The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-05
Mcsweeney's Tribute to Our solaiers.


Governor McSwceney's presentation
soeech at the South Carolina monu-
n,nt on the battlefield Of Chicka-
mauga was as follows:
Fellow Countrymen: More than a
,,neration has passed since the day
If carnage which made this spot his
,oric when foeman met foreman
rorthy of his steel in this bloody con-
,est. It was not,a conflict between
hired soldiers, but Of men equal in
courage and Of the same great race
Who were contending for principles
thew believed to bo right. The hero
ism aud the fortitude displayed by the
southern soldiers in this conflict has
never been surpassed in the history Of
the world. Ho considered that he
vas contending for the principle upon
=h:eh our government was fonnded
and he went into the conflict as q
natriotic duty. and duty was his
watchword from Manassas to Apo
mattox. On no other hypothesis can
vou explain the privation and the suf-
ss5;n, which he go eheerf.lly sHd
readily endured.
This spirit of patriotism prevailed
,ot onlv among the men of the south,
Init the woman, like the Spartan
mothers of old, sent their sons and
loved ones to the front with cheer
fitness born of patriotism that will
make any people great. From the
first gun at Fort Sumter until arms
were stacked at Appomatox they en-
dured hardships and privations with
a for,itude rarely equaiied and never
cacellcd.
And when the Confederate soldier
stacked his arms and furled forever
the flag which he had followed through
victory and defeat and turned his
face homeward, shattered and worn,
there we're no vain regrets for the part
be had played in the great drama Of
war, but with cheerfulness unpar-
alleled and spirit Of l;fe and the
work Of rebuilding his lost fortunes,
and to day there is no one more ready
or more willing to respond to the de-
fensc Of our country than the >Confed-
crate soldier. This was demonstrated
in our last war with Spain when Joe
Wheeler saved the day at Santiago
and young Bagley laid his life upon
the altar Of his country. 1t is meet
and right that We should perpetuate
his memory in bronze aud stone, but
better still that it should be embalmed
in the hearts and lives of those who
are to come after US. This we can do
and at the same time accept the result
Of the combat and still be true to The
flag.
This is a proud day for South Car
oHna. This beautiful park has been
purchased by the general government,
and each State having troops engaged
in shis great battle has been asked to
mark the position Of its troops. Many
Of the States have already acted. and
nearly half m;!!;=a dollars have iheen
expended by sixteen Ssatea for this
purpose. Though to.day Iwa have at
least done our duty and to-day we
come to dedicate this monument TO
the memory Of the brave South Caro-
linians who fought and fell gon this
historic spot. s'i5gS;s,Yss y
In 1893 the general assembly 9f South
Carolina appointed a commission to
select suitable monuments, but-;s -Was
not until 1900 that the means were
provided to complete the work. AT
that session Of the Legislature I'm ap-
propriation Of $4,000 vas made to
erect suitable monuments. and the
governor was authorized to appoint q
commission of three members and
they, with the governor and the ad-
jutant general, were to haue charge OF
the erection of the markers aud thc
monument. By authority Of that ac,
appointed as the other members OF
that commission General O. I. Walker,
of Charleston; Colonel j. Harvey
Wilson, Of Sumter; and Captain G.
X. Henderson, ofeAiken. / am proud
that I have the opportunity of taking
part in these ceremonies and ] rejoice
at the contamination to which this
day brings us nthe completion and
dedication of this monument. 1t is Q
glad day for all true sons Of the Pal
metto State.
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