The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-14
DEATH OF COL.
R. N. SIMS.
Volunteered as a Private,
Surrendered as a Colonel.
The State, Dec. 10.

The State, Dec. 10.
Col. R. M. Sims died at his resi-
dence in Sbandon yesterday after an
illness of a fortnight For some time
be had been in declining health, bat
be bravely battled against disease
till the last Surrounded by his
family aud few friends he entered
TRANQUILITY into rest
Robert Moorman Sims was born
December 9Th. 1886, and was reared
in Lancaster county, and graduated
at the South Carolina Military
academy in 1856. He had scarcely
settled in business when the out
break of the war gave the signal for
him to rally in defense of his State
He volunteered as private in Capt
Jobn D Wylie's company of the
Ninth South Carolina volunteer reg
imeDt commanded by James D
BIanding. 1t was not long before
be was appointed adjutant and in
spector general of Bratton's brigade.
and in that capacity he saw hard
fighting and bore his full share of it.
He was of that cool, unobtrusive
courage that stops not to think Of
ostentation in the performance of
duty, but seems simply to ignore
danger After passing through sew
eral desperate campaigns Col Sims
rose by promotion to the adjutant
generaicy of Longstreet's corps He
was several tl1es wounded In the
trenches around Richmond be saw
the corps gradually dwindling under
the hammer strokes of overwhelming
numbers. and it was his sad duty to
bear the flag of truce at Appomatox
that led to the capitulation of Lees
shattered columns This flag, sim.
pie towel. was borrowed by Fed.
eral officer on the field and was not
returned 1t is now in the posses
zion of Mrs. General Custer, who
preserves it as precious souvenir
Returning home Col. Sims was
elected to the State senate by the
Democrats of Lancaster, at time
when the Legislature was over
whelmingly Republican Finding
that he was powerless he refused to
serve longer
he was engaged in business in
Rock Hill when the year 1876 opened
in the midst of g political storm.
Whipper and Moses had been elected
Judges and Gov Chamberlain refused
to issue them commissions In an
incredibly short time the whole State
quivered with excitement Mass
meetings were held everywhere to
declare stern resistance to this at
tempt at 6ebauching the judiciary
Out of this turmoil arose the new
born Democracy. All eyes in two
worlds were turned to South Caroli-
ma. The whole union was in such a
state of political tension that it seem.
ed as if our Palmetto State would
again inaugurate contest that would
end iu civil war Northern Demo-
Gratis. especially Mr.. 'Ti1den, feared
the hot temper of our people. But
Democratic policies were under pru
dent guidance The aggressive and
conservative element closed hands in
compromise. and in August nomi
mated an entire State ticket, repre-
sentative in character, composed of
men of whom it could be truthfully
said, they sought not the positions
but the positions sought them
On that ticket Col R N Sims was
nominated for secretary Of State
Col Sims served as secretary cf
State for three terms and voluntarily
declined reelection, although re
nomination was reasonably assured
During Cleveland's fret admins
tration Col Sims was boarding officer
of the port of Charleston Since then
he has been IN private life
A skillful Aoriculturalist and arbor-
culturist. Col Sims began the adorn
ment of the capital square
Col Sims was a brave man, an
honest man, true man and Chris
tian. Duty with bim was love, he
never shirked it When in the storm
Of battle, the vicissitudes of politics,
or the trials and temptations of pri
vate life, bis pleasant, genial
unaffected manners made him friends
everywhere In him passes away
another of the Old Guard valiant
10 arms, patient and courteous in
peace. Col Sims was first married to
Miss Catbarine c Lucky of MeckIen
burg, N g, who bore him two sons
and died in 1867 In 1869 be mar
ried Miss Ada Sims. of Go umbia,
who with several children survive
him