The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-08
The Jewish Confederate Sol
der.
BY Ksv F.. y. cALlscH. RICHMOND, VA.


The sword is the arbiter of the des-
tioies of men in more senses than one
! 1t binds as we'll as separates. When
the war-cloud appears Oh the horizon
of nation. the conflicting elemeots
are sootbed and swung together.
Minor differences are dropped or for
gotten in the face Of a common foe
During the late war was this thing
evidenced Jew and Christian had
been at variance for centuries. even in
this land of freedom, where they both
had found equal resting place. Though
around the hearthstone Of their fair
Southland they sat as equal children in
the glow Of her loving warmth, and
we're both equally imbued with love
for her tha, is stronger than the
grave" yet the differences between
them had not been healed Bet when
the trumpet's shrill call sounded through
the land they spraug up together as
brothers, equal sons Of a loved mother,
ready to defend that mother through
all things unto death. Side by side as
brothers marched Jew aud Christian,
facing the same dangers, enduring the
same bardsbips, teuting under the
same cover, animated ty the same hope,
cherishiog the same patriotic ideals.
Differences of faith we're forgotten.
They had but one faith that vas ao
indestructible love for tbe land that
bore them both
10 view of this factit we're perhaps
invidious to write of the Jewish Con-
federate soldier as such, aud 'he author
of these lines hesitated when asked by
the ladies to contribute such an article
for this souvenir book. When the SER
ried ranks of Lee and Jackson or John
ston were gathered for the fray or when,
under the daring Stuart, the irresistible
fine of men aud horses went dasbing
dowu the turnpike, there was knowo
neitber Jew nor Christian. They were
patriot soldiers fighting tor their loved
land and dearer life And as such
they should now rest, whether 'neath
the shaded knolls Of besutiful Holly
wood and Oskwocd, or within the sa'
cred pree is Of the Jewish "acre ol
Cod" immunity of achievement
and community of suffering had wiped
out every separating vestige.
But being asked, the writer thought
that perhaps there was presented an
opportunity to give, if only feeble:
vindictiou of the Jew. and be here
attempts to do so.
Since the destruction of the Jewish
naticn the Jew has suffered above all
things from being misunderstood. In
reality the hero Of history be is looked
upon as its victim or its villain. Pos.
sessed Of sublime courage, the charge
of cowardice has been flung al bis
head, until this century unrefuted, be
cause until this century be had never
been given opportunity to disprove it.
Denied the light OF home in every land
under the SUI, he was charged With
want Of patriotism. An exile the
world over he was taunted that be
shed his blood for 20 country. But
with this century there came a revela-
ton to humanity. The Jew, given the
privilege of citizenship. accepted ii
With as keen a sense Of honor for Its
duties, as of gratitude for its blessings.
On the battle fields Of France, Ger
many, England, Austria. and Den
mark. be displayed heroism which
the world has not suspected and
which the world even then was re!uc-
tant to recognize. It remained for
those fearful yet glorious years from
1861 to 1865. to tell Of bis courage
and soldierly qualities, Of which the
Jewish Confederate soldier gave such
sublime evidence
Tho indomitable Maccabean spiri'
was reborn for those days. What men
dared to do, be did. Wha; men could
suffer, be suffered. All that man could
give, he gave with willing hands and
free heart, In che furnace of the hot
test battle, in the madness Of the wild
est charge, in the fearful patience o'
the direst siege, in The tollsome drudg-
cry of the camp ia the numblng
wearioess of the longest march, midst
them all was the Jewish Confederate
soldier
And when the coodict's carnage was
over, when the sable curtains OF night
interposed between the combatants, and
tho e;lent sto~o sbone down in Dity. and