The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-04-19

hands Of cruel and savage enemir'.
She has kept the memory Of thos"
who fought for the immortal plirci
ples for which they conterdtd fresh
and greet in the hearts and affections
Of the world BY the erection of mar
BILE monuments in commemoration Of
their gallant deeds and heroic strug-
giles.
Referring to the Confederate mon
ument which stands on the left Of
the court house in honor of our he
roic dead, the Major said that there
should be another one on the right
erected by the men in grateful re-
to the heroism and pa
triotism of the women of the South
during the dark days of the Southern
Confederacy.
The same heroic spirit rules the
heart If woman today when the o c
casion arises to call it into play as
was exhibited by Miss Helen Gould
in ministeriDgt to the needs and neces-
sites Of the boys in blue who re
turned from serving their country in
Cuba and the members of the Red
Cross who gave up the pleasures and
comforts of home to suffer the hard
ships and privations incident to work
on the battle6elds of a foreien and
strange country in order to minister
to the wants of the sick, wounded
and dying in the army. He spoke OF
McKinley's visit to the South and
to his speech in Atlanta when be
said that the time had arrived when
we (the United States) should take
care of the Confederate dead. Bat
the women of the South, in righteous
indignation, said NJ! and claimed Il e
right to arr for the last resting lace
of the sleeping heroes, and refused
to relinquish the sacred trust into
Other hands.
Brothers, comrades! 1t is q pleas
ure to meet with you here on this
occasion. Soon the last bugle will
be sounded and many OF US will
cross over the river and the Confed-
crate Veteran who made Southern
history gloriously brilliant will live
only in the memory and affections of
those who will come after US. Let
US enlist under the banner OF him
who died for US, and we will be re-
ceived with songs of triumph and be
robed with Immortality.
The first presentation Of any ban
ner in this county vas that to the
Saluda Guards in 1861 at the Old
Saluda factory. The first man from
this county who fell in the war was
Lieutenant Zeao Swygert, who fell
at Hilton Head. He was the father
of Sergeant Enoch Swygert, who is
the color bearer of Camp Steadman.
We accept this beautiful banner, not
for it's intrinsic value, but from the
noble spirit which inspired tie fair
donors to present it to the Camp.
We say to you, you have our unre-
strained confidence. No greater
motive could have actuated the gift
than that which moved the women
in making it. We receive it in trust
and as long as a single survivor lives
it will be hailowed and cherished as
a pleasant memento of women's de-
votion to the Lost Cause.
Placing the banner in the hands
of Sergt. Enoch Swygert, the Major
said, into your keeping I give this
banner.
sERGT. ENOCH SwYGERT
in accepting the banner, said in sub
stance, I thank you and the ladies
for this gift. Loved mes fell beneath
this and that banner pointing to sew
eral tattercd and torn battle fags)
and this one will be loved and re-
vered, and it will never be allowed 70
trail in the dust so long as Camp
Steadman exists and it is the banl er
of this Camp.
COL U r. BROOKS
being present, was called upon for an
address. He responded in his usual
happy manner. He said it was al
ways a pleasure and filed his heart
with the deepest emotions to meet
and talk to the men who fought IN
the Confederate war. 1t was a great
pleasure to meet the soldiers of Lex
ington, with some of whom he
fought and there were never drawer
or more gallant soldiers than they.
He said that he would never forget
the addresses of Dr.. BROKER and
Mai. Meetze. They deeply touched
his heart and opened up the casket
of memory that he could scarcely
keep back the tears that would rise