St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-03-31

ical party should ever stir up the peo-
pie to such an extent again. Having
been through one civil war. and having
known by experience all of its horrors,
would surrender the presidency even
If felt that 1 had been elected, rather
than have a civil war over it. Many peo-
pie blamed Mr.. Tilden at that time for
not insisting upon his Inauguration.
but he was patriotic and wise in declin-
ing to carry his contest to the arbitra-
ment of war. -
Speaking Of civil war reminds me OF
hundreds of scenes and incidents in
that four years of fighting. During the
greater part of the time was on Vir-
ginia soil with Hunton's brigade, and
we were kept busy ali of the time.
With plenty of money and unlimited
resources, during the first two years of
the war, we had plenty Of supplies, food
and clothing. Even then the hardships
Of army life were severe enough. But
when our cause was failing, when we
could get no money from abroad, when
our confederate paper money was de-
preciated and depreciating, when our
ports were blockaded and our supplies
exhausted. our sufferings were as in
tense as those which were suffered by
the continental army under Washing
ton at Valley Forge and elsewhere.
Moreover, our soldiers, believing in
their cause, were as patriotic and noble
as were their ancestors. the heroes who
fought for the liberty of the 13 colonies.
There are thousands Sf living con-
federate soldiers who will freely admit
that the cause was wrong. and who will
say that it is blessing to all of us and
to our posterity that we have great
united country, but no self-respecting
confederate soldier will say or permit
anyone to say that the confederate sol
diers were not as patriotic, self-sacrific-
ing heroes as ever carried arms for any
cause in the history of the world. AND
spect the soldiers Of the north. No sol
diers on earth but southern men could
have made such charge ms Pickett's
men made at Gettysburg. No soldiers
in the world but northern soldiers could
have withstood that charge and rolled
our shattered columns back from those
heights.
AT the beginning Of the war with
Spain 1 received letters from scores of
the old members of Hunton's brigade,
begging me to blow my bugle and call
them together. They wanted to fight
for our common country just as freely
and periodically as they fought for the
Some of them were more
than 60 years old. but the fire of youth
was kindled in them, and they were
ready 10 leave their families and march
under the stars and stripes against the |
foreign foe. OF course, they did moi get |
into the army, but their sons enlisted,
and have been told that upwards of a |
of the sons of veterans of Hun |
tons brigade offered their services to |
the federal government"
Gen. Hunton's references to the vicis- |
Of the confederates during the |
latter part of the civil war reminded
friend of an old scrap book in the treas
ury department which mutely but elo-
quently tells the story of the failure of |
the cause. It Was shown to the writer
today. 1t is filled from cover to cover
With samples of confederate money.
The :trst bills issued by the confeder-
icy bar the inscriptions: Two years
after Gate tie confederate states prom
Re to pay" but very SOON thereafter,
when it yrs seen that 4 long war in
stead of a short one must ensue before
he confet.eracy could be established,
The notes were issued with the inscrip-
lion: six months after the ratifica-
ion Of . treaty of peace between the
confederate states and the United
states" and this wording was contin-
led to the close Of the war.
In 1851 and 1862 the paper money Of
he confedesacys was maintained at
mr.. Gen. Hunton referred to those
lays as days Of comparative ease for
he soldiers and for their cause. But
n 1868. when vicksburg surrendered
nd Lee was defeated at Gettysburg,
- eonfedefate moneY ten to 70 per