The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-01-31

of Col. Burgwyn. It was growing late
when the other speakers had finished,
but after repeated calls the Colonel
arose and made a short address. His
love for the North Carolina soldier and
his desire to see justice done them
would not permit him to remain silent
at such time, though the opportuni
ty was not as favorable as he might
have desired. bespoke in eulogy Of the
bravery and gallantry of North Caro-
linians especially emphasizing the hon
orable part they took in the memora-
BILE three days fight at Gettysburg.
Col. Burgwyn said:
Mr.. CHAIRMA1:-I would not, at this
late hour OF our meeting, detain the audi
ence, even for few minutes, were it not
to give emphasis to one fact. 1t is vouch-
safed to but few Nations to be distinguish
ed above all others, as possessing some one
prt-eminence.
There is but one country where we find
thc Ely Ptidi !yIdHiu. AheIe Is out ohe
st. Peters at Rome. There is but one
ThermOpyl9. 1t was thought there was
but one Balaklava. Sir! a North Carolina
Regiment in one of the battles of the late
war, had more of its men killed and
wounded on that battle field, than there is
on record, Of any other Regiment, in any
battle of modern times, in any army Of all
the Nations Of the civilized world. There
may he some one here present who was IF
that Regiment and participated in that bat
tie. He will bear me witness and | trust
offend not against the prophecies of this
OCCASION by mentioning that Regiment by
name. l do it with no invidious intent. I
but follow in the footsteps of writer on
the Northern side in the late war, who
first heralded the fact to all the world.
The name of that command should be
treasured as household word to every
North CaroliniaD.
When the first signal gun was sounded
for battle that LIST July afternoon, the 26M
N. C.. Regiment, Pett!gre,o's Brigade, wasn
line of battle eight hundred strong on the
field Of Gettysburg. When on the 3rd the
curtain OF night shut out the carnage of
that field from the sckening eye eighty
men only answered to roll call. Most of
those absent, including their youthful conf
mander, would never again answer to their
names, except to a roll, to be called i'll
Heaven.
"On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards with solemn round
The OivOuac of the dead"
With ranks diminished by the two pre-
vious days fighting at Getty sburg, the Con-
federate troops who penetrated farthest
within the eDemy's lines, and remained
there the longest on the Sd day, hailed
from the Old North State and it was the
gallantry Of the Tar Heel, that made glo-
rious the celebrated charge of Pickett's
Division; for the Regiments of Pettigrew's
Brigade, lost in that battle three men killed
to the Nirginian's one.
There is Glory enough for both but it
ill becomes the historian to falsify the
record. 1t fifty becomes cur duty to Truth
and to the Dead, to set that record rtgAt.
ITO every man upon this Earth,
Death cOmeth soon Or late
| And how can man die better,
Than facing fearful odds
| For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples Of his gods
And for the gentle mother,
| Who handled him to rest,
| And for the wife who nurses
His ha nv at her breast