The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-02
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR is DUE.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
In these piping times Of war we natu-
rally retrospect the trying scenes OF 81
to 90, and recall the illuStrlOuS men AMI
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 a re-
QUEEN over their whitened bones.
In peace. through wounds and disease
many nave taken their flight. like the
warriors banner, to greet the warriors
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. gal
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 Shimmerlng
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 +. loon. commonly known as
colonel, formerly u citizen of Columbus
county, but now 4 resident of Lumber
ton. | can only write of him in general
terms and from memory because | have
no specific data. If | mistake not, he
graduated at Wake Forest College at the
age Of 10, high up in his class, and i'm
mediately thereafter entered the Twen-
tieth North Carolina regiment as a private
in Captain Smiths Columbus Guards, Il
novice as Il warrior, but with real genius
for war. Possessing a quick, vigorous,
we'll trained mine and a strong retentive
memory. and being thoroughly and
classically endowed 1T his alma mater,
coupled with Il 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 a close
and exhaustive study of military tactics,
and in that department became, in q
short while, as bright a man rs any mem
Der of the regiment which boosted 4
Slough and 4 benson, and Slough haC
done valiant service in the Mexican war.
How we'll | recollect the swarthy old
Captain of the Cabarrus Blackboys as
he strutted around with his bent and
stitfened 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 fol
&allantry uOOn the field. He was
scarcely % when he won his spurs as
Brlgadler General, possibly the young
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 a flag upon
the rampartS of the enemy at Sever
Zines marked an exciting incident ant
brought forth rounds of cheers from thu
charging and victorious army. Brooks
had the longest legs. and by a clos,
, shave. got there first and met his death
and Toon was seriously wounded. II.
was 4 resOlute. capable fighter. knew
how to take his men into Il fight ant
equally we'll how to Vancouver them on
of 1t. lie 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 lone he
share, frequently more. when times thu-
tfled men 5 souls were upon her. but sil,
has been poorly recompensed in officia
honors.
1t IS Il fitting time for her to be re
memhered. and it would be a graceful &c
III President Mckinley to bestow upoI
| General Toon a Generalship in the pres
ent crisis. The position should have fal
len upon that princely soldier. Colone
Shipp. Since his patriotic life-blood wa.
[ poured out upon the field o
t Santiago. let the mantle adorn the chiv
alric Toon. W. G.. GALLOWAY
Wilmington. \. c.. July %. 1898.