
ment and brigade he served at Fredricks.
burg, Suffolk, Chickamauga, Beams and
Campbell'E Stations and the siege of
Knoxville. The Legion was then or.
dered 10 be mounted, to serve MS cavalry
or mounted infantry. This was speedily
mand of all the cavalry OF the north side
OF the James River. After the fight at
Riddles Shop, in June, 1864, he was
promoted to the rank of Brigadier. Gen.
cral, his brigade consisting Of the Hamp.
ton Legion, the 7th South Carolina, the
7th Georgia and the oath Virginia. In
all the heavy fighting on the North side,
Gen. Gary led the brigade, and shortly
before the evacuation Of Richmond he
was promoted 10 the rank of Major.
General. Gary's brigade was part of tie
rear guard on the retreat, and was fight.
ing necessarily. When the surrender
had been agreed upon he made his way
through the lines, and Joined President
Davis at Greensboro. Taking command
Of about 200 men Of the brigade whom
he net Mt that point oil their wav to Vir.
ginia, he escorted Mr.. Davis and the
Confederate Cabinet as far ia Cokesbury,
S. c., where the escort was dismissed by
the President. A member of his staff,
in memoir published year or two ago,
gives the following description of his
characteristics and qualities as soldier:
"Gen. Gary could not be called red.
tape disciplinarinn. He had no faith in
the 'pomp Of war; and his study was not
to make cheap reputation by the impo.
sition of unnecessary restrictions, but to
alleviate the bard lot Of his soldiers,
while in camp, by the allowance of every
liberty and indulgence consistent with
the demands of the service. No man,
however, laid greater stress upon the
essentials of real discipline. Rank and
file were made to feel that whatever was
required of them must be done, and
thoroughly done, and that for neglect or
disobedience Of mn order no excuse would
be received. Human life and the pur-
: poses Of the war the General regarded as
too sacred to be trihed with, and ne made
it arule never 10 receive apologies or ex-
plantations from his subordinate officers
for neglect, iaattention or mistake.
There was no pride of rank about him.
His promotion failed to lift him above,
but be was in sympathy with the hum
blest private in tho ranks. There was
nothing assuming or stuck up about the
man. Perhaps something of dignity was
wanting, but his familiar bearing en-
deared him TO bis men. He rested his
authority, not so much On his rank, as on
his conscious ability and his superior fit.
ness for command. No general officer
was more familiar with or more accessi.
ble to his men. He recognized the high
character of the Confederate private, and
respected hisrights and feeliBgs.e
A A. a..