The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-31
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.
TO the Editor:

In these piping times of war we naru-
rally retrospect the trying scenes of $50
to 60. and recall the illustrious men and
the heroic deeds they performed, which
shed lustre upon our beloved Southland.
Many bit the dust in the terrible conflict
at Manassas. Malvern Hill, Chancel-
louisville. Gettysburg. and other fields of
carnage and the pines alone sigh Il re-
QUEEN over their whitened bones.
In peace. through wounds and disease
many have taken their flight, like the
warriors banner, to greet the warrior $
soul" The ranks of the veterans. the
old guard. though thinned by the raw
ages Of time. still contain a large NUM-
Der Of brave, true soldiers and able. gall
liant officers. They are found in every
county of glorious old North Carolina,
from seagirt Loggerhead to hoary Hang
ingdog, and from the sparkling Dan and
ripping Roanoke to lake of shimmerng
beautiful Waccamaw. They may not
numerously adorn the pages of history,
because we are poor workers in that
rich field. but they live in the hearts Of
their countrymen, for
''The most loved are they
OF whom fame speaks not with her
clarion voice"
/ wish today to speak of one who is
little known by his highest rank. General
Thomas T.. Toon. commonly known as
colonel, formerly n citizen of Columbus
county, but now a resident of Lumber
ton. | can only write Of him in general
| terms and from memory, because have
no specific data. IT mistake not, he
graduated at Wake Forest College at the
age of 10. high up in his class, and inn
mediately thereafter entered the Twen-
tieth North Carolina regiment as a private
in Captain Smiths Columbus Guards, n
novice as a warrior, but with real genius
for war. Possessing a quick. vigorous.
well trained mind and a strong retentive
memory. and being thoroughly and
classically endowed at his alma mater,
coupled with laudable ambition to sue
coed. it is not surprising that he rapidly
rose from the ranks. As soon as he
Joined the army he commenced Il close
and exhaustive study of military tactics,
and in that department became, in Il
short while, as bright man Us any mem
Der of the regiment which boosted 4
Slough and benson, and Slough had
| done valiant service in the Mexican war.
| How well ] recollect the swarthy old
L
| he strutted around with his bent and
| stiffened knee an heirloom Of a Mexican
| bullet.
General ToOn was elected Lieutenant
and Captain. and promoted to Lieu
| tenant Colonel. Colonel and then Gen
| eral. the three latter promotions were for
gallantry upon the field. He was
scarcely % when he won his spurs rs
l R1ioa1 iop hn
| est officer of that rank in the army. The
| day he and Major Brooks. the Knightly
and impetuous Major Brooks, were run
| ming at full speed to plant n flag upon
| the ramparts Of the enemy at Seven
| Pines marked an exciting incident and
| brought forth rounds of cheers from the
charging and victorious army. Brooks
| had the longest legs, and by close
| shave got there first and met his DEATH
and Toon was seriously wounded. He
was a resolute, capable fighter, knew
| how to take his men into fight and
equally well how to Vancouver them out
| Of it. He possessed the courage and wis.
dom TO lead and they knew how to fol
low. He was wounded in all six times
/ two of which, received at different times
| came near proving fatal.
| North Carolina has always done hel
/ share, frequently more, when times that
! tried mems souls were upon her, but sh,
/ has been poorly recompensed in Officia
! honors.
/ 1t is n fitting time for her to be re
/ membered. and it would be IL graceful ac
/ III President Mckinley to bestow upol
Il General Toon Gencralship in the pres
4 ent crisis The position should have fal
len upon that princely soldier, COlone
Ship. Since his patriotic life-blood wa:
! poured out upon the field o.
Santiago let the mantle adorn the chiv
alric Toon. w. G. GALLOWAY.
Wilmington, n. c., July 20, 1898.