The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-07-25
From the Mountaineer.
SOUTHERN MEMORIES.
BY LEILA BACON DICKSON.

ern chieftain, ex-President Davis, a
3 Richmond, Va, the once proud capita
, of the Confederacy, has stirred slum
: bering memories, and every Southern
, heart beats with emotion and swell
with patriotic fervor as the last eulo
| gies and tribute is paid this honoret
; hero of the South. Throughout the
Southland there are organizations ant
reunions of Confederate veterans, an(
daughters of the Confederacy, who an
nually meet to decorate the graves anC
perpetuate the name and valor o.
thousands of gallant Confederates, who
fought with the heroism of Spartans
cheerfully yielding up their lives fol
the noble cause for which they fought
A retrospection of some forty years
and we see the South one of the proud.
est and most aristocratic nations on
earth. The hospitable, chivalrous
Southern gentleman, and the beautiful,
virtuOus daughters of the South had no
peers, and the counterpart of many an
elegant mansion throughout the South
might be seen filed with every luxury
and comfort; the abode of hospitality
and leisure, company coming and GO
ing, bountiful tables spread with every
delicacy, choice cookery, old wines,
massive plates and routine of we'll
dressed, well-trained servants. forming
an obsequious array, standing behind
the chairs of guests at tho dinner hour,
or waiting on them in their apart
ments, all combined to give the i'm
preston of joyous, abundant life.
All'was cultivation, elegance and re-
finement. The flower gardens, shrub
berry and ample lawns were laid out
with European taste. The stables
were filled with blooded horses, which
were at the disposal of guests, and
kennels of the finest sporting breeds,
pointers, settlers and packs of grey
hounds were kept not only for the
amusement of the proprietor. but that
of his friends, both ladies and gentle
men, who would frequently gather at
the mansion and spend days under the
hospitable roof. The ladies superbly
mounted, and with gallant escorts,
oftentimes would follow the hounds in
full cry, taking daring leaps as they
flew over fields in chase of the wary fox.
There were many contiguous farms or
plantations adjoining the estate, on
which were thousands of acres of waving
corn and growing cotton, cultivated by
African slaves. The master, kind and
considerate of these dependents, was
held in profound respect, and they
were cheerful and contented under his
dominion. The younger members of
the family were held in special adora
tion by these faithful slaves-constant
companions in childhood, partners of
their youthful grief and joys-who
would willingly have given their lives
for the sake of "young marster" or
"young mistis." Such was the devo-
| tion these humble slaves bore to their
superiors, and this was the happy,
prosperous condition of the South,
when viewed from distance by our
| inb HOY bp
had found the institution of slavery
Improbable, now deemed it prudent to
relieve the South of so profitable re-
source. For years this question was
agitated until bitter sectional antago-
nism existed, and the enlargement be-
tween the two localities had so widened
that there was but little intercourse
between the people of the North and
South, and they regarded each other
almost as distinct nationalities. At
length matters had gravitatcd to such
musketry and claShing of arms was
heard throughout the land we love,
and the American people were engaged
in one of the bloodiest wars the world
had ever witnessed, costing the lives
of nearly million of men, and taking
the light and love from as many happy
homes and loving hearts. The heroic
struggle the Southern people made to
retain their rights and property en-
tailed by ancestry, and the accumula-
tions of years was one of the most
valiant and strenuous efforts history
has ever recorded. Loyalty and devo-
tion to the noble cause was rife
throughout the land, and never had q
people evinced a more determined
spirit than now animated the Southern
men, women and children. Upon the
first call men flew, to their arms, and
wives and motEors sent their husbands
and sons to battle without murmur.
Southern valor, directed by leaders
whose names were identified with the
proudest prestige of America, and the
noble, patriotic soldiers enlisted in de-
fence of principles which were the
dearest convictions of the Southern
heart. Never were opposing forces
more unequally met. The grand army
of the assailant, thoroughly provided
with every appliance of modern war
fare, schooled and disciplined in mill
tary tactics, unlimited wealth and re-
sources, and inoxhaustible numbers,
combined with all the elements of SUI
periority against a people entirely ag-
ricultural in habits and resources,
weak in numbers and government
not yet organized three months; with
OUT supplies, WlInOuI ndVleS anu snip
yards, and without time or opportunity
to obtain them. 1t is not strange that
this grand invading host was so conf.
dent of glorious victory and their
war cry was, "Let it be short, sharp
and decisive" and with one bloody
holocaust the victory was theirs. But
for a moment let us glance at the sud
den revulsion of this grand army of the
enemy who had derided the Confeder
ates for the want of numbers, the want
J of arms, and it's lack of all essential
material of war. Behold their AFRO
gance and hauteur put to flight
routed at every point and now flying
in inglorious retreat before the victori
,, GUS columns Of the Confederates
("Regiment after regiment now came
rushing along the road and over fields
But soon Oil distinction of regiments
and companies of infantry, cavalry ant
artillery were lost. The confusion o
! Babel was synthetic order and perfec
symmetery when compared with the
chaotic uproar which now prevailed
Soon the way of flight became chOket
with private conveyances, with terri
fed civilians, with broken gun-car
D riages, all tumbling, crashing and roll
ing against each other, wounded horses
plunged to and fro in the midst of tn,
. demented mass of human beings
Many were crushed to death. Man,
, threw themselves on the earth, being
4 either wounded or exhausted aud un