The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-09-21
PATRIOTIC ADDRESS
OF Gen. Julian S. Carr to Confederate
Veterans at WadesborO.
Wilmington MesSeDger.)

Wilmington MeSSeDger)
1t is a pleasure to recognize talents
and usefulness. In the last number
OF the Wadesboro Messenger and
Intelligencer, a well conducted weekly
exchange we rarely fail to handle,
there appears the elaborate address
before the Confederate veterans who
met in that town Aug. 10th. 1t Is
by that very popular speak er General
Julian S. Carr, the States benefactor.
We took time to read nearly all Of it
although it would fill a page in the
large sized Messenger. 1t is without
any semblance Of fattery a capital
address, really interesting all the
way, full OF description and glowing
with ardent patriotism expressed in
flowing rhetoric. We like it much
and commend it to the attention of
all North Carolinians who love North
Carolina and glory in the fame OF her
magnificent soldierv.
General Carr quotes Gov. Vance s
figures as to the strength OF the
soldiers from North Carolina, putting
the total at 121, O3S. We are sure 1t
is an underestimate, or the Roster
published by the State contains more
than 10, 900 names in excess. These
names were gathered in the time OF
war There are errors in the repro
duction Of the same names sometimes
when they were transferred from one
arm of the service to anOther-from
artillery to infantry or cavalry or
vice versa, or some other way. There
can hardly be ten or twelve thousand
repctitions. We believe that fully
war by North Carolina.
One thing should be done by the
next Legislature. Let competent
soldier be appointed to revise the
volumes OF the Roster, and make all
needed corrections. Where there
are names repeated let them be cor
rcctcd, and let it be ascertained just
how many errors appear, and what
the precise strength of the North
Carolina army was. Publish the
result in a supplementary volume. All
errors should be eliminated. Gov
crnor Vance's figures are too small
we are persuaded.
General Carr gives most striking
statement of losses which in itself is
a grand tribute to the men, who led,
who did not say ''gO on men," but
who said Come on, Men," and they
were men every inch Of them:
NO other State approaches within
thousands of her noble dead, and her
wounded, torn by the gashes of hon
orabIe conflict. Officers and men alike
plunged into the mouth of destruction.
With fewer officers of high rank by far
than her proportion Of private soldiers
would permit, she yet lost in battle eight
generals and thrty-three colonies to say
nothing of lieutenant colonies and Off
GERS of lower rank What u story of
daring does that reveal, when the com
manders OF hall her regiments were
killed on the field, besides the large
number that died from disease and
privation, or were wounded for life.''
OF the surprising character Of the
armies of the Southern Confederacv
he says impressively:
That price was immense, for here
was an army, where privates were OF the
same blood culture, and ability as the
officers who commanded, and patriotism
was to both alike. The general of the
army had son in the ranks"
General Carr quotes one inspiring
passage from Colonel K. L. Bennett,
who is often magnetic and sweeping
in his oratory:
"There are occasions in the experience
Of regiments, brigades and armies, when
10 hn,,
the enemy astOunded by their audacity
stand at attention, and applaud the
oEcominG host.
Once III the supreme crisis OF great
battle, when the earth trembled like a
heated oven. and the battalion hesitated
a private soldier of weIl-earned renown,
appealed to them to go forward and
strike home for their cause PersiSting
in his appeal, he said, ''They that love
God. 90 forward
EVERY human virtue was repeated
during that struggle
General Robert +. Lee, first among
soldiers, said to General Lane of our
own soldiers:
Sir North Carolina has reasons to
be proud of her troops.'
There are many fine glowing, i'm
FASHIONED passages in the address.
1t is very quotable, but we have not
space at command. The eloquent
speaker closed with this inspiring
strain:
'There is nothing in our duty to our
dead comrades and to ourselves which
conflicts with good citizenship and the
fufillment OF all obligations to our State
and Federal government. On the con-
trary, the adherence to the constitutions
al obligations OF each respectively, and
OF the citizens to bob is as we have al
ready maintained, the only hope OF
government permantly free.
"Grateful for the past with its hal
lowed memories let us seize the golden
opportunities of the present and so
labor for the oncoming future of our
dear mother State and all her children
and all her multiplied interests, each in
his own sphere, that when our summons
shall come, in the fullness of time, and
the tOiling heart shall sink to peace
fuI rest, the bugle notes shall sound the
farewell taps for the true men, and
some dear comrade from his heart
repeat
Soldier, sleep, thy warfare DER,
Sleep the sleep that knows no waking"
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