Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-05-23


in terrible conflict of American
valora against American, valor-
indecisive. The third, the
eliminating point of theEswar,
markedsby u magnificent display
ofSouthern gallautry, bnt disas-
trous to the Confederate cause.
ItWas3here that Pickett end his
Virginians made their immortal
enemy before them. The second,
charge, and planted their colors
over-the Federal guns; but sur
rounded by overwhelming num-
bers Of the enemy, were forced to
retreat leaving the greater part of
their number on the feld-The
great attack had failed; but they
had made one of the grandest
charges recorded in history.
I might speak of Antietam, the
wilderness, ChicamaLga, and of all
the other battles that attested the
gallantry of the Confederates and
their foes. But do they not be-
long to history? And you all
should know it.. If you do not.
shame be upon be upon you to for
get.the heroic deeds ofyour fathers
but a generation past.
We come to the sad, last struggle
of Lees army before Richmond.
Half fed and clothed, exhau sted,
sad in the face of inevitable. defeat,
these veterans in their fattered
uniforms, fought on with desperate
courage. For long years had they
carried the hopes of the
South's freedom, on their
bayonets, for months bad
they lived on starvation rations,
sometimes on green corn or half
ripe fruit time and time again had
they nat in the heavy brunt of
battle superior numbers, often in
victory, never in dishonor, oppos-
ing a constant front to the mighty
concentration of power brought
against them, they were forced
slowly back to Appomattox-Here
wac to end this morlentous
struggle. Patriotism, courage,
endurance could 30 no fur ther
100000 Union soldiers surrounded
the war worn remnant of the army
of the Potomac. that in comparable
body of infantry, now reduced
to 10000 effective men. They
are ready to die; but can
go no farther. Lee sees the
end has come and accepts
the inevitable with a calm and
brave exterior; but the broken
hearts of him and his men raise a
mute cry of anguish to the God Of
nations. The struggle of the
South for freedom had failed and
gone down forever; but the South
ern Army and it's leaders had not
failed.
The majestic character of Roht.
e. Lee stands out from the dark
ground of the bloody war COM
manding the admiration and re-
spect of friend, foe, and stranger
alike. He YVES indeed Natures
nobleman, sans peur ct sans repro-
che.
I might speak of the other
chiyalrous leaders of the Southern
Army; but I shall rather speak of
all the Confederate soldiers for
they were all heroes and did their
duty as became heroes.
And their task was not over
when the war was ended. They
returned hor to fndtheir fields
grown up, their slaves freed and
the needs of their families demand.
ing relief. Turning from the past
with a regretful sigh, they bravely
faced the future, and commenced
the battle of life under new condit-
lois, without means but with that
indomitable courage that has never
yet acknowledged defeat. And
not only theirprivate affairs but
those of the public demanded of
then untlring labor and attention
The giftof citizenship had been
placed in the hands of the freed
slaves, unfit to receive it, and the
government was IN their control.
The salvation of the State required
that it be wrested from them.
Through the dark and stormy days
of reconstruction, these war worn
veterans fought for white
supremacy, and sought to lay the
foundations of a New South. Did
they succeed? Look around you.
Our government is in the control
of those to whom it belongs, to
whom God gave it. From whose
hands the Fifteenth Amendment
or Federal Statutes can never
wrest it. Our Country throbbing
with the spirit o. mighty progress,
our people happy, free from the
curse of slavery to which they gave
far more then they received.
People msy talk about the horrors
of slavery in the South, and cite
you exceptional instances of
cruel masters. I tell you that no
people in history have done more
for Christianity and for savage
race than the people Of the South
havesdone in taking among them