The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-27
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mand of the association, to you I
commit it.
History is dono. have only to
add, major, that tho % or ~ eur
viving Palmettoes Of 1908 mustered
in 1915, feol assured that, in com
hitting these, our sacred roles, to
the charge of yourself and these 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 TlIoMpsoN's REPLY
When tho applause had coasod at
the conclusion of Col. Blanding's
speech, Major Thompson eloqucntly
replied
Colonel: Your stirring words and
| an unusual sceno like this carries us
back over moro than Il half century
Of years to time when in the shadow
Of that historic spearhead and be
meath the sillicn folds of that Scared
banner which this ono now repro
sents, Governor Johnson said to your
band Of heroes: 81 SEQ now in the
| prospective tho Palmetto banner
floating triumphantly ovor tho storm
Of war. Go, and the God Of battles
go with you.' Beneath it You
stood when he added, "Romom-
bor that You are South Caroliuians,"
and when the gallant Butler
replied, "Wo will not only romcm.
| bar that wo nro South Curollnians,
but wo will remember that wo bear
with us tho honor of South Carolina,
and wo will protect it and dcfend it
with our lives" Beneath that flag
was tho snmo gallant soldier whom
ho said: "Gen. Shields, there is not
q South Carolinian here who will
not follow you to DEATH" And Whit
field Brooks, II beardlcss boy, scarce
ly II years Of age, private in the
ranks, re- echoed, "Aye, to the doath." /"
Beneath that flag only Il fow hours
later lay tho Same gallant private
woltering in his own blood and seal
ing with his very life tho solemn
vow he had 80 lately mndo. Boncuth
that flag was Lieut.. Col. Dickinson,
when in reply to Il question, he said;
81 care not what pace is assigned
mo as long as it is at tho front near
tho flashing Of the guns" Beneath
that flag stood Lieut.. j. II. Clark. of
the Richland Voluntcor Riflo Com,
pany, when he shouted to his men
undor tho fire of loadcn hail around
tho walls Of Churubusco: "Stand
their fire at all hazards, men; re-.
member where you arc from"
With such II flag as this to lead
us on, feel that can promise you
that tho mon Of tho independent
battalion will do their whole duty;
that they will remember not only
that they are South Carolinians, but
that they bear with them the honor
Of South Carolina, which they will
protect and defend with their lives;
that they will stand the fire at all
hazards, remembering where they
are from. That should occasion offer
"the spirit Of their sires is in the
children living yet"
In the name Of zach and every
member Of tho baStnlion, for the
confidence you have rcposod in us, I
promise you that you will never
have reason to feel that that conf
denco has been misplaced.
TO SERGEANT HOLMAN.
Major Thompson then turned tc
Sergeant Holman, The color bearer
of the battalion, and placing the
valued and historic old flag in his
hands said:
Sergeant Holman: As Il descend
ant of tho gallant soldier and officer
who has entrusted this sacred relic
to our keeping, | ontrnst 1t to you.
SEQ to it that you bear it in such q
way that you make tho record which
ho 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 wul
and ono of tho small nun Dor who are