The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-09
Letter From RingwOod.

RISGwoop, n. C., May 9th, 1895.
Enron GOLD LEAF Mrs. Lizzie |
Matthews. said to be 100 years old, Is
quite sick.
Weather cool and cloudy now, though
has been fine for a week and vegetation
has luxurated in the widest exuberance.
Orchards are full OF fruit.
Mr.. G.. A, Williams has 25 acres IN oats,
clover. &C., that are beautiful to behold
3 feet high. He says he can set tobacco
plants next week There are plenty OF
plants of the finest kind to set alter
May LIST. oo
in tobacco on his various farms; Mr.. l..
| Vinson 60 acres, IA barns and two large
back houses Mr.. Tyree, for MIR: W. +.
| Simpson, 80 acres; Mr.. G. A. Williams
| 80 acres and many other farmers from
) to 10 acres II prices continue high
and the season remains favorable as
now, surely prosperity must abound.
| An interesting entertainment CONSIST
lug of speeches, dialogues, music, etc.'
was had at closing exercises OF Arcola
public school Friday, April Goth: Miss
Wallet, the teacher, is very popular ana
knows how to conduct a school Tor the
benefit and advancement OF her pupils.
| Tony Wilkins, colored, had his arm
badly cut at Mr.. Z. g. Hale's saw mill
Friday. One bone and arteries were
severed and hemorrhage was severe:
Several letters of inquiry were eilcited
| by nv brief reference in a recent letter IN
regard to fights around Bentonsville.
The Goth Regiment was engaged IN some
of the most hotly contested battles OF
the war. In it's first battle Col. Moore
was killed and many officers wounded
1t participated in the fights OF Bermuda
Hundreds, Cold Harbor, or Gaines MIL,
Sugar Loaf, the trenches around Peters
burg, and the Crater. And l remember
as if yesterday how the terrible mortar
shells PLAYED such havoc on that day Of
the crater. Capt. Sykes, a brave and
efficient officer OF this Regiment, was
torn to atoms by the explosion OF a
mortar shell near his body. A piece OF
his Jaw bone was carried through the
{ limb of a nearby comrade infiicting a
serious if not fatal wound. [ mention
this as one among a thousand other
incidents | recall, because he was a
brother of the late post mistress Mrs
; Wooten, of Enfield, SO | have been
, informed. At kinston, the last fight
Col. Nethercutt had q horse shot under
r him and our Company had men killed
f outright and many wounded. The enemy
had q cross fire on our line and there
was great loss OF life in getting out o
the bloody angle. This was in March,
e think, 1865. Orderly Sergeant JET
e Wigs, a brave boy OF Franklin county
was shot through the hip with q minnie
ball, carried to hospital in Raleigh, mac
u an amputation and died. But enough
r I will write some recollections of thos
q DAYS and submit to Hon. Geo. NJ. Rose
of Fayetteville, who is the historian o
the Goth, not being willing that tn
gallant deeds of the heroic men whit
stood so nobly by their duty should b
l.. entirely forgotten. was but l7-year
n old boy and, of course, as such loni
:, space of time has elapsed l can not b
v accurate as to dates, &C., but l know c
y many deeds of daring and heroic effort
:, that should not be forgotten. l ais
" know that whether the cause for whlc
e these men fought was intrinsically JUS
) or unjust, many of them faced death an
many died fighting for what they believe
to be their chartered rights, the honor
y the glory, and the freedom OF their natlv
N land.
Y lam Sratified that Judge Walter Clar
y has been assigned, or practically take
upon himself, the duty OF having recol
- OF. the soldiers published. Like myself b
1t was very young to participate in tn
n horrors and dangers of "grim visage
10 war; but bravely did his duty as
"Tar Heel" soldier, and as aifellow coul
l. tryman l am proud OF the enviab
le position he has reached since. Peace hs
Ill her victories as we'll as war, and ma
At honors higher still fall to his portion-fe
l believe he is competent and patriot
and would worthily and most honorabl
81 fill the highest position in the gilt OF tn
r people of his State.
n Would we all not feel better in OF
~ retrospection as we do at times go bat
ID in memory over our past, as the poet
e. beautifully expressed it:
o, eff but knew.
ri If but knew that somewhere, somehow
Had dried tear that dimmed brother
it. Or slaEed the thirst of parching fever
\. lips,
ne And led some soul through sorrows da1
at eclipse,
a Then should feel life's mission had be-
ng If but knew.
8" If but knew,
ed | If but knew some heart this side the de-
nd Had felt its burdens fall by what said
, Or that one life had bloOmed in noble dee
IS, because I'd sowed somewhere SOL
of worthy seeds,
IA The thought would drive the clouds fro
III DER life'S blue
10, If but knew
,,s GE. NJ