The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-16
THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE.
RecOllcCtions OF the Chivalrous Arm
strong, the Eloquent Orator and
Noble Patriot.

| Noble Patriot.
Every one in South Carolina knows
the genial and witty Jimmie Arm
strong, OF Charleston, who has delight
cd more audiences with Confederate
memories and "reminiscences than any
man in the State. y short time ago
he passed through Augusta, and one OF
his former comrades wrote the follow
ing sketch, which tells while he is liv-
ing what loving friends and faithful
brothers think Of him:
OF the living heroes Of "rhc Lost
Cause" there is not ono more worthy
the name than Capt. James Armstrong,
OF Charleston, S. c., the last commander
OF the Irish Volunteers, known as
| Company H., in the first Carolina Rcgi-
| mcnt OF McGOwan's brigade.
The Confederate States had in their
service no Drawer, more loyal or de-
voted son. Though battered and
bruised-thc result OF his valor-he is
still 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 Poto
mac the tribute, "Who can ever forget
that once looked upon it? That array
of tattered uniforms and bright mus
kets; that body of incompatible in
fantry, tho Army Of Northern Virginia,
which, receiving terrible blows, did
not fail to give tho like; and which
vital in all its parts died only with it's
annihilation."
Under all circumstances Captain
Armstrong was model man. The
discipline Of tho camp, which bore
heavily upon the untutored soldiers in
the early days Of the war, was always
!, a InN. ti,o y ,l,
for those under him. y graceful writer
a huont speaker, an interesting con-
vcrsationalist, charming personality.
he WAS a favUrite throughout tho rcgi-
ment with both officers and men. In
contrasting his hcroism on tho battle
field with tho gcntlen ess Of his bearing
| towards his fellow mon, how appropri-
ate seem the lines Of Bayard Taylor:
The bravcst are the tendcrcst
The loving are the daring.
In critical moments, as at tho battle
of Hatchcrs Run, the heroic qualities
of the man showed at the best. The
| terrific collision with the / aiOn troops
had thrown the Confederate line into
disorder. The gallant and lamcntcG
Col. &. w. McCrenry, had fallon with
Il 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 mon
and it had the effect, for he at once be-
came the rallying point. The quick
cyo Of Cant. ID. +. Goggans, of Company
b., regular old war horse who, for
his daring, now carries Il wooden leg.
de- c'cd tho movement and placing
himself by the side of the captain, tho
nj bic remnant Of the Old First Regi-
mcnt gathered around them and STAYED
for while the advance of tho cnemv,
The check was for but fow hours, for
the Union limo OF battle presented an
unbroken front from the Appomatox
river to Dinwiddio, and was only await.
ing the outcome OF Shcridan's move
ment against Five Forks. UpOn the
capture OF that important point a gen
cral assault was made, extending from
the river to Hatchcr's Run, and the
Army OF Northern Virginia, shattered
into fragments, commenced its memOr-
able retreat from Petersburg. In Just
one week to the day-a lovely Sabbath
| mOrnlng-in the peaceful village of
Appomattox, its marchings and it's
| tightings came to an end and it passed
into history.
| 1t was near Sutherland's station, on
the South Side railroad, that the
writor 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
fortitude for over thirty years, and
which will coase its achings only whom