Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-05-20

The Valley of the Shenandoah was occupied
alternately by Federal and Confederate troops.
1t is said that no sutlerings, either OF hunger or
anxiety resulting from the devastations OF the
Union army, were sufficient hardships TO prevent
the bright smiles and the waving Of handker-
chiefs from greeting the approach OF the Con-
frderate army. Yes, my friends, remember, as
time passes, that You have a country worthy OF
your highest respect and greatest honor. 1t has
Il history, bathed in tears and stained with blood
though it be, yet fresh tledged with the white
wings of virtue. "a land without ruins is a
land without memories; a land without memo
ries is Il land without liberty!'
"Yes. give me the land that has story and song
TO tell of the strife with the right and the wrong.
Yes, give me the land with a grave in each spot
And names in the ground that shall not be forgot.
Yes, give me the land Of the wreck and the tomb;
There's agrandeur in g~raves-thcreS Il glory IN
gloom;
For out of the gloomy future brightness is born,
AS after the night looms the sunrise of morn ;
And the graves of the dead with grass OvergrOwn,
May yet form the tootstool of libertv's throne,
And each single wreck in the war path of Might
Shall vet be a rock in the temple Of Right"
TO the company of volunteer militia I have a
word to say. would urge upon you to allow no
lack of zeal or press of business to prevent your
annual visits to this sacred spot. Come here for
ever, like the ArabianS to the shrine of Mecca,
and unite III the celebrations of these sacred oc-
%casions and moreover, keep up forever 70 ur or
ganizatiOn that you may assist, if need be, TO
guard and protect your native soil from external
attacks, as well as from inSurrectiOnary within.
Keep up the martial spirit of your country, and
let the world be aware that the manhood Of your
ancestors continues to burn brightly down the
current of time. Come here as a sacred duty
come as a mark of respect for those here buried,
who sacrificed their lives that the blessings OF
liberty should be perpetuated.
In conclusion, Ladies of Ebenezcr, allow me
to thank you for your kind invitation to speak
to you on this OCCASION. / trust that | have not
too greatly disappointed your expectations. To
minglc my tears with yours over the shrine OF
these dead heroes is to me a sad consolation. As
one Of the survivors Of the Confederate armies
in whose columns it is my proud boast to have
served, | am touched more than ordinarily by
the tender offices Of respect which You perform
to-day. Sooner or later we shall all pass away
and enter the columns with our comrades in tht
grand march through eternity. Tell it to youl
children to guard the rear of that advancing ar
my, and protect from SANDER and mlSrepresent
alton the untarnished honor of the Confederate
soldier. Pitched suddenly into war against vast,
ly unequal odds, without military training anG
without the material and means of warfare
against an enemy which had the world to draw
from for men and means with our ports block
AIDED and supplies cut off, we struck a dauntless
blow that reverberated around the world.
Proceed in yonr good work, Ladies of Ebene'
ger. Apart from the record of war, this spot Of
ground and your beautiful village have a classic
history extending back in the dim past to a peri
Cd even more remote than the traditions OF YOU
immediate ancestors can recall.
Concluding, the speaker paid a high compli.
ment to the people of Ebenezer and pronounced
a panegyric upon the noble dead of EbeneZel
who fell in the cause of the Southern Confed'
eracy.
After the address, the ladies and children.
all laden with beautiful flowers, escorted by
the Catawba Rifles, placed upon the graves
of the departed heroes the floral offerings.
The services were solemn and impress.
sive. May the rising generation ever re-
member the Tenth of May and always as
semble at old Ebenezer Cemetery and place
flowers upon the graves of those who
fought and fell in the Lost Cause. L.