The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-15
THE DARLINGTON GUARDS.
The General Assembly Receives the
Flag OF Historic Company for
Preservation Among Precious Nc
lol1

The General Assembly Receives the
Flag OF a Historic Company for
Preservation Among Precious Me
morials.
Gov. McSweeney has sent special
m essage to the Log islature In trans.
mitting a letter OF the Hon. John Floyd,
q member Of the House of Representa-
tives from the county Of Darlington,
and surviving soldier and officer OF
the Confederate States army, in which
the Governor heartily recommends the
acceptance by the State Of the historic
flag, 30 gracefully and patriotically ten
dered, and that it be carefully placed
and safely preserved in the receptacle
prepared heretofore by the State for
such precious memorials of the devo-
ton and valor Of her sons.
Appropriate remarks were made In
the House upon the reception OF the
special message, including feeling
tribute from Mr.. Floyd to the members
Of the Darlington Guards.
In the Senate, concurrent resolu-
tion to accept the Gift was offered by
Senator G. w. Brown, of Darlington,
who said that representing the county
OF Darlington 1t Was grateful privi-
lege to recount something Of the his
tory of the Darlington Guards. He
gave these facts {:
The Darlington Guards organized
June %, 1859, with Frederick F. War
ley as captain, @ graduate OF the State
Military academy. He rendered SER
vices Of the Guards to Gov. Plckens
before the Ordinance of Secession was
passed. The call reached Marley Jan.
day following, except one man who,
being too far away to receive the sum
mons, followed on the next train. The
flag was presented on Academy Green,
by j. A. Dargan and his son, e. X.
Dargan, held The flag while the presen-
tation speech was being made.
The Guards was the first company to
reach Charleston. The IStchluGd Ritl 30
of Columbia, Capt. Miller, arrived six
hours later and we're escorted to quar-
ters by detachment of the Guards.
The next day these two companies
were formed on opposite sides Of the
same street and mustered into service
for six months. The Guards were then
mustered in and became one of the
first enlisted companies in the war be.
tween the States. Ordered, to Sulli-
vans Island on the same day they be-
came part Of the First reg giment, S. G.
V. infantry, under Col. Maxcy Gregg.
The company furnished forty .savt n
commissioned officers and three lieu.
tenant cOlonels to the Confederate SER
vice, Warren, e. f Dargan, a T.; Nc
Intosh, d. G.. The last named at the
battle OF fredericksburg was recon-,
mended to Gen. Lee for promotion.
Senator Marshall IL rise to ex-
press qualification that another battle
lag OF the Confederacy has been pre-
sented to the State. wish every one
of.the flags could be placed alongside
those now In the State house so that
other day can see the flags under
which our fathers fought. They bright
en- the htstory"of our State. The SOL.
diers who fought and died In that war
were hpnored and loved and died in
the :perfUrmance Of their duty. We
should gladly ceive this flag and
place 1t with. the others in the H.
brary"
Senator Aldrich: : ".We are asked
to receive this old piece OF silk, soiled
and rent and tattered, OF no value, and
yet 1t ts more precious than all the
jewels Of the cast, for it Is the flag that
hoated over as gallant band OF Caro-.
linians as ever drew sword in defense
OF the State, In as righteous cause as
ever commanded the sympathies OF
man kind--once 1t was resplendent with
all the beauty the cunning hands of do.
voted women could bestow upon it It
is ruin now, but a land without
ruins is land without memories
And what memories cluster around
tlat old banner; how many weary
march does 1t recall how many des.
perate assault upon hard fought battle.
'tields does 1t bring back: and how Otter
has 1t been stained with tho blood OF
heroes? We will receive 1t and give
1t a place of honor when all coming
generations may look upon 1T and take
their inspiration from IT, and whom
they shall ask who were tho Darling
ton Guards the answer will como in
the words Of magnanimous foe-they
were part of that Incompatible in.
fantry who bore upon their bayonets
the failing fortunes Of tho Confederacy
for four long and bloody years. and OF
whom the great war pr resident OF the
nation spoke, whom standing on the
battlefield Of Gettysburg and contem-
plating their deeds OF valor, exclaim.
ed Il want the union to be restored
more than ever in order that | may
call those men my countrymen.' Let
| US accept it, sir, and keep 1t in honor
of these brave men who fought The
good fight and who kept the faith"
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