The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-12-21
THE RIGHT NAN FOR TIE
PLACE,

ILAGG.
The State Legislature will assem-
BILE in annual session in Columbia on
January 10th, and during this session
Superintendent of the Penitentiary
will be elected to succeed the present
incumbent, Col. ". A. Neal. For
this Office there are numerous candi-
dates, coming from almost every
section of the State, and in the
result of which, this county is
directly and deeply interested; ke-
cause, for the FIRST time since 1876,
she will present to the Legislature a
worthy and honored son-one who has
proven true to his State and country
in times of war and peace-for this
position and ask for him the support
OF her sister counties.
We have nothing to say against
the other candidates who aspire to
this Office. They doubtless are good
and true men and if elected would
prove competent to discharge its
duties with honor ard credit, but
we do contend that when all has
been and can be said in their favor,
they cannot surpass the claims OF
Col. D. J. Griffith, Lexington coun-
ty's candidate for State Superinten-
dent Of the Penitentiary.
Col. D. j. Griffith, the present
Senator for Lexington county, was
born in Nswberry county, near Hele.
na. At the tender age of two years
his parents moved to this county,
where be has. ever since resided, and
by his upright walk, affable manners
and kindness of hand and heart has
won his way to the love and esteem
of his fellow citizens.
His early days were spent on the
farm, where the foundation of his
noble character. was laid and through
the privations and struggles and
hardships incident to. farm life in
those days he acquired business
knowledge which in after years was
destined to crown his undertakings
with success and marked him ASA
man among thousand, and one to
be trusted and in whom the utmost
confidence could be placed. A man
of sound judgment, unsurpassed
business qualifications and fine exec
utive ability, he is pre-emineutly
fitted to discharge the duties of the
Office to which the people OF this and
other counties desire to have him
elected.
At the breaking out of the civil
war, he willingly sacrificed himself
and his interest upon the altar Of his
State and offered his services in the
defence of the honor and integrity of
his beloved country and at the age OF
Is years be entered the Confederate
service as private in company c,
,fCol. ". D. DesSausure's) 18th regi-
ment S. G. Y, General Kershaw's
brigade. For CONSPICUOUS bravery
and gallantry on the battlefield in
the presence of the enemy, be was
elected Lieutenant of his company
in 1862, and was often detailed to
command different companies and
acted as Adjutant in the absence of
the latter. Such was his faithfulness,
promptness and bravery that when
the 7tb and 18th regiments were
consolidated, he was appointed Cap
tain of his company, in which posi-
ton he served until, over powered by
numbers, the stars and bars were
fu1led and the sad words 'sLost
Cause" were written upon the pages
of history. His men loved him as a
brother and followed him uncom-
plaingly wherever he lead them
counting no peril too severe, no
danger too great nor no hardship
too trying when he was in command.
During his military career he
served with great distinction gal
lantry and bravery in the battles of
Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Boons-
boro, Fredericksburg, Chancellors-
vile, Gettysburg, Chicamauga, Knox
vile, Bean Station, Wilderness,
Spottyslvania, Cold Harbor, Deep
Bottom, Charlestown, Strasburg, c.
dar Greek, Petersburg, A7erysboro
and Bennettsville, in all of which his
fearlessness and brilliant dashes
claimed the admiring attention of his
superior officers. At the battle Of
Charlestown his presence of mind and
promptness saved the life Of Captain
Press Brown, who was engaged in a
hand to hand encounter with a
Yankee Captain, and captured the
Yankee officers sword.
When the bloody conflict was over