The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-09-21

memorJ should ever be kept fresh aud
green in the hearts of these young peop'c
and should he handed down from genera
ton TO generation to be treasured forever
History will never record n hundredth pnrt
of the brave deeds of these heroes. lie told
Of the battle Of Cold Iiarbor in which At of
the 800 in his c mmand were killed in less
than . minutes, that Col. |, q. McKiss'ck
was wounded here, that captains were
hillc and wounded, that there was not a
ak of grain left standing, the field was
Literally mown with 6ui cts, il was a'mo.t q
miracle that any escaped.
Mr.. 1h mas liythe followed commenting
the brive dc eds OF his comrades i, the pri.
vate raak1 With himself, saying tina, history
was too ;lent along this line. Referring to
this meeting, he sal that the remark had
been ma le that this would be a poor meet.
ing, but that it was the best meeting that he
had ever attended, and if he had the tongue
Of an orator he would endeavor TO make il
the grandcst meeting Union County had
ever witncssc1. lie said many brave SOL
dier. Ivy II the b le fed, wi h no shroud
to C yer their noble forms, save horse
blanket, tn no stone to tell that benc nth
this clay he ii $. lie sid that many
days the brave boys would go without eating
anything, md that when they got hold of
anything they W 'uld divide the last crumb
with e,ch other. lie said q comradc had
offered him his brcid once when they had
not had anythi 'g TO cat for two or three
days, he took piece Of it, and his comradc
was shot down in fifteen minutes afterwards,
he never ate the bread but carried it for
many days with him aud wishe it coull
have been poSs bic TO preserve il AS long as
he lived, never had any htng to affect him
as that incident dill. lie sail pamphlet
was being prep red and the names of these
brave men would he handel down from one
generation to an ther. Onc Of the fine est
talks he ever her was made by young
lady, the daughter Of a soldier in presenting
ii flag to his camp. Sentiment seems to have
changed. 1t used to be an honor to be n
soldier now one thinks it The reverse. lie
praised those women at home, who did so
much 10 cheer the husban !, brother, son or
sweetheart away off in III, army, You
hardly ever hear any praise for the poor
8 ldicr who fought bel aud dicl for the
cause. shall never 80 lorg a. live bush
to remember that WAS confederate col
dier, and trust that in the hual day that
may be able to meet my Old comrades in
that land where there are 10 wars and
where everlasting JOY and peace rcigus for
ever.
MIR. Charner Greer spoke next. lie said
'HC "at ScCulcl llhe IL CUulu
see how they all went through with what
they did aud came out alive. Told of the
b'ow-up and how he WAS covered up. Told
of the enlis ment and how they did n, the
beginning of the war. How they managed
to keep all in line by telling those who were
sick TO keep in rear, this brought them all
up in line. lie told several amusing Incl
dents. lie said tha; he knew Of one time in
his life that he was out of sight Of the Sine
red Hill, that was while he was covered up
in that blow up. (rhe Sims Red Hill is
one of the highest points in Union county,
and can be seen for many miles The
worst frightened he ever was, was when
shell struck n man by his side in the head,
killing him Instantly, and knocking him,
(Greer) down. Said he thought he was
k,llel too, scared so bad he could not walk
in ten minutes. lie dug himself out with
his sword when he was covered up. When
he got his heal out n negro was ab ut to
shoot him and he took it back. Finally he
got out and ran.
Capt Il. L. lIames spoke next. | wish it
was possible to give these old soldiers
words. II would be interesting re ,ding to
every true son of s. c., but it would take up
too much space, in fact would make VOL
umc of interesting rea ling, and many iuci-
dents were related that il entirely over
looked by history. Mr.. Ilames was commits
sary, said he was very glad to get the place
Told Of Col. jenkins complimenting the
Pea Ridge Rifles for their prompincss
to respond to call when the Jasper
Rifles from another State, which was
considered the crack company, hesitatci to
go. lie said he had met Charner Greer
after the blowing up and that he was the
ugliest man he ever saw
Voice in the crowd.) "Ile hasn't entire
ly got over it yet. has hc?'
lie sail he had 10 step on one thing and
another TO keep out of the human blood
which was shoe-mouth deep where he was
walking after the battle. There was only
- out of 500 found alive. All the speak
ers we're loud in their praise Of the noble
women of Virginia, and told Of their great
help TO the poor soldiers aud how they
divided 10 the last what they had for their
comfort.
Here dinner was announced, aud when
we approached the table we bcheld in as
tonishment that it was literally covered
from one end to the other, just loaded down
with good things to eat, and the entire
gathering had all they cpull eat and there
was lots to spare.
After dinner the veterans were ordered
to fall i'm and they formed in front Of
the Stanu oo StronR, anu your cOrreSpOn-
dent was asked to enroll them. Their
names will be found below. After enroll
mcnt they formed in double ranks and
marched around TO the seats TO listen 20 the
balance Of the speaking.
Mr.. John j. Eison led off, giving glow
ing account OF the fortunes and misfortunes
of the McBeth Battery, Of which he was a
member, taking his hearers along through
the war from beginning to surrender, tell
ing how he got away and never surrendered.
Said that Capt. Boyce had said that was the
finest battery in the werld This was the
last battery ctp,ured this side of the Mis-
sissippi.
Mr. W. NJ. Vandcrford, of the infantry,
then gave his experience. Said the cavalry
ETC., did the skirmishing and the in aniry
dip the fighting Out of lO7 of his com-
pany only l3 could bc found. Begged the
people to keep up these reunions don't
want to be forgotten when cold in the grave
Mr. W. II. S. Harris spoke next, saying
that some had said they would rather face
| the enemy than to face an audience and try
to speak but that he would n hundred times