The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-23

when Mr.. Lincoln proclaimed coercion
as his policy and called for troops the
State answered him by lightning, Inc
cause Of Virginia IS our caufe-millIohs
for defence not a man for coercion. AT
once all division ceased Whig and Demo-
crat, rich and poor. all were patriots IL
was North Cardinals call 10 which they
responded and i'm numbers largely IN eH-
cess of any sister State. And, alas the
losses were even more disDroporuonate-
appalling. The general character OF Nortn
Carolina troops was high. IN all branches
OF the military service. and il was owing
to opportunity rather than TO any superb
ority Of material, perhaps. that some Of
the commands may have gained more
reputation than others They were all
good. On every field they won rcnown
and at Sharpsburg. probably the bloodiest
field during the war according to numbers
engaged. the North Carollnians In the
open field without protection maintained
their ground against superior forces ire
quently reinforced by fresh corps, unttl
night ended the slaughter. When morning
came the Tar Heels were there. but
the enemy was not, nor could they be
induced 70 return 10 the charge during
the day. They had enough.
AT GETTYsDuTG
at Gettysburg on the second day II
was a North Carolina regiment which
planted its colors uDon the enemy's guns
on East Cemetery Heights at the salient
Of the enemys lines. and maintained
them there until after dark. No other
Confederate flag was so placed on the
heights In the so-called pickett charge
on the third day. there were more troops
from North Carolina than from any other
State. To storm and capture the almost
impregnable works at Ream's Stetion.
near Petersburg General Lee selected
Cookies and McRae's North Carolina bri-
gades, and they succeeded. Besides this
performance the charge Of the six hun
dred at Balaklava, passes into insisnii-
canoe. Yet while all English-spcaki peo-
pie applaud the latter, which was a fall
ure. no one speaks Of the victorious North
Carolnians led by Cooke and McNae.
And such is history. General Longstreet
has recently testified. In speaking OF our
troops. that he had been impressed with
the fact that the enemy's losses were
always greater in front Of the North
Carolina regiments.
At APPOMATTOX.
"On that last and fatal day at Appomat-
tox. when General Lee found his way In
tercepted by masses Of infantry, cavalry
and artillery. completely surrounding him
and his famished. struggling forces, his
attention was attracted by line Of Con-
federate infantry moving rapidly up be
side him, as though to charge
the huge masses in front. He
asked What troops are those? and was
answered. a North Carolina brigade
With tears streaming down his face he
exclaimed, God bless Old North Carolina
Thus we see them the first TO the front. at
Bethel; the last to go down, at Appomat-
tox.
North Carolina as n HOMOGENEOUS peo-
pie. honest. conservative, God-feariug,
who by their valor and other good quail
ties take rank among the foremost Of
mankind. 1t IS a sad remembrance that
so many OF them are in unmarked and un-
known graves. but their State now
honors them and will throughout the
ages. while loving friends viii cherish
their memories. Thousands of them had
no worldly goods, but they loved their
State and their neghbors; they were
patriots. and more they were Gods no.
bilitv. Greater love hath no man than
this. that he lay down his life for his
friend With all reverence. in the Ian
gueee of the noble Lee, God bless old
North Carolina