The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-04
Gen. j. b. kershaw.

Gen. j. 3. Kershaw.
At a regular meeting of Camp Dick
Anderson held July 1894, committee
appointed at the regular meeting in
May submitted following report which
was unanimously adopted:
Your committee in pursuance of the
duty assigned them beg leave to sub
NIT the following tribute to the
memory of Major Gen. J. B. Kershaw,
with the accompanying resolution.
This Camp of Confederate Veterans
unite with the old soldiers of the Con-
federacy and its fellow citizens of
South Carolina in tribute of respect
to the memory of Major General
Joseph Brevard Kershaw.
Though by taste and occupation
engaged in the peaceful employments
of civil life, at the call ofhis Country,
he embarked in the War with foreign
Country and when that war was over
he returned to the walks of civil life
with some experience and considerable
reputation as soldier. When his
beloved South and his native State
became the parties to contest with
the Federal Government, regarded by
them as contest for right and for
domestic security, he was amongst the
first to tender to South Carolina his
sword and his life for her defence.
He was present, in command of his
Regiment, the End South Carolina,
when the first gun was fired at Fort
Sumter. In the war which followed
for four long weary years, he served
with untiring energy, chivalric c0ur-
age and distinguished generalship
when overwhelming numbers and al
most inexhaustable resources of the
Northern armies made longer resis-
tance by shattered army and an ex-
hausted people useless expenditure
of human life. What is called the lost
cause seemed to haye been lost indeed.
1t was war for our homes and con-
stitutional rights and will yet be con-
ceded by the impartial future to have
been justified by the highest principles
of right and patriotism.
We cheerfully submit that war and
our motives, the ability of our leaders
the courage and endurance of our
soldiers to the calm judgment Of
future generations-even of our own
countrymen with whom that conflict
was carried on. In that war he won
distinction and promotion, he won the
affection of his soldiers in the ranks
and the confidence of his brother
officers, he won the admiration Of his
countrymen and name to live in his
tory. He will be pointed to in coming
time as one of the men who gave tone
and character to the army in which he
served and to the people from whom
he sprung and whose righteous cause
was the object of his devotion and the
purpose of his sacrifice. In this trib.
ute we unite with all of his fellow
citizens of every class in civil life,
with his immediate neighbors in the
community in which he lived, with the
bar and with the judiciary of which
he was so distinguished member, and
with all who love virtue and value the
public good. 1t would not be appro-
pirate here to attempt to record the
details of his life, or the steps by
which he reached such eminence in
the esteem, confidence and affection of
his countrymen. These things belong
to history.
AS man and a citizen, he was a
model, pure, just and generous, as a
Judge, he was faithful, able and inn
partial, as soldier, he was chevalier,
without fear and without reproach, as
a christian, he was humble and faith.
full, and with unshaken confidence, he
has passed "over the river" and to the
everlasting "rest,' in the higher and
better world, where time and its con-
flicts will be no more, to awake with
Joy in the great resurrection morn.
Resolved, That this memorial be
spread on our minutes and published
in the newspapers, and that copy be
forwarded to Mrs. Kershaw.
Respectfully submitted,
Il. B. FRASER,
HENRY w. GARDNER,
j. HARVEY WILSON,
j. D. BLANDING,
j. D. GRAHAM,
Committee.