The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-09

without credit: without factories. and ac.
cusiomed only to the peaceful pursuits of
husbandry, were armed with nothing at the
beginning save our own stout hearts and the
manly resolve to vindicate our rights at every
hazard.
The records show the total enlistments in
all the Con tederate armie, during the war TO
have been but little more than 100000, while
in all the armies of the union there were over
2,S0O,000. 1t Is fair, however, 10 state that a
larger percentage of the latter were re-enlist'
ments than of the former. anu larger lnvad
ing force is often equaled by smaller one
acting on the defensive.
Notwithstanding the great disparity in
numbers and our destitution of the sinews OF
war, for four immortal years our flag Hoated
in the breezes Of heaven as the symbol OF The
stOrm-cradled nation.
But as time rolled on the confederate lines
became more and more attenuated. When
he rolls were called there was no response TO
three -fourths OF the names upon them those
who did not answer were disabled or dead.
Superiority Of numbers, improved by dis
cipline and experience, enabled the union
forces TO beat us back until they formed a
Gordon around the struggling Confederacy.
we were beaten back step by step, but gave
blow for blow as our comrades fell around
No more heroic, or impressive, scenes ever
occurred in the history Of warfare.
But there must be an end to human endur-
apce and at last, when all our strongholds
we're captured our rivers full Of hostile gun
boats, our railroads worn out and broken, our
soldiers Starving, or living on half rations,
frequently 1ariug the corn with the horses
Shen 200,0OO hillocks marked the last resting
places of those who had sacrificed their lives
npon the altar of their own and their coun.
Lry's honor-God Almighty forever bless
their souls-when widows and orphans be-
came numberless, and grief and mourning
we're visitors 10 nearly every household, the
hearts OF our people sank in dispair. Their
sublime courage failed them and many wrote
TO their loved ones who still survived to give
up the hopeless struggle and come home.
To all such this Was the supreme trial, the
test of superiority 10 decide between duty
and affection to the family, with subJugati0n
and defeat on the one side, and on the olher
IN honorable death tor the cause to which
they had shown such devotion.
Many abandoned the cause-l can scarcely
call IT. desertion, although technically 1t was
but many of the heroes Of a hundred bat.
Ties, veterans OF Lee and Jackson ana OIL
Johnston, VIII ose SCARED bodies, tattered flags
and attenuated ranks told so elequently the
iale of their doings, preferred an honorable
death, and remained In line still ready 10
fight and 10 die for Dixie.
They thus presented 10 the world an en-
ample of heroism similar TO that OF Cam.
bronne the commander OF the last square OF
the old guard of Waterloo.
When the pile Of corpses around the square
was larger than the bulk OF the living, their
comrades groaning in death agonies, the
French army broken and fleeing, the allies
with eighty cannon Shotted and ready 10 lire
Maitland. struck with admiration OF such
heroiSm, rode forward aud cried aloud :
Brave Frenchmen surrender!
The response came back IN language as de-
fiant and more contemptuous than that ol
1.-THE Guard dies, but never surrendeIs."
The cannons belched forth their thunder
and when the smoke lifted a quivering heap
of corpses alone remained.
When Lees great brain could plan no more
when Johnston's cunning had given DER, and
nothing but omnipotence could have averted
the surrender, these ragged veterans were
still ready 10 march into the jaws OF death,
where the helllsh I'm Of battle drowned the
Shreks Of the wounded and the groans OF
the dying.
All! But who has language 10 portray the
neroIsm OF such brave souls? They stood by
ruin and death reigned supreme.
They went with Gordon In the last wild
charge he made, "Whie th ere was not man
dlsmayed, and all the world wondered"
The great drama drew rapidly TO close and
the star Of hope which had shown with such
brilliant lustre in the constellation OF ma
tions, went down beneath the southern hori.
zon on the field of AppomattoX TO rise no
more forever.
The high court of force had sealed its de-
cree and thereby blotted the .Confederacy out
of the armament OF nations.
To us 1t was an event OF sorrow and sadness
70 the other side it was great triumph and
day of rejoicing: but, my 1rlenus, tne uecls-
ion was the most expensive ever rendered In
The history Of the world.
No other nation would have made such her.
culcnean efforts and expended such incalcu-
liable sums of money TO have achieved sue
cess as did the union.
The total taxable value OF our property at
the beginning OF the war was five and quart
er billions Of dollars. The cost TO the Union
of our subjugation, including pnesions, up 70
last year, has been eight ana Quarter nil,
all the. property, including slaves, In the
eleven seeding states was worth at the be-
ginning of the struggle.
Though hard to do, we accepted the decis-
with the same good iaith and manliness with
which we had fought for our convictions.
While one might as well undertake to dis
prove the divinity of Christ to the ecumenl-
cal council as to argue to an old Confederate
veteran against the right OF secession yet
the exercise of that right at the time and In
the manner 1t was done will always be re-
garded by thoughtful men as rash and con-
Siderate act.
If success had not been impractieable on
account of the disadvantages / have already
enumerated, there we're other almost insup-
erabIe difficulties in the way OF success OF our
cause. .
Had there been any great obstacle for di-
viding line, range OF high mountains, or a
body of water similar to the English channel
or had the Mississippi river flowed from east
TO west instead OF bisecting the con1ederacy,
wise and practicable.
Had we succeeded with mere imaginary
line of separation the tendency to conflict
would have been as certain and more ire
oueut than that between England and Scot
band before they united In one government.
Permanent peace would have been impossi-
ble.
was beyond controversy, yet when put into
practice It might have proven boomerang,
ior it is equally clear that 1t would have es-
tabtished the right OF disintegration.
The congeniLal germ of dissolution would
have produced constant apprehension. and
ted by our own precedent, we could
have questioned the right OF any state to Sc
ceue from the compact; and hence had we
succeeded, we might ere this have had two or
more Confederacles.
Another consolation for our defeat Is that
we have escaped the danger OF the multiple
which, If brought about, would result, US it
has i'm Europe, in large standing armies, bur.
densome taxation to maintain them, and In
volved In bloody wars threatening The de-
Slavery was destroyed as q result OF the
war, but it was an institution which had
served its purpose in the civilization o! the
Of the African race In our midst so lar as IL
could be done through such an institutions;
and under the laws OF an All Wise Providence
when an Institution ceases TO be OF utility It's
destruction will follow. AND now that Is
numbered with the things OF the past, no one
would have it re-established.
The earnestueSs and galantry OF our SOL
,liers on both sides will forever command the
admiration of the world; and while nun
ureds OF thousands of valuable lives were lost
a nd the land draped In mourning, on the 9TH
er hand there was a vast impetus given TO ed
ucatton, q great advancement In science, the
OF genius, which has given to
the nations of the world their iron clad navies
and other destructive engineery which are
TO peace. and will in the future
save the lives OF millions OF men.
A l.,In ,uifh q W hlfn iOn Df iDH OIL