Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-09-27
Memorial Tribute to John Alexander Hayden


Baltimore.
Memorial Tribute TO John Alexander Hayden.
At "A meeting of the 81. Mary's ex -COnfeder-
ate Association at the Court House on Tues
day. Sept. u. 1894. the following Memorial Tri-
butte to John A. Hayden, written by John j.
Duke, was read by Judge J Parran Crane:
MIR. president AND FELLOW MEMBERS -
Away back I'm 'G2. when the black war clouds
were lowering over our vast country; when
tn. trump OF immense bodies OF infantry, the
chatter Of cavalry. the rattle Of artillery and
the booming Of cannon echoed from every for
est from the Rio Grandc to- and beyond the Po-
tnnac, il was plain to the young men OF Ma
ryland remaining ut home at that time that
they had TO fight on one side or the other, for
many had gone South when the tocsin of war
was first sounded snd others wished to remain
neutral IL they could. They hcsitated for
time to exile themselves from their homes and
friends, but when the alternative was present
cd-,io this or fight against your Southern
brcthren-minds were quickly made up, and
thousands nockcd South to join the armies Of
Lee and Jackson. Among that goodly num-
Der was John Alexander Hayden, third son of
Stephen and Maria Hayden, residing near Leon
arltown. As a boy and pupil OF school / had
known him, and knew him to be industrious,
s.udious AMI moral to Il high degree. When,
then, we found our fortunes linked together
by being mustered into the service of the Con-
fcdcratc States for three years or the war, an
opportunity was presented Of studying the
qualities of his mind and heart. A few days
after reaching Richmond company was form
cd,.Company H., composed nearly equally OF
young men from Charles and ST. Mary's coun-
ties, comprising sixty odd members, command
cd 10y J. Parran Crane.
Drilling week or two ut Camp winder, on
the suburbs of Richmond, we were ordered to
Winchester, together with Company A., where
in a short time other companies having joined
AIS, We formed battalion, clccting James Il.
Herbert Lieut.. Colonel and W. W. GoldsbO-
rough Major. From September, e., to June,
81 we were the only infantry holding the great
and fertile Valley of Virginia.
There was also brigade OF cavalry, com
JnandcI 10y Gen. VIM. +. Jones, to which the
Maryland battalion of cavalry was attached.
These forces, together with a small command
known IA witchcr's battalion, had To keep
back Federal force OF from 6,OOO to l0,0OO
men. Our force being 81 much inferior TO that
of the enemy we were compelled, Mt short in
terynls, to remove from one poin: to another,
stopping sometimes for two or three weeks at
n camp; then foT only few days.
The memorable winter of sixty-two and
three was noted for its many falls of snow.
We were not covered up every time, however.
by this white mantle We would construct
little huts, upon the orlor Of fodder houses,
which we called hunks or shchangs, not tall
enough 70 stand up I'm, but to sit in. These we
covered with brush and leaves, aEsd in them pas
scd some comfortable nights. During this win
ter and spring the infantry had no actual on
gagcment, but were many times in battle array
expecting one. The duties of tie soldiers con-
sisted of camp-duty, long and rapid marches
mountains, dangerous by-paths. some
times over which we had TO march in Indian
filc." fording icy rivers, causing the blood to
stand still In the veins. Then again their tramp
would be heard passing through some valley
town at CLOSE order" quick step" to the mu-
sic of the band and the cheers of its citizens
Among all the hariships of a Confederate
soldiers life the greatest perhaps was n def
cheney of rations; and, when a man is hungry.
hc generally loses his charity. Now, IL You
should chance To find n comrade who had one
biscuit left, which he was rcscrving for the
last extremity, and he should say to you.
come, my friend, ! will divide. take half of
this" you know he must possess charity In a
heroic degree. This fact found in the SUBJ
JeoI Of my memorial, John A. Hayden. IL is
true l found few others who would do the
same. but they we're few and far between"
The eamp-lifc OF n soldier. his home life, pre-
scented often lively scene. The huts or tents
were placed ordinarily after the manner of
cities. but the big log fires burning, especially
ut night, gs,,c Il 10th IA weird and picturesque
uppcaraucs -. III the world Is n stage." hut
the world Is 50 large we see but few of the ac-
tors or plays at time; but 80 into camp. say
some Sunday morning after the men had bur
nishcd up their guns and dress parade being
over. what might We sec? The world ign a nut
she'll" Within the range of our vision we
would see comedy. serio-comedy, tragedy, or
several something's that l could not find words
to express. Eonder you would see a minister
preaching 20 a crowd OF devou: listeners: there
Il party playing game of seven-up with look
crs on: here the cooks with wooden pokers lift
the lids from their ovens OF brcao; 10 the
right two men are fighting with words and
fists; to the left a crowd of humorisis dancing
the Indian war dance; now comes waiting ON
the breeze, from a crowd, some well-known
song OF that day. II IL be
Turn backward, turn backward. oh time in
your light,
Make me u child again just for the night"
you would see many thoughtful faces turning
I'm imagination back TO the homes of their
childhood. where around the blazing fire per-
hIps Of wntry night the mother. the father.
the sisters and brothers sat sheltered from the
storms without.
A soldier does not and should not repinc.
There are moments when disaster and defeat,