Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-05
BILLY ROSE HAS ANSWERED TAPS.
His Long Military and Political Career Ended.
A Negro Honored In Many Ways.


tho Governors Office is vacant. The
familiar figure which had occupied it
for years will be seen there no moro.
William Rose, the Governors messenger,
is doad.
Uncle Billy Rose was u colored man,
born slave, but he was highly esteemed
by tho best white people of the State.
He has mingled, in an humble capacity,
with leaders of thought and society in
South Carolina for more than three
quarters Of century, Ho was a patri-
otto Caroliuan and had gone with sol.
diery into two great wars and other hos.
tilitics. Ho has been Democrat ever
since he was given suffrage.
When tho Confederate veterans were
here not two weeks ago, Uncle Billy
took delighted interest in the reunion.
He overtaxed his fooble strength and as
way. uo had been in n dying condition
for three days before tho end came. He
was attended by DR.. r. W. Gibbes and
faithful coIorod people ministered tc
him in his last hours.
His body lies in State in his humble
vinc-clad cottage on Senate street in
sight of the capitol, where, for nearly
25 years, ho has been the trusted servant
of tho Chief Executive of tho State
Clad in uniform of blue, with cap.
tain's epaulettes upon his shoulders and
the loved letters IS. c." for tho collar
dovico, the body of William Rose will
to-day at noon bo lowered into tho grave
with military honors. For Rose was fol
many years an honorary member of tho
Richland Volunteers.
There is some doubt as to Roses exact
age. He always said that he was born
in 1913 in Charleston. That was the
year in which tho Richland Volunteers
were organized.
He became citizen of Columbia in
1928, being owned by jew named Bar
rett, who allowed Rose to hire himself
out Rose was Il carpenter and later on
learned to work as a cotton gin repaircr
The gins were very crude in those days
In 1925 Gen. Lafayette visited America
and Rose loved to tell of his reception il
Columbia-such an ovation having never
since been accorded any other person.
| IIc was also accustomed to describe
the Columbia of those days as prctt,
little village.
In 1885 he went to Augusta, leaving on
tho same day that Gen. Wade IIampton's
grandfather was buried in TriniL,
chnrch-yard. In few months Rose re
turned to Columbia, and on February
II, 1886, left with tho Richland Volun
/ tccrs on their expedition to Florida
| against tho Seminoes. The gallant
| Pierce Butler, afterwards Governor, was
Captain, but was promoted to Licnten
ant-Colonel B. r. Emorc, afterwards
United States Senator then commanded
tho company. There was but one man
lost in this expedition. The heavy snow
in Florida was phenomenon upon
| which Rose was wont to comment. The
volunteers took Rose along as drummer
and his name has been on the company
roll ever since.
When the United States mado wal
| against Mexico, Uncle Rose again went
| away with the Richland Volunteers.
This time he was attached to the rotinuc
of Col. Pierce Nj. Bntler, tho gallant
Colonel of tho Palmetto Regiment, who
was killed at the head of his regiment.
Rose could not tell much about this war,
for tho Mexican and Spanish names con-
fused him. And then when tho great
struggle came, Rose again followed the
ltichland Volunteers, and was the body
guard Of Gen Maxcy Gregg, who was
killed at Fredericksburg. Rose recalls
tho fact that just before Gregg was
wounded there had been coolness
between Gen. jackson and Gen. Gregg.
Tho latter, feeling that his wound was
fatal, sent for Gen. jackson and expressed
hope to die with tho good will Of all
men, for he had malice toward none.
Gen. Gregg gave Rose message to his
sisters in Columbia, telling them to meet
him in heaven. IIo also gave to Rose
his gold watch. This was suitably
engraved on its inner case by tho order
of Gen. Grcgg's sisters, and the old fol
low wore it always. lie was extremely
proud of this and also of gold.hcadctl
cane which was given to him by the
Legislature Of South Carolina. Rose
brought Gen. Grcgg's body homo from
the field Of Fredericksburg.
Once when thcro was big riot at Dar-
lingt"n, Uncle Billy donncd his uniform
to go with tho Richland Volunteers. This
he spoke Of as a war. When hostilitics
| with Spain commenced he was kept at
home by forciblc means. IIe wanted to
go with tho First Regiment under Col.
| Aston.
For years Rose has been the "ordcrly"
of the Rchland Volunteers, and proudly
wore the uniform with scrgcants' chow
rons and with company officers sword.
llc marched in tho file closcrs. When
Governor McSwecncy went to Charleston
to inspect tho militia he promoted Rose
to a captaincy, and made him courier.
This was a proud honor for the cx slave
to ride with tho Governor of the State
along tho streets of tho very city where
he had been born a slave. But this is
not all Of ROSES military record. IIc
beat the muillod drum at tho funeral of
John G. Calhoun. He has also prescn led
the Richland Volunteers with medal to
be competed for in workmanship by
individual members, and tho company in
turn presented him with cane
Roses record in politics is as romarka.
bio rs in military affairs. WHOM tho