The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-18
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
GresE's Famous Regiment just Be-
fore AppOmattOX.-A Tribute to
Jimmie Armstrong and n. Il. But.


fore AppomattoX.-A Tribute to
Jimmie Armstrong and n. Il. But
Ter.
Editors Augusta Chronicle.
or the living heroes Of "Thc Lost
Cause, there Is no more genial gentle
men than Captain james Armstrong,
Oi Charleston. the last commander of
the Irish Volunteers, known as Gem
pany Is, in the First South Carolina
Regiment of McGowan's Brigade.
Ihe Confederate States had in their
service no Drawer, more loyal or devoted
son. Though battered and bruised
the result OF his vnlor, he is still Il
magnificent specimen Of that manhood
OF which the once great Army of
Northern Virginia WAS composcd-a
manhood SO splendid as to draw from
tho historian Of the Army of the
iOtOmnC the tribute "Who can
ever forget that one looked upon it?
Ihat array OF tattcreu uniforms and
bright muskcts; that body OF incom-
parable Infantry, the Army of Northern
Nlrginia, which receiving terrible
blows, did not fail to give the like
ana while vital in al its parts dicd
only with it's annihiluti0n."
Under all circumstances Captain
Armstrong was II model man. Tho
dlsclpllnc OF the camp, which bore
heavily upon the untutored soldiers in
the carly days OF the war, was ALWAYS
S0fCenCd by the consideration he
showed for those under him. n grace
tul writer, lluent speaker, an in
tcrcsting convcrsutionalist, a charm
ing personality, he was fuvortc
throughout the regiment with both
officers and men. In contrasting his
heroism on the battlefield with the
genClcness OF his bearing towards his
fellow men, how appropriate seem the
lines Of Bnyard Taylor:
"Ihc braveSt arc the tcndcrcst
The loving arc the daring."
In critical moments, as at tho battle
or HatchGr's Run, the heroic qualities
OF the man showed at their best. The
terrific collision with the Union troops
had thrown the Conrcdcrtr line into
disorder. The gallant and lumcnted
Col. &. w. McCrcary had fallen with
death wound. Captain Armstrong,
with the instinct Of the true soldier,
raised his sword and pointed it in the
direction OF the enemy. The purpose
was to attract the attention OF the
men and it had the effect. for he ut
once became the rnllying point. The
quick eye of Captain y. y. Goggans,
OF Company B., regular Old war
horse, who, for his daring, now carries
Il wooden leg, detected Che movement
and placing himself by tho side OF
the Captain, the noble remnant Of the
old First Regiment gathered around
them and stayed for awhile the
advance OF the enemy. Tho check
was Tor but u few hours for the Union
llho oil battle presented an unhroknn
front from the Appomattnx River to
Dinwiddic, and was only awaiting the
outcome Of Sheridan's movement
against Five Forks. Upon the capture
OF that important point IL general
assault was made extending from the
river to llatchcr's Run, and the Army
OF Northern Virginia, shattered into
fragments, commenced It's memorable
retreat from Petersburg. In Just one
week to the day-u lovely Sabbath
morning in the peaceful village Of
hppomattox, its marchings and it's
nshtlnEs came to an end and il passed
into history.
1t was near Suthnrland's station, on
the Southside Railroad, that the
writer remembers rs the last time he
saw Captain Armstrong in the army,
and just after he had received the
wound which he has borne with
patient iortitudc for over thirty years,
and which will cease it's achings only
when " lifc's titful fever" shall be
over. The intense suffering this
wound ht times causes him the added
thlrty-lorr years to his age since the
days OF the first camp near Suffolk,
Virginia: the cares incident to the re-
sp0nSlbllities OF an cXacting Office and
tho blight Of domestic uniiction~mIi
thesc--havc not been sufficient to dim
the lustrc OF his eye, mar the gentle
ness OF his manners or dull the
cloqncncc OF his tongue.
upon the death OF Col. McCrcary,
the command OF the Regiment dev0lvcd
upon Lieutenant Colonel a. =. Butler,
one OF the best soldiers in it. 70
Colonel Butler belongs the distinction
Of being the only one OF the original
eleven captains who passed through
the entire war in the service OF the
regiment. Six were slain upon the
battlefield
Boag of !, at the First Cold lIarbor.
Barksdaln Of l., ut the Second Manas-
Haskell, OF II, at Gcttysburg
Shooter OF t.. afterwards Lieutenant
Coloncl) at the Bloody Angle of Spott-
sylvania.
Alston Of T. afterwards major), at
the North Anna.
MtCrcary Of A afterwards ColoneD,
at llatchcr's Run.
MCINTOSH OF ID, became Captain OF
Artillery, his company having been
changed to that arm of the service
Walker Of b. and Cordcro of {
entered other departments Of the
service and McCrady of * afterwards
/ Coloncl,) disabled from wounds was
| forced to retire.
This regiment performed no impor
tant service during it's career that
Colonel Butler was not at his post,
whether as captain OF his old con pnny
q of lIdgciicld, or the command Of the
regiment, and bravely and faithfully
discharged his duty. In the qualities
that go to make up the enduring
soldier the soldier for whom no hard
ship seemed too grcat-laithful Sin
summer blaze or winter SHOWS the
soldier who never left the battlefield
while therc was ~ man to stand by him,
he was not surpassed in the army
| His last official act was the signing of
the paroles at Appomattox.
b. T.. BROWN,
Sergeant Company l., First Regiment,
South Carolina Volunteers, 1861 50
- Ohm WrSion TO unar. ala ~