The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-12

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mental system this object of offence and
subject of contention has left the union
of these States purer and stronger than
! ever.
! But for the purpose Of this communl-
cation, what matters it whether the ac-
: ton Of the South in dissolvinS its con-
nectiOn with tho general government was
lust or un lust, wise or unwlsc? IL IS IL
! bel to charge the South with rebellion,
| The Confederate soldier, howing to the
solemn decision of the majority III con-
yentions assembled, fell into line, fought
and died for his convictions, for what ne
believed to he the original power and
purposes of our national government.
"WhO does better than he who puts his
best thought, his highest and maturcst
convictions of right into his ll1e-work?
Perfection is for God alone. Among
men, he deserves we'll who follows with
unlaltering courage where his best aiid
most enlightened judgement leads"
Conscience made the Southern soldier
the bruvest of the brave. 10 him the
Quarrel was Just, to him the call of his
country was the call of his God, and the
cause to which he gave his liie's blood
was to him the cause of home and native
land. No nation ever entered the lists OF
battle with higher and nobler purpos-
es than did The Southern people on
the 18th Of April, 1861 and when they
surrendered their hopes with their arms
they retired from the scene OF war with
no stain on their gallant and honorable
record.
Let us then commemorate to-day the
names OF those who have given to the
Confederate cause its unt;,ding fame, and
let US mark again on the tablet OF our
memory the places which have made the
geography of the South immortal. In
the name of Lee alone the South has q
password to the respect and admiration
OF the world. III the history of nations,
as in the lives OF individuals, there is a
great and lasting influence in name.
It has served as the war cry upon the
field Of battle; it has stood as the en-
blcm of honor and courage; and from 1t
thousands have drawn the inspiration OF
their lives, Let us garner to-day from
the fields cf the past the names of our IL
lustrious dead and preserve them in the
great stOre-houSe Of history. In rcmcm-
bering hose who wore the stars and straps
let us not forget tho n-commiSslOned
and the private. Let the burial places or
nil who died for the "bonnia blue flag"
ln declled with these tokens ct our fond
est remen brance. Though the graves OF
our heroes b, in the billOwy deep or
upon some far off mountain side, and
though upon the tombS of many we read
that pathetic word "Unknown," yet
there is Il name for the known and the
unknown, for the buried ard the unbur-
led, which binds them all in one com
mon circle of glory, and that name is
"Cohtederate Dead" Though n" stone
may mark the spot where the Southern
soldier sleeps, though the soabing OF the
sea or the sighing Of the wind be his
only dirge, yet'upon the scroll OF honor
his name shall survive in letters Of light
when the "Storied urn is dust and the
marble shaft moulders in ruin.
Let us, too, look to-day at the map OF
our Southland with renewed pride. Ma
nassas, Gettysburg, Wilderness and APP
pomattoN should he indelibly marked
upon the geography of our country. l!et
us also note each lesser spot who're valor
bled and died. "The red old hills ofGeor-
gia' have been immortalizcd by Shcr-
mans disastrous March to the Sea-
Ressaca, Dalton, kcnnesaw Mountain,
Atlanta and Fort McAlIister will ever
remain bright and memorable places
upon the map Of our State.
But the special object Of our rcmem-
brance and commncnoration today
should be the character and the lives CT
the dead. The Confederate soldier Was
the ilnpersnna!iOn Of that which is no.
blest in thought, truest in feeling and
hravest in action. In his disposition
there were mingled the tenderness OF 4
woman, the humanity Of Christian and
the chiva!ry Of Il knight.
The same courtesy of manner which
characterized him in the domestic rcla-
ti0ns of life, distinguished him in the try
Ing ordeal OF battle. The atlcctionate ia
thcr and devoted husband became on the
field of carnage the most daring and feat
less Of soldiers. His character was soft
en- ed, strengthened and ennobcd by the
tender amenities of the fireSide. The
family is not only the formation of socie-
ty, but the test of individual excellence.
The record Of the Southern soldier was
but the splendid development of man
hood, which had been trained to loyo
truth and home, and to die for honor.
Faithful to the duties. Of the family circle.
he became loyal to the cause OF his coun-
try.
1t would be futile task were to at
tempt a recital of the countless examples
Of heroisln and selt-sacritico which adorn
the record Of the Sonth in that stubborn
CbllIcSL DClWccll Ctc kotSttCS. ltlSloiy
replete with illustrations. Let us, how
ever, recur to a few general facts.
The number of Federal soldiers in the
field during the war was 2,6O0,O00, while
the entire available force capable OF ac
tive service, enrolled from first to last ia
the Confederate armies WAS only 900.
Contending against these fearful odds,
and the mighty resources Of Il national
government the South for four years held
the result trembling in the balance.
Now listen, my friends, at the sequel.
The total casualties Of the Federal armies
aggregating two and d half million men
amounted to only 2S0,000, while of the
600, 600 enlisted in the Confederate service
the number Of the slain reached the
dreadful figures Of 100000. In all the
wars Of history valor has never reared Il
prouder memorial. The South with her
locks all CORY, and her garments all tat
tered, fell at last from waste Of blood.
TO make the record of this struggle still
more famous and memorable let us con-
slider in awOrd the privation and eXtrcm-
itv to which our people were reduced.
On the last day of the year 1864 forty
nine dollars III Confederate money were
worth only one dollar in gold. OF this
deprecated currency the Southern sol
dier received eleven dollars, or 23 cents in
good money, as the monthly wages Of his
perilouS service.
Then to intensity the horror Of his sit
uation he was haunted by the conscious
ness that his wife and little ones were in
dcStitutlOn at home and exposed to the
ruthless treatment of Il lncrccnary army.
Starving, ragged and sicK-at-hcart, the
Confederate soldier led The charge with
impctuous enthusiasm, and stood the
storm of battle with undaunted courage.
He has left Il record which eclipscs the
exploits of the 'tenth legion of Cesar
or the National Guard of NaD0pOn. Such