The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-05-16
TH1 TE:ERANS' n1..UN!OA.

Large Attendance and Much Entliu-
siasm.
The great Confederate reunion held
In Columbia last week was pronoun-
2ed success. Many prominent veterans
we're present. The ATTENDANCE was the
largest Of any similar gathering yet
held. The city OF Columbia entertained
the old soldiers royalty. One Of ire
most pleasant features of the occasion
was the bestowing Of the Southern
Cross of Honor upon General Wade
Hampton by the Daughters of the Con-
federacy. The presentation speech WAS
made by Maj. Hart of York. The rche!
yell Was called for and given with
will when the Grand Old hero arose TO
respond. Genera, HamrtOn's speech OF
acceptance was as follows:
Ny Comrades: l have indeed. as
Maj. Hart has said, heard that Rebel
yell often before and when heard it
from my own men. from the men
whom | had the honor to command. |
knew that we we've safe. think it is
one of the British poets who says:
The kites know we'll
The long leagues swell
That bids the Romans close"
might paraphrase this by saying:
The Yankees knew well
The long leagues swell
That bids the Rebels close.
My old heroes hope it never will be
forgotten. hope it will be transmit
ted to your children and to your child
ren's children-if not for them to use
TO tell how it used to ring from the
forests OF Virginia, how it rang from
Gettysburg to the west and how it al
ways told Of men who were willing to
die for their southland, to die for
truth. for honor, for manhood, for
chivalry and for great truth. l want
YOU to try and teach to your children
and your children's children that ours
was not a lost cause. | want you to
tell them that we were fighting for the
right. George Washington was a rebel
but Lee was not. When Great
Britain recognized the independence Of
this country she did not recognize the
independence Of the United States but
of each sovereign State as independent
and sovereign. There were 13 indie
pendent and sovereign States. They
pundcd this union and hey had the
right TO withdraw from it whenever
they chose so to do. We were not sue
cessful-it is not given to mortals to
command success. You have done
more-you have deserved it.
And now in your declining years and
when mine have extended long be-
yord the period allotted to men, yoc,
my old comrades, whom loved, whom
trusted and with whom l felt as
safe as do now, want to say to you
all that all the love YOU have given ne
has been more than reciprocated; that
all that have ever been able to do
for you. for any one OF you, or for
South Carolina. has been more than
reDaid ~ the honors you have unso-
licited conferred upon me and by this
the crowniIg honor OF my life. | may
not see you again. remember a story
Of an old bishop who when ready TO
retire from public life went to the ah-
bot and said:
Father Abbot, an old man whose
heart is broken by the storms OF state
is come to lay his weary bones among
you"
That is all shall ask Of South Caro-
lina-a few feet of earth where my
kindred for six generations are rest
ing. And | am proud to say that one
or more of each generation sinr" they
we're known in South Carolina las
filed a bloody grave for South CAROL
ma. (Applause.) claim NJ credit
for that. Every South Caro!inian who
was true was willing to give his blood
and his life for the old State. am
sure that ! was willing to do so.
think can say so 70 you. my men,
that I never turned my back upon any
of YOU when your faces ""rn tirnph
toward the enemy. TIL" greatest honor
that ! felt during the war Wao on'e
when | came upon poor nfiVafe VINO
was dying. stopped beside him and
he said: Il am happy to die lighting
and am proud to die fighting unher
YOU"
I pray that God will bless Fon ana
will give You peace and prosperity,
give II to the old State, give It to each
one cf you aud that you VIII 20 nome
and tell your kindred that you have