The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-08-13
GrF FoR OLD VIRGINIA.
The Sixth Regiment Survivors Leave Ches.
ter for Seton Pines.

CHESTER, August 5.-This has been q
stirring day in our Town. The 9Th regi.
ment survivors were here In force, making
preparations for their departure to Viz,
ginia. They seemed to be supremely
happy In anticipation of their visiting il
body some Of the hard.fought battle.
fields of that graud old State. They left
this afternoon In company With the sur
vivors from Fairfield, all under the com.
mand Of Major T. w. Woodward, The
first major o: the 9th regiment Many
friends Joined them in tLeir excursion
the entire party numbering about three
hundred men.
The survivors of the Sixth Regiment
s. Q. w., have been cordially welcomed
by the people Of Richmond, ard will
spend to-day in visiting tho battlefield ot
Seven Pines. It is not difficult to imag.
inc the feelings with which they will looL
upon the old familiar scenes, and retrace
the lines where they fought in the fierce
struggle Of twenty.three years ago. For
brief space, again, the solitudes will
resound for them with the cries Of loud
command, the shouts of charging hosts
the roar OF battle and the groans o.
stricken and fallen comrades. Many on
eye will kindle again with the light oi
battle aud many heart will beat quicker
as the old story is told anew on the spot
where every tree and stone recalls some
almost forgotten Incident, and where the
brooks yet trembling murmur of the day
waen their waters ran fed with the BRAY.
est and best in our land.
AppomattoX Is not far away, and those
who fought at Seven Pines and who stand
to-day once more upon the ground oi
their former triumph will follow the
course of war with their thoughts to the
last sad scene where Lee surrendered his
army and the hopes of the South to the
great leader of the Federal armies, who
was himself but now surrendered to the
conqueror of all mankind. It Is peculi.
arly significart of the wonderful changes
that time can effect in the minds and
hearts Of men, and which 1t mas effected
In the minds Of the people of this coun-
try, that even while these Confederate
veterans are aadly reyisiting tho 6old ol
one of the bloodiest battles in the war
between the States, the people Of all the
States are united in mourning for the
man who commanded one of the oppos.
ing armies on that field. a few years
ago the death Of Gen. Grant would have
occasioned but little sorrow in any South.
ern heart; to-day those who fought 30
bravely at Seven Pipe0, Or who laid down
their arms in despair before the might of
his r-orwhelming force at Appomattox.
mourn with those who followed him and
who shared in his final triumph.
The visit of the survivors to the battle.
fields around Richmond should be pro.
ductive Of good results in many WAYS.
but In one way most OF all. Painful
stories have been told from time TO time
Of the neglected condition of the graves
OF the Confederate soldiers who fell ir
battle in Virginia, and particularly of
those who fell on the fold Of Seven Pines.
The survivors will be enabled to see for
themselves whether it be true, as has
been stated, that the bones of their com.
rades have been torn from their shallow
graves and gathered into heaps under the
hedges, or scattered on The. fields tn bllAane
Fruth r viii now be made fully known, aud
40 g, ,i.vous wrong done to the memory
of the dead will be righted, let US hope,
before another year shall have passed.
It is not necessary to make any appeal on
this subject. If the facts prove to be as
they have been stated, they will make
their own appeal, and any words would
be idle where ;tis made in vaip.-Nsws
and Courier.