The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-13
The Death-efs Col.a~Ffederick L
Chllds at Stateburg.

Frederick l.. Childs, late colonel of ordi-
nance Confederate States army, whose death
at Sta,eburg on the 10th inst. was announced
in The Neacs ard Courier yesterday, was Il
man who had led q long and varied career,
not free from sacrifice and sorrow, and who
had filed many positions of responsibility and
trust, ever with honor to himself, gaining
from all with whom he came in contract re.
specs, admirafioo aud affection
Col. .Cbiids Game Of old army, stock, bis
father and his grandfather baving both been
in the service before him. His father WAS
Major Thomas Childs, y rery distinguished
officer 10 the Mexican war, who was famous
ID lis day f0F his cons 5acuo1s gatfan,ry Il the
battle of Chapuhepec and was brevetted
beigx1erSg i'm resogniu0n of his gallant
and valuable services at that battle
Col Guilds was born Id Maine 10 the ear
1881 and was grad aAfed at ST. James College,
Maryland, 10 1851 From this institution he
went to the Military academy At West Point,
where be .emained until July /, 1855, when, at
the age Of p, heMasgraatuaseda ndipromoted
to the army as brsyet eteeona sleufenaut of
artillery. He was commissionediupou the .4th
of the same month as second lieutenant OF
artillery he served in the hostilities against
the Seminoles in Florida in 1856 and 1857
and held the position of assistant professor OF
geography. history aI'd e,ales at the Military
Academy from September, 1857, to February,
1859 The remainder of 1859 be Was in gar
rison at Fort Moultrie.
At the close of 1859 he was assigned to
frontier duty At Fort Clark, Texas, and was
afterwards transferred to Fort Duncan,
- sha r.cH ko
secession of South Carolina reached him.
Coming as he did Of army stock On both sides,
and having all his ioterests bound up in the
army, the wrench Of severing his connection
with the service ,csnnot be appreciated BY any
one who has not beeo placed in the same posi-
ton. Col. Childs in resigning bis conmis-
sion relinquished rot only what be held most
dear, but also the certainty Of brilliant
future. These considerations, however, did
not not deter him for moment. He straight.
way resigned his commission and, returning
to Charleston, entered the service Of the State
of South Carolins.
Col. Childs served the Lost Cause through
out the war in the positions in which his su.
perior officers thought him NEST needed, most
Of the time as commandant Of the Charleston
Arsenal, and afterwar of the Fayetteville
arsenal aud armofy.
Atthe close Of the war be engaged 10 cot
ton planting &Sslaseoarg, the homesof his
wife. In the year 1870 be entered the service
of the New York and Charleston Steamship
Company he remained in.this poNsicn until
;7s, when be was appointed inspectorefor the
GoYeroment on public works at Charleston
aud Savannab, which position be held until
's6.. During the last years of his life he has
been in Governmental service under Capt.
Abbot at this port.
Col. Childs married FIRST a. sister OF Gen
Anderson, of this State, ("Figbtiug Dick
Aud ndersou,") by whom be bad several chill
dren OF these three survive him-Mr. VIM
W !. Ghilds, Of Mlddlesboro, Ky, Mr.. Thos.
Childs and Miss Mary Chids, of Stateburg.
His second wife wassa daughter Of the late
Mr.. Geo. n. Iograham. This1a died in
this city after long aud painful illness on
the 3lst ult, and it was probably the grief OF
her death which caused his, which was by
heart failure, and which occurred at the resi-
| dence of his brolherein, law SDrsssW.. sW
Anderson, at Stateturg, aberehe bad gone
after.hs recent bereavement onsa visit to his
sistes, Mrs. Anderson, and his children.
There could be no more fitting epitaph for
the tomb of Col Childs than
t, 'He did justly, loved mercy and walked
hnmbly with his God. "lSews and Courier,
Esjune 18th. :.