The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-27

ioioiSu WAt, uhu, theieloIc, Dy COln-
mand Of tho association, to you
commit it.
History is donc. I have only to
add, major, that tho 23 or - sur
viving Palmettocs Of 1908 mustered
in lS40, feel assured that, in COM
mitting these, our sacred roles, to
the charge of yourself and those gal
laht sons Of South Carolina, thoy will
never be sullied, but bo found, as
they always have been, in tho fore
front of every fight and nearest the
flashing Of the guns.
All wo ask is, if the opportunity
offers, you will have it planted tho
first American flag on the walls of
Havana or MORO Castle.
MAJOR TiIoMpsoN's REPLY.
When the applause had coasod mt
the conclusion of Col. Blanding's
speech, Major Thompson eloquontly
replied:
Colonel: Your stirring words and
III unusual sceno like this carries us
back over moro than Il half century
Of years to timo when in tho shadow
Of that historic spearhead and bo
neath the silkcn folds of that Scared
banner which this ono now repro.
scnts, Governor johnson suil to your
band Of heroes: 81 SEQ now in the
prospective tho Palmetto banner
floating triumphantly ovcr tho storm
Of war. Go, and the God Of battles
go with you.' Beneath it You
stood when he added, "Romom
hor that you are South Caroliuians," ="
and when tho gallant Butler
replied, "Wo will not only romcm
Der that wo aro South Curolnians,
but wo will rcmomber that wo bear
with us tho honor of South Carolina,
and we will protect it and dcfond il
with our lives" Beneath that FLAG
was tho Same gallant soIdcr when
he said: "Gen. SHIELDS, there is not
q South Carolinian hore who will
not follow you to death" And Whit
field Brooks, Il beardloss boy, scarce.
ly II years Of age, private in the
ranks, re-eohoed, "Ayc, to tho douth."
Beneath that flag only Il fow hours
later lay tho Same gallant private
weltering in his own blood and seal
ing with his very life tho solemn
VOW he had 80 lately made. Beneath
that flag was Lieut.. Col. Dickinson,
when in reply to question, he said
81 care not what p!aco is assigned
mo M long as it is at the front nenr
the flashing Of tho guns" Beneath
that flag stood Lieut.. j. II. Clark. OF
the Richland Volunteer Rifle Com.
pany, when he shouted to his men
undor tho fire of ]cadcn hail around
the walls Of Churubusco: "Stand
their fro at all hazards, men; ro.
member where you aro from.'
With such flag as this to lead
us on, | feel that I can promise you
that tho men of tho independent
battalion will do their whole duty;
that they Will remember not only
that they are South Carolinians, bu,
that they bear with them the honvr
of South Carolina, which thoy will
protect and defend with their lives
that they will stand the fire at all
hazards, remembering where they
arc from. That should occasion offer
"the spirit Of their sircs is in the
children living yct."
In the name Of each and every
member Of tho battalion, for the
confidence you havo rcposed in us, |
promise yon that you will never
have reason to feel that that conf
denco has been misplaced.
TO SERGEANT HOLMAN.
Major THOMPSON then turned to
Sergeant Holman, the color bearer
of the battalion, and placing the
valued and historic old flag in his
hands said:
Sergeant Holman: As descend
ant Of tho gallant soldier aud officer
who has entrusted this sacred relic
to our keeping, | entrnst 1t to you.
SEQ to it that you bear it in snch q
way that you make tho record which
no has made. More than this J can,
not ask.
Accompanying Col. Blanding and
holding tho flag for him while he
was speaking was Mr. James Pow
ers, an old veteran Of tho Mexican wa,
ana ono Of tho smuli pun,bor wb, or,