Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-07

GREENSBORO, ALA, Aug. 29.-Much
has been written about Lieutenant
Hobson, the hero of the Merrimac-
but not too much-and much has been
said of the mother Of the hero-and
of this pretty old.fasbioned town, with
it's colonial houses and its courthouse
with big columns and solemn appear
ence.
But little has been said of the father
of the hero, and it was with pleasant
anticipation that I journeyed here for
The Journal to talk with "the judge"
as he is familiarly and afectionately
known by everybody throughout this
section.
These good people live in such a
quiet easy fashion. The authorities
refused to allow the railroad to en-
croach nearer than mile, for the blow
ing of whistles, ringing of bells, and
humping of cars CRATE upon the nerves.
I saw plenty of f1uttering flags and
tricolored shields, and Hobson's pic
ture is prominent everywhere. The
illustrated papers have been preserved
to decorate windows and plaster walls.
When I called at the modest law Of
fee OF Judge Hobson I found him
alone surrounded by newspapers and
deeply engrossed in magazine war
article. He arose as I entered, waded
toward me through the papers scat
tered around him, and, extended his
hand.
I was struck with his marked re-
semblance to the late James G. Blaine.
He stands erect and carries himself
with ease and dignity. His we'll
shaped head is set upon a pair of
square shoulders. His face is round
frank, and he speaks with a strong
Alabama dialect.
He plays with his short cropped gray
beard as he talks, and looks squarely
at you with humorous eyes, which are
set deep in his head, under shaggy
eyebrows.
His dress is typically southern
black stuff and we'll put together,
though looking as if the pattern had
been cut out with circular saw. In
his dress more than anything else the
hero's father impressed one that he had
earned and merited the title of "judge."
When I told him represented the
New York Journal he said he was not
seeking nor did he want any notoriety
for himself.
"Rich," he said, chad earned enough
of that, and there is enough to divide
among all the family and each one get
share. want to thank The Journal
and ask it to thank the good people
all over this country for the many gen.
ereus and kind letters sent to me and
nv family about Rich. could not
possibly reply to them all, but [ know
the nearest and surest way to reach
all the people is to ask The Journal to
thank each one for me.
81 never have told anybody, but l
was not only greatly disappointed, but
took it hard, that I did not get chance
to run my eye down a rifle barrel and
get my bearings on some of those
Spaniards in Cuba. I bad four years
of that kind Of sport, except for IA
months I was in prison, and history
does sometimes almost repeat itself.
II don't mind telling it, only it isn't
much, and don't want anything said
about it to magnify it or to give it any
more prominence than it really merits.
l don't know why it is; but war has
always had a fascination for me. l
read the histories of the great battles
that have been fought and am thrilled
with the valor and bravery and often
heroic deaths of soldiers. l don't mean
that love the sight of blood. loathe
it, and while 1 have had many person
al difficulties from schoolboy days until
not so many years ago, still am a
peaceable man and would much rather
avoid trouble than get into it. But
what I wish to impress upon you is
that I wanted to 60 and take part in
this war, and Sc when the first decla-
ration of hostlities was made wrote
to Governor Johnson, of Alabama, and
told him that / wanted to go. then
put a notice in our local paper asking
men to enlist but those at or near my
age didn't seem to want to go, at least
they didn't come forward so only the
bows went. I'm not so old-only 5S
years-and have lots of fight in me
yet.
"But I am leaving my subject. l
said moment ago that history some
times does not repeat itself. This is
what meant: When the war between
the states began 1 enlisted as a private
in a North Carolina regiment and went
to the front and was in the beginning
of that great and memorable fight at
Spottsylvatia Of May s, 9, 10 and II,
1868. 1t was on the second day of this
battle. Grant had been checked in the
Wilderness, but would not retire, but
went to the left of our forces. General
Lee came upon the scene just in time,
and the Federal lines were broken and
we were in pursuit. 1t was an awfu!
but grand sight. Men were fleeing
and scattering. My ammunition had
given out, but kept in the race. Far
to the left I saw Yankee color bearer
behind tree, and l wanted his flag.
I