The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-16
wAR REMINIaoENCEs.

field, A Daniels Clarendon, A Col.
Inns.
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Gregg's Famous Regiment just He.
fore AppOmattox.-A Tribute to
Jimmie Armstrong and a. II. But
Ter.
Editors Augusta Chronicle.
OF the living heroes of '"The Lost
Cause, There is no more genial gentle
| men than Captain James Armstrong,
OF Charleston. the last commander OF
the Irish Volunteers, known as Gem
pany K, In the First South Carolina
Regiment OF McGowan's Brigade.
The Confederate States had in their
service no braver, more loyal or devoted
son. Though battered and bruised
the result OF his yalor, he is still n
magnificent specimen OF that manhood
OF which the once great Army of
Northern Virginia was composed-a
manhood so splendid as to draw from
the historian of the Army of the
Potomac the tribute "WhO can
ever forget that one looked upon it !?
That array OF tattered uniforms and
bright muskets that body of incom-
parable fantry, the Army of Northern
Virginia, which receiving terrible
blows, did not fail to give the like ;
and while vital in all its parts died
only with its annihilation."
Under all circumstances Captain
Armstrong was u model man. The
discipline Of the camp, which bore
the early days OF the war, was always
softened by, the consideration he
showed for those under him. A grace
full writer, a fluent speaker, an in
teresting conversationalist, charm
ing personality, he was favorite
throughout the regiment with both
officers and men. In contrasting his
heroism on tho battlefield with the
gentleness of mis- bearing towards his
fellow. men, how appropriate seem the
lines OF Bayard Taylor:
The bravest are the tenderest
The loving are the daring"
In critical moments, as at the battle
OF Hatcher's Run, the heroic qualities
OF the man showed at their best. The
terrific collision with the Union troops
had thrown the Confederate line into
disorder. The gallant and lamented
Col. @. w. McCreary had fallen with
q 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 1t had the effect, for he at
once became the rallying point. The
quick eye OF Captain D. p. Goggans,
OF Company b., a regular old war
horse, who, for his daring, now carries
a wooden leg, detected the movement
and placing himself by the side OF
the Captain, the noble remnant of the
old First Regiment gathered around
them and stayed for awhile the
advance of the enemy The check
was for but few hours for the Union
line OF battle presented an unbroken
front from the Appomattox River to
and was only awaiting the
outcome OF Sheridan's movement
against Five Forks. Upon the capture
of that important point u general
assault was made extending from the
river to Hatcher's Run, and the Army
OF Northern Virginia, shattered into
fragments, commenced its memorable
retreat from Petersburg. In just one
week to the day-a lovely Sabbath
morning-in the peaceful village of
Appomattox, its marchings and it's
fightings came to an end and it passed
into history.
1T was near Sutherland's station, on
the Southside Railroad, that the
writer remembers as the last time he
saw Captain Armstrong in the army,
and just after he had received the
wound which he has borne with
patient tortitnde for over thirty years,
and which will cease it's achings only.
when =" life's fitful fever" shall be
over. The intense suffering this
wound at times Causes him the added
th1rty-four years to his age since the
days of the first camp near Suffolk,
Virginia; the cares incident to the re-
sponsibilities of an exacting Office and
the blight of domestic affliction--all
3these---have not been sufficient to dim
the lustre of his eye, mar the gentle
ness OF his manners or dull the
elequence of his tongre.
Upon the death of Col. McCreary,
the command of the Regiment devolyed
upon Lieutenant Colonel A. p. Butler.
one of the best soldiers in il. TO
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 I, at the First Cold Harbor.
Barksdale of l., at the Second Manas-
sas.
Haskell, of III, at Gettysburg.
Shooter Of f.. afterwards Lieutenant
Colonel), at the Bloody Angle of Spott-
sylvania.
Alston of E afterwards major), at
the North Anna.
McCreary OF A afterwards Colonel),
at Hatcher's Run.
Mcintosh ,nf-D, became Captain of
Artillery, his company having been
changed to that arm OF the service.
y Walker OF B. and Cordero of c.
entered other departments of the
service and McCrady of X afterwards
Colonel,) disabled from wounds was
forced to retire.
This regiment performed no impor
tant service during its career that
Colonel Butler was not at his post,
whether as captain of his old con- pany
G of Edgefeld, or the command OF the
regiment, aud bravely and faithfully
discharged his duty. In the qualities
that go to mako up the enduring
soldier-the soldier for whom no hard
| ship seemed too great-faithful sin
summer blaze or winter SHOWS "--the
soldier who never left the battlefield
VIII le there 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. f.. BROWN,
Sergeant Company l., First Regiment,
1 SnMfh (,arnllno Unt,nfa.xa IQRI ar