Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-04-19
Reply of Capt. Brooks.
EDGEEIELD, Dec. Is, 1S49

Gentlemen,-1esterdaya a de-
putation of your committee, con-
sisting of Lieut.. Viewer, Messrs.
4 ddison, Burrell and Whitaker
alted upon me at my residence
and presented your note OF the
18th inst, together with the be-
autiful sword, with which you
have been pleased to honor ne.
The manner of delivery vas as
excellent, as the presentment was
generous and just. Allusion Was
made to the compliment publicly
paid ME, by the members Of my
Company, on the very day that
the people CT the District honored
them. No man is inseDsible to
expressions of appreciation coming
from any quarter; but when thsy
proceed from a Committee, headed
by. .Abney, who could forget the
anguish of a most dangerous wound
in the ardonr 6 s a charge-b.y a q
.high-soulsd Viewer, whose noble.
integrity venerates justice, even
though it pinches :hlm-and COM
posed of others, identified with
every field, where waved our sacred
banner, it would not be true to say,
I do not feel more than words can
express.
Could any occurrence entirely
compensate me for the Parthlan
darts Of concerned friends,-of
amiables who are
Skilled by touch, to deepen SANDERS
tints
With all the sly mendacity OF hints"
it would be the considerate,
volun tary and generous compll-
nent conveyed by your offering
and the balm poured into my heart
by the sentiment Of your addres,
that "those who knew me best, love
me most"
Though of an impatient, i'm
pulsive and irascible nature, which
am panied to admit too frequently
urges me into wrong, yet the effort
of my life has been, first to avoid
the reproaches of my own can
science and next, the censure OF
my fellow man.
In refernce to my military
career, my own heart has always
told me, that it would gladly court
in the broad sun
light of Heaven, and I feel a proud
consciousness that l can with
safety, refer not only to the mem
bers of my own Company and OF
the Palmetto Regiment, but to
every officer, soldier and every fol-
lower of the Army, to whom | was
known, as to my position as an
officer, a gentleman and soldier.
You, and those you represent have
had the best opportunities OF
me as L am-of judging
of my services, OF my virtues and
my faults, and it is somewhat
remarkable that while my warmest
and most devoted friends, (and
thank God! ! had many in every
grade of the Regiment, from the
Butler and admi-
ra bic GLADDEN., down to privates
and musicians are to he found
among those who have won glory
at the cannon's mouth, my detrac-
toss, have yet to smell the burning
of "villanous saltpetre." The COM
mentary suggest sitself. 1t is the
soldier himself, who is the judge
of soldier, and the confidence
and esteem of my compaions in
arms is more valuable to me, than
honors proceeding elsewhere, even
should they be paid in gold.
i accept your elegant present,
not as a tribute to gallantry-
which single virtue covers by Its
brilliancy any AMI every vice.
put as a guerdon more valuable
and still higher--the unanimous
and deliberate declaration of as
brave a corps as ever trod battle
field-of men tried in the fire and
whose instincts, as to the merit of