The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-14
BILL ARP
Turns His Attention to Military Boys.

Turns his Attention to Military Boys.
Whas pleasant thing it is-the re
union of army comrades. believe ther'
are more of them both North and Soutl
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 th'
boys in gray will keep it up as long a.
there is 8 quorum left. The quorums O.
some of the companies are getting very
small, for there is an enemy to human
life that is surer of his mark than cannon
ball or shot or she'll. Old father time j:
slow, but he is sure. Speaking of quo
runs reminds me of faithful soldier, s
Jew, very humble and patient Jew
who joined q company from Rome and
was received under protest, for he was
frail and feeble, and 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, never was we'll, never was sick,
never struggled on the march, never
missed battle, and never boasted oi
anything he did. I remember that when
his company were badly cut up and badly
demoralized and a 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, MIR. Jonas ?"
said the commanding officer. Jonas
| made an humble salute and replied,
Colonel I ish de kumbuy." I was
Illuminating over these things the other
| day when I was in Bar Ks County and
heard that the Banks County Guards
were to have reunion. I wish I could
have stayed to see it and 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 q born 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 please to right
face"
"Gentlemen of the Banks County
| Guards thought that ordered you To
look to the rig ght 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 Banks County
Guards, have just received communi.
| 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. l would like to
| ask YOU gentlemen if it is your pleasure
to be drilled by Major Harrison ?"
Bill Chaston says that about this time
great big bearded private who was q
bell weather among the boys and was
leaning up against a tree, locked his arms
over his head and gaped and yawned as
he replied, "no captirg I don't believe |
feel like drilling this evening. We will
let the colonel know when we feel like it"
Military terms and military tactics
were altogether unknown to the noun.
taineers and their officers, but they did
the best they could and were always
ready for fight. When Captain Cand-
ler wanted his company tc advance few
PAGES to the front he always said "Gen.
tlemen of the Banks County Guards I
will thank you to step this way" But
in due time they became familiar with
right oblique and file left and counter.
march and charge and fix bayonets snd
all the other orders except fall back and
retreat, and no company in Colonel
Semmes, command stood higher for cour-
age and 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.
I see that many of the regiments have
presented their banners, their tattered
and torn and faded banners, and it is
now lawful for the boys to plant the old
colors in their midst and do homage to
them and there are none to modest or
make US afraid.
That is a good sign, sign of returning
| reason in the minds of our masters. l
remember we'll when it was not tolerated.
I remember when the young folks OF
Rome had some tableaux in tie 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
| battle scene on the stage and set up an
old confederate flag in the corner.
De 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 a splendid priest
| in old Spanish inquisition. When he
| saw the flag he left the hall in tower OF
| rage. Next morning he put all the
prominent persons connected with the
tableaux under arrest and threatened to
put the girls in jail but he was afraid.
I was lord mayor of the little town al
that time and as in duty bound wrote to
General George II. Thomas at Louisville
Kentucky, and told him frankly all about
it and asked for the discharge of the
young men.
The reply that I received in due time
reminds me of Logan's letter of accep'
tance. 1t is splendid bloody shirt,
have it now before me and will give an
extract just to show where We stood in
| FEBRUARY, 1867. I had written him as
humble as dead niger. told him
| that our people in Rome had in good
| faith accepted the situation, and the boys
intended no insult by the display of the
flag.
The answer says, "If your people have
ordinary intelligence they misunderstano
their present status, which is that the re-
bellion is huge crime embodying al
the crimes in the decalogue. 1t has beer
conquered and disarmed and its very
name and emblems are hateful to tht
people of the trusted States, and he mus
be indeed obtuse who expects to bs
| Jo hafora III a auoc of 1ovo