The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-14
VOLUME XX.---N(1. 8.
BILL ARP
Turno His Attention to 1lrlItary Boys.

| What pleasant thing it is-the re-
union of army comrades. believe there
are more of them both North and South
this year than any year since the war
There is sad, sweet pleasure about it
and there is nothing wrong or demoraliz
ing, and hope the boys in blue and the
boys in gray will keep it up as long as
there Ia o quorum LEFT. The quorums oi
some OF the companies are getting very
ANAL, Tor there is an enemy to human
life that is surer of his mark than cannon
ball or shot or shell. Old father time is
slow, but he Is sure. Speaking Of quo.
runs reminds mo OF n faithful soldier, a
Jew, o very humble and patient Jew,
who Joined company from Rome and
was, received under protest, for he was
irail and feeble, end had never made any
demonstration of courage or patriotism.
That man hardly ever saw anything
rarely smiled even at the campfire jokes,
but he was as true as steel. He never
went to hospital, never asked for fur.
| Tough, mover was we'll, never was sick.
never struggled on the march, never
missed battle, and never boasted OF
anything he did remember that when
! his company we're badly cut up and badly
! demoraliZed and forced march was
| ordered, the regiment was suddenly halt.
ed for review, and when his company
| was called for to be inspected the faithful
Jew stepped forward and presented arms.
Where is your company, Mr. Jonaa7"
said the commanding officer. Jonas
made IN tumble salute and replied,
| 'Colopol 1 ish dc kumbuy." I was
'rHr i;sating over tiiess shinga the other
day when / was in Banks County and
heard that the Banks County Guards
were to have reunion. I wish could
have stayed to see it aud enjoy It. re-.
| call the time when the Banks County
Guards made such sensation in the
Virginia army on account Of the peculiar
politeness Of their captain. Captain
Gambler was C bcTn Chesterfield and
neither the rules nor the rigor of war
could shake or modify his instructive
politeness. Gentlemen of the Banks
County Guards, you will pleafs to right
face"
Gentlemen of the Banks County
Guards l thought that ordered you to
look to the right and dress but doubtless
you did not hear me, so I will repeat the
| order, gentlemen Of the Banks County
Guards you will please look to the right
| and Dress"
Gentlemen of the BauSs County
Guards, have just received comnuni.
cation from Colonel semmes saying that
he will send Major Harris down at 2
O'Clock to exercise you in the drill and
other military tactics. I would like to
ask you gentlemen If it Is your pleasure
to be drilled by Major Harrison ?"
Bill Chaston says that about this lime
o great big bearded private who wis q
bell weather among the boys and was
leaning up against tree, locked his nrms
over his head and gaped and yawned as
he replied, mo capting don't believe I
let the colonel know when we feel likO it."
Military terms and military tactics
were altogether unknown to the NOM.
taineers and their officers, but they did
the best they could and were always
ready for fight. When Captain Cand.
ler wanted his company to advance few
pacos to the front he always said "Gen.
tlemen of the Banks County Guards
will thank you TO step this way" But
in due time thay became familiar with
right oblique and file left and counter.
march and charge and fix bayonets end
all the other orders except fall back and
retreat, and no company in Colonel
Semmcs, command stood higher ,vr cour.
age aud patriotism than the Banks Coun-
ty Guards. Long may the remnant live
to honor their country, and long may
Captain Gambler live 10 command them
in peace as faithfully as he did in war.
see that many of the regiments have
presented their banners, their tattered
and torn and faded banners, aud it 10
now lawful for the boys to plant the old
colora in their midst and do homage to
them and there are none to molest or
make us afraid.
That is good sign, a sign of returning
reason in the minds of our masters. I
remember we'll when it was not tolerated.
remember when the young folks of
Rome had some tableaux in the city hall
to raise money TO put the pews back in
| the churches, the pews that Sherman's
men had taken out to make pontoons Of
and kindle their camp. fires. They had
J battle scene on the stage and set up an
old confederate flag in the corner.
Dc la Mesa was there, the command.
ant of the post. He was half French
| and half Spanish. half fool and half dog
| and would have made splendid priest
In old Spanish inquisition. When he
| saw the flag he loft the hall in a tower of
rage. Next morning he put. all the
\ Piouiucut peIbOHb COuneCleu WIFI the
| tableaux under arrest and threatened to
put the girls In jait but he was afraid.
l was lord mayor Of the little town ct
that time and as in duty bound wrote to
General George III. Thomas at Louisville,
Kentucky, and told him frankly all about
it and asked for tho discharge of the
young men.
The reply that received In due time
reminds me Of Logan's letter of accep.
tsnce. II Is splendid bloody shirt,
have it now before me and will give an
| extract just 20 show where we stood In
FEBRUARY, 1867. I had written him az
humble as dead niger. I told him
that CUR people in Rome had In good
fs.th accepted the situation, and the hoye
intended no insui: by TIC a;splay of the
flag.
The answer says, "If your people have
ordinary intelligence they misanderstand
their present atLfus, which is that the re.
bellion is o hrge crime embodying all
the crimes in the decalogue. It has been
conquered and disaFmed and its very
name and emblems are hateful to the
people Of the trusted Sts,tss, and he mus.
be indeed obtuee who expects to be
allowed to parade before the eyes Of loyal
people that which they exeerate and
abhor. a
"Your excuse that the young men did
not know It was wrong Is too puerile te
answer. They know we'll enough what
Is right In such matters without Waitins