The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-21

Jew wal.
Early in the spring Of 1861, the corps
of cadets having been ordered to Rich
mond, Va, Cadet Burgwyn, then in the
graduating class and sharing its high
est honOrs and distinction, fulfilled the
duties OF the important position under
General Smith, the commandant of ca
diets, until he deemed it his duty to offer
his services to the executive of his own
State.
i In June, 1861, he was placed by Hon.
John w. Ellis, then Governor of North
carolina, in command of the camp of in
struction at Crab Tree Greek, four
miles distant from this city. Methinks
see him now, as he stood there, firm
erect, his eye beaming with command,
detecting every wrong movement of
man or musket in that long line Of 100
troops, every inch of him soldier, he
lenthused into those around him the in
fuence of that martial spirit with which
he was so thoroughly imbued. Arduous.
unremitting in his duties, he was never
idle. Eight hours day the men were
drilled in the schools of the soldier, the
company, the battalion. AS soon as any
deficiency was effected, they were formed
into regiments and sent on to the seat
Of war On the 9th Of August, 1861, he
Twas pIpCleu the EGuleHdHL COIOueu VI tie
Twenty North Carolina regiment
and from henceforth it was his main
care to put his command into that state
of efficiency so essential to the success of
arms. The first battle in which he was
Engaged, he won the love and admiration
Of his men by his soldier-like qualities
and brave personal bearing on the field
On the retreat from Newbern, in cross
ling Brice's Greek, he was the last man
to embark, nor did he, until he saw ev-
cry man of the regiment safely acrosls
the stream. In the bloody battle around
Richmond, he bore himself with conspic
nous gallantry. The August following,
Colonel Vance having been elected Gov
ernor or North Carolina, he became the
colonel of the regiment. His next en-
lgagement was at RawPs Mill, in Mar
tin county, where, with a vastly inferior
force, he met and repulsed General Eos
ter, his old preceptor at West Point. In
this engagement he handled his men
with consummate skill, giving promise
of the highest ability as a tactician. In
the spring of 1868, Pettigrew's brigade,
to which the Twenty-sixth belonged.
was ordered to the army of Northern
Virginia and assigned to Heth's diYi-
sion.
What bright prospects had Colonel
Burgwyn now before him! Owing to his
tact, HIS courage and indomitable perse-
verance, his career had thus far been
uninterrupted success. Graduating
with the highest distinction at the first
schools in the South, the commanding
officer OF one of the finest and largest
regiments in the Confederate army,
standing high on the list for promotion
the rank brigadier general, ere he had
attained his twenty-first year, he was
indeed 'fthe fair rose of expectancy"
not only Of his family but his State. But
alas! our fond hopes were soon destined
to be rudely shattered Little did one
hink on that bright July morning, when
all Nature seemed redOlent with praise,
that in a few short hours, the lovely
Gene, would be transformed into mass
of blackened ruins filled with dead and
dying men. The very sun darkened with
the smoke of musketry, the ar filled
with deadly missiles, the roar of cannon,
the shout of combatants and the cries
of the wounded and all the fearful con-
comitants Of war visible everywhere.
On the break Of day, July /, 1868, the
regiment was awakened from its slum-
bers and the men told to fall in. Onward
they marched to the scene Of the dire en-
counter. When In sight of the enemy
they lay down in line Of battle eagerly
awaiting the command to charge. In this
position they were until the arrival of
General Ewell's corps, the sun being
well high in the heavens. AT length the
long awaited command Attention,
Twenty-sixth," Forward" Charge"
was given and onward they advanced,
%ho aJ &ro Of
kerry, grape and canister. Onward, still
onward, they pressed. their young COM
mander at their head. What glorious
picture is here presented, unsurpassed in
all history. Every man at his post, the
colors to the front their young COM
mander at their head. But, Ioi the scene
changes. Their intrepid, fearless leader
leader ''seizing the flag which had just
fallen from the stricken hand of the
brave color bearer, he rushed TO the
front cheering his men. Turning slightly
to the left to see how they were acting.
The is struck in the right side. the ball
passing through both lungs. The force
of the blow turned him round, tangling
the folds of the dropping flag around
him, and he fell wrapped in the colors OF
his beloved regiment-a winding sheet
indeed!
Ere his heart had ceased to beat he
was able to say last word in praise of |
his men, and, gasping he sends this mes
sage: Tell the general my men never
failed me at a single point" Saying
this his heroic soul winged its way to
realms of endless peace.
In June, 1867, his remains were
brought on from Gettysburg, and gently
laid by loving hands on the brow of
yonder hill beneath the shadow of the
States capitol. There they rest with
those of thousands of his fellow COM
rades who persisted an the defense of the
lost cause, until the last great day,
when they will arise 'in restored
purity"
And now my friends, what model of
excellence is here held up to the youth
of North Carolina mammon-loving age!
Born I'm affluence, nor obliged to toll,
early in life he realized that without
10 hoI nothing was worth having And |