Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1883-01-04

Christian" Our beloved Captain is now
On the retired list in the land Of Peace,
where he will remain, and where he will
be suprsmely happy throughout the cesse-
less ages of eternity. Let US initiate his
pious example by trying to find the way
to HesSen and immortal glory"
IA gobier, G;allantcr, swceteT Spirit
Never Lived
These were Gen. Capers' precise words
in his address. And we are proud to say
that they were applied to an Edgefeld
major rather an Edge6eld boy; for even
at his death. soon after the war, be was
scareely more than boy in years. Gen.
Capers alluded 10 James Tillman. young
or brother Of the Hon. George D. Tillmsn,
and the youngest son Of the family, if we
mistake not, save our friend Capt. Benla-
min r Tillman. James Tillman went
into the war as private in 20 l and
came out as its Captaln-his sword hsv-
ing been voted to him by the Company
and with both arms shattered and spffen
ed from terrible wounds Gan. Capers
spoke of this young man with loving per
sls,ency, detailing incidents of his high
career from the beginning to the end of the
var Ore Of these incidents was this and
j; is very interesting.
The sand Fly Order.
Gsn. Capers, then Lieut. Col. Of The
24tb, was in command Of the Regiment Al
Srcessionville, while Col Stevens-"O.1
Rock"-wss in command Of the whole
Island. The sand aies were more numer-
GUS than the sands Of the sea, and more
pestiferous than the deaallest nettles. TIC
up.country men, in particular, they prov.
ed an understandable torment. "Oid Rock
issued an order that no man should raise
his hand AT dress parade; that1s, that 10
man should defend his face from the in
tolersble assaults of the sand A.. Lieut.
COL Capers demonstrated with Col Ste
vens, urging that this was moro than hu-
man nature could comply with under the
circumstances. But "Old Rock" was OBJ
durats. And az Lieut. Col. Gamers read the
order TO the Regiment, he ever and anon,
despite his manifest efforts, lifted his hand
and brushed the maddening sand fly out
Of his eyes, nose, ears and mouth. The
order OF course became dead letter, but
still it stood. And for several afternoons,
at dress parade, Lieut. Col. Capers, to use
his own words, observed on the right Of
90, /. "a tall, fair, alender. light-haired
youth, Of countenance peculiarly sweet
and manly. who never lifted hand or
apparently moved a muscle" He was 80
struck by this wonderful grit and self
possession Of the young private. that be
sant for him to come to headquarters, and
asked him his name. The reply was
james Tillman, Of Eigef-ld." He said
he had made up his mind from the first to
obey the impossible order. and be had
d,ne 20. And it vas in this connection
thai Gen. Capers exclaimed "A nobler
gsllsnter, swester spirit never lived !!
..Jim Tillman and Press BiackweI''
Capture the Federal Flag In the
Imminent Deadly Breach.
Another heroic incident related by Gen
| Capers, which should make EdgeGeld fee
very proud, was this: 1t was at the ter
rible battle of Franklin, Tennessee. on th'
| 3O,h November l064-the culmiuation o
Hoods great csmpaign-when every gen
Graf officer in the Division had been killed
and WREN red carnage reigned on every
sid, IN indescrlbable horror. COL Caper
had received fearful wound in the lei
and been borne from the field. He va
| lyipg, if We mistake not, in o desertet
house nsrd by the battle held. The hgh
was we'll nigh over and the sun was vel
nigh down. And at this juncture - II
| Tillnan," now Captain Of Co. |, rushed
into his room, his fair face oa.me Wit
patriotic glory. and bearing in bis lam
the regimentai flag Of an ohlo regim@ nj
This Aug he laid by Col. Capers' side as
proof that he and his men had not stop
psd short Of the inside Of the enemy
works The Federal forces we're YER
strongly entrenched. and had not ventur
"a bsyoaa tbsR wolsa, Captain gllna