The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-06
ONE MAN N 4 MILLION.
COLORED CAROLIxIAN VETERAN
or THREE WARS.
william Rose, since 1884, In the
Noted RieAlana Riaes-He Re-
members Lafsyette's Visit Sosth
in .25-Wanted 10 Go 70 war Again

William Rose, messenger TO the governor
or South Carolina. has record thai
stands alone among the millions OF his
race. Now aged and bent, he ~ kept In a
position OF honor and profit. reward for
long years of faithful service IN war and
peace Dignified hut respectful TO a de-
gree, this old fellow. who sits in an arm
chair by the door Of the governors Office.
receives a hearty sasutation from all who
enter. His name and history are known
TO many. w...le fais face is familiar TO those
who have srequenied the state house u.
any time during the last twenty-three
years.
veteran Of three wars. old Uncle"
William wept last summer when the COM
pany OF which he had been the sole col
ored member for six;y-flve years marched
away to Chickamauga- He would gladly
have gone in any capacity, but physical
infirm.t.es would not permit.
In the great political revolution OF 1880
there wac but one person the sweeping
tide held sacred, and that was William
Rose. Yet he was an aristocrat Of the olu-
est kind and did not change his coat. Two
years later, when the legislature put the
knife into salaries, not enc man Offered TO
cut the pay Of the governors messenger,
although II would have been practicable 10
have gotten the office filled Tor half the
money
For more than twenty years Rose has
been orderly" IN the Richland volunteer
rife company, one Of the oldest companies
la the state. having been organized in 1873.
He had been a member o. the company in
capacity OF musician since 1854. As order
;y he wears commissioned officers
stripes. carries sword and marches in
the file ciosers-,he only negro holding such
a position n "a white organization in the
country. Rose attends all company meet
ings and votes on all questions Annually
the members shoot for the Rose medal"
presented to the company by the old ne
gro. while he IL proud OF walking with a
heavy goid-headed cane. suitably engraved,
presented TO him by his white comrades.
William Rose was a slave Of Charles.
tonian. who hired out the few men he
owned. and William was allowed TO chooss
his own masters In that he go. The men he
liked 10 hire him. He does no, know how
old he Is and never has mastered the art
OF reading, but the first event OF great i'm.
portance 10 impress him was the visit OF
Lafayette to South Carolina in ISIS. Will
lam was then. he says. young man be-
tween Is and 20 years old--an apprentice
at the carpenters trade In Columbia. The
light dragons from Columbia went to the
North Carolina state line. where Gen. La
bia.
The old mans memory f. remarkably
good. and he gives accurate information
about many details incident 10 the recep-
ton Of the distinguished Frenchman sew
enty-four years ago. Troops were gather
ed In Columbia. he says, from all parts Of
the state. and were encamped TO the east
Of the city. When notice OF tho generals
approach was received, COT Richard l.
nj M. 10 fat ~
the present Gen. Hampton. and Gov. Man
ning's stafY rode out to meet the party. The
troops were drawn up and saluted an the
distinguished visitor drove down their
lines. Lafayettes carriage was drawn by
four cream horses. The party then enter
ed Columbia. and Gen. Lafayette was taken
to the house en- Gervais street which Ia
now occupied by Bishop Capers OF tire
Episcopal diocese Of South Carolina
The next day public reception was held
AZ the state house, a wooden building long
since obllterated. Gen. Lafayette walked
from his residence to the state house n
third Of a mile. on a carpet three feet wide.
ladies and children sirewing flowers before
him. For several days the town was given
over 10 festivities
In 1884 Rose went into the Richland vol
unteer rife company as drummer, and on
July II. 1896. embarked with tho company
az CRANKY, two miles below this city. for
Florida, TO fight the Seminoies There were
no railroads and no steamers. and the trip
Was tlrescme one. The James Boaswright
WAS The name ~ the fiat-bottom Graf, I'm
which they foated down the Congsree
hnaIly reaching Charleston. where they re-
embarked In a larger vessel and sailed for
savannah. Columbia at that time was n
village OF about 2.dr. Inhabitants. but there
was plenty Of enthusiasm, the company
marching away from the old town nall
cheered by all the people assembled
From savannah the company proceeded
hy water 10 st. Augustine nttle village
where they remained I'm barracks for three
months The Serinoles kept IN TIRE ham.
morks. The men were fed on sh!phoard
by contract, and Jared wei.. Uncle william
says There were no complaints Of had
beef and but one casualty--a man fell over
beard
The Bchland volunteer rifle comnanv
wHs ore ~ the star companies that com
posef the Palmetto regiment. which MAY
ed 80 important 4 part In the Mexirar
war, William Rose went along "A drum.
rner ana also as body servant 81 cant
Pierce Butler. af'erward colonel WIFE he
was there and saw IL all. the Spanish
language and Mexican nance were CON-
fuSing 90 william. He ran toll how .be
enemy WAS fought and whipped and how
the cannon roarei and the smoke settled
over tho hnd. but the names ~ batiles
are unknown n him
LATE passed peacefully fa- William untn
the guns opened on Fort sumter Then 10
went from Columbia 20 Charleston hy re
n+vt train and orcrpd his services ~ Gen,
Nancy Gregg rs body servant They
wers accepted ard Gen. Gregg made A.
rang nenis with Williams master for his
absence The oil negro was az Manassas
ard ot Der battles. and wHs near Gen C;reRx
AZ Ffraeyt kSbutR when he WAS raurtaliy
wounded. AS Ne was dsfns on fha bat
'leasli ihP general presented hts faithful
EeTvans with hts handsome watcA which
Is nGw uroudly worn. ART gave the hst
-7aeesares - his family wHl.sm Trough.
the BODY - hi> commander from ;hc hat
'leaelA in virginia 10 Columbia. a mos, az.
acails feat In those 8ay>.
M eurgng the stormy times - recon
s,-ucifnn ana afteTward when the reln-
- power were in the hands ~ fSrmcr
slaves Rose never waverrd in rs aiiss
iance - the csasa he fought With "a three
n.-< Ffs wen thf aairsa o' negroes IN
Columbia ART his ne WA several times
'hrea senc9 IA the famous Hampton