The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-31

comnIetelv ignored as possible, and think
that no one will deny that the glory OF
the commanding officers have been sung 10
season and out or season. even to such an en-
tent as TO make the whole head SICK and the
whole heart faint.
This is the season for the annual reunion
of the Confederate Veterans, and have no.
ticed with more or less care the published ac'
counts Of the speeches on several different oc-
casSionS.
As yet, have not observed that any pri.
vate soldier has ever taken notable part IN
the war between the States.
MUTUAL ADMIRATION ASSOCIATION.
The reading OF the accounts OF these meet
ings OF Confederate Veterans suggests the
idea that such organizations would be more
appropriately named THE Confederate OHl'
GERS Mutual Admiration and Horse Mem
orial Association"
AN ORTHODOX SPEECH
was particularly struck with this idea
recently in reading General Buffers speech
before the James u. Nance Camp of New ber-
ry. The speech itself is perfectly orthodox,
and is in exact accord with the speeches
which are usually delivered on THESE occa'
sions.
After some sophomore periods in eulogy OF
the American soldier, The General devoted
his energies TO telling what he knew OF the
Battle Of Brandy Station" He enumerates
the names of many officers who were engag-
ed in that fight and then brings In the horses,
speaking OF GeQeral Lee 5 UOTSe ny
AS far as noticed the only private soldier
that attracted General Buffers attention In
that memorable battle was that OF Fayette
Turner. who had killed Union SOL
struck with a shell. Farley was killed. The
General lost u leg, horses were killed. but we
have little record Of the presence or any prl-
vate soldier at the battle of Brandy Station,
except when q few Of them came TO carry Of
the wounded officers.
Various apostrophes are INDUCED in when
naming some of the ColonelS and Captains,
but II any private soldier was wounded or
Killed in the Battle of Brandy Station" the
fact, If mentioned in the Generals long
speech, has escaped my notice, but he does
make this and other mention ono OF no horses; Sesa - o
safely through SO many perllous places,
bounded in the air, landing me, saddle, aud
accoutrements and all in the road. Farley &
horse dropped him under my feet, or ratner
foot, as 1t was then"
Then are mentioned some Z wounded
officers engaged in the battle, and he says
They were soon Joined by few devoted sol
dIers, such as could be spared from the tuteS,
Ia doubtful compliment and we were borne
off," etc.
THE HEROES OF BRANDY STATION.
The two instances where soldiers are men.
TONED were the above. The horses, General
Butler says, "were in the PASTURE my
horse" "Farley's horse" General Lees
horse" were somewhat conspicuous, but
the soldiers were my regiment" or
"Colonel'' somebody's else Regiment.
A coSFEpERATE's STORY OF UNION vALoR
Instead OF attempting to follow the exam.
pie OF General Butler in his eXordium in
honor of the valor and military glory OF the
American soldier, which fits one place as
we'll as another, and which has no local
application or personal reference, will intro
duce a story OF Gettysburg, in honor Of a Un.
ion soldier, as told by Confederate soldier.
The wounded were carried to the rear from
the. e.battle OF ChicKamauga. On my arrival al
the place for treatment u soldier lying on the
floor hailed me, and as l approached him
found that we were old acQuaintances. That
soldier was William Rogers Of Calhoun S Mills.
He had come with LongStreetS corps
from Virginia, and, like myself in the battle
OF Chickamauga, had received wounds, with
this difference, his wound ended his life, but l
am with you % today: We talked l9ng nis and nj
OF the hardships and battles OF Virginia and
1 relating TO him the varied experiences OF
the Western soldier.
Among the things Of which we spoke was
the battle OF Gettysburg; he claiming that II
was one of the grandest battles that was ever
fought and one OF the most sublime efforts OF
human valor.
When ask ed him If he thought the Union
soldiers fought as gallantly and as bravely as
The Confederate soldier, he said that the cour-
age and determination OF the Union soldier
could not be excelled, and he recited In juSt-
hcation of his assertion, story which will
tell. as he told it to me.
Although he had received mortal wound.
and although his life current mingled, with
the dust and CRIME OF the battle OF Chckamau-
ga, while the roar of the musketry and the
thunder OF the cannon of that terrific fight
were still playing upon his ear drums. his
greater enthusiasm Tor the grandeur OF the
battle Of Gettysburg, and the heroism OF the
actors in that memorable scene Frightened
his eyes as he related his story OF the thrill
ing scenes which had made Gettysburg histo-
ric.
He said: "The enemys cannon pour
ed into the Confederate ranks shot
and shell from almost every suitable place on
the heights, and the Confederate plan OF at
tack was SO arranged that our batteries from
the valley below played upon every part OF
the dill which was occupied by Union soldiers.
One OF the Union batteries was in front OF
the command OF which Rogers was a part.
The battle ragged. The number OF officers and
men at one OF The Federal guns grew less and
less. AS the number diminished each man
performed the duty ofa fallen comrade. This
decrease OF numbers continued until there
was only four men; then there were three:
then there were two. In a little while there
his post busy at his work OF firing his cannon
though the storm of death had cut down all
his comrades. He stood until he alone fired
once, and then in attempting to reload his
cannon he himself fell TO rise no more"
Although Rogers faced the dangers Of Get
tysburg and fell at Chickamauga, has his name
ever been mentioned in this Court House, or
at any other of our reunions?
WHY IS THIS?
Who ever heard of the valor, the suffering,
the sacrifice and death of the private soldier
Why are the deeds of daring, and the noble
sacrifice on the part of the private soldier for
ever ignored? Why is it that their gallantry
Is forever sighted that we may praise and eu.
logiZe only the commissioned officer?
/ believe that l have never attended any
public meeting in which the gallaniry of the
Commissioned officers of the army has not
been duly recognized. but who has heard the
name OF any private soldier at any of our
public meetings, or at any OF our reunions
HEROES WHO ARE FORGOTTEN.
John o. Brooks served faithfully through
out the war, but his priyation, his ndellty
and his facing of danger has not been noted.
Who in all this assembly has heard or the
name of the solid, honest earnest william Z.
Davis, who fell in one of the many battles OF
Virginia. He was once a citizen of Abbeville,
lawyer and the editor of the Abbevile Ban
ner.
William White, who was no less scholar
than soldier, surrendered his life in Virgin
ia. II his name has been mentioned, we have
lost sight Of the fact.
John NJ. Mcdonald went out from amongst
us. as jovial, as happy, as hopeful. and as
fearless as any who left Abbeville. Has any
body said word about him, though he lost
his life by a fatal shot, while yet IL bride
groom?
What of Moses T. Owens aud Sam Russell &?
They went TO their graves from battle wounds,
but their valor has not been recorded hy their
EsraIiah Ha1l of this county was . ch..r.