The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-05-30

freedom shrieked" as Sidney Johnston |
fell, was scarcely overbalanced by tho |
success OF the second day to tho North, |
brought about chiefly by that pertinacity,
stern determination and confidence |
which characterized U. 8. Grant as |
born leader Of mon.
The Gray and the Blue grapplcd TO-
gethcr on many CORY field from the |
MlSsisslppi TO tho Tennessee. The stars !
ana bars, and stars and stripes, waved |
dcfancc at each other across many a |
TaVlhe ot that grand region. Bedford |
Forrest, "thc noblcst Roman Of them
ALL led his troopers triumphant from
one end to tho other.
In ING crucial year of 1868, when tho |
shortening days Of September came and
INC halo or The Indian summer was Green |
ing oyer this favored region of Georgia
ana tennessee, the electric batteries of
norrld war stirred the lcthean waters of
this "Klver of Death" and its search.
!iieh's l iumlnatcd these grand overhang.
ihs mountain peaks with a luridness
never to be forgotten. Once again, "a in
its legendary historic past, d Chicka-
mauga became the tramping ground OF
hosts OF men embraced in an cnsan
guinea struggle for annihilation and de-
struction. Both sides were ABLY lod,
Both sides fought nobly. Both sides
conscientiously y acted. All of them pa
trlots none OF them rebels.
Lee had detached from Virginia and
sent his great corps commander, Long
street, with his hardened veterans to aid
inc Confederate Chicftain, BraXton
Bragg me- the same Captain Bragg who,
under the stars and stripes at the bloody
Mexican battle Of Bucna Vista, had re.
ceivcd and Valiantly carried out the
memorable order of Gen. Taylor, "Givc
them little more grape, Capt Bragg")
Grant had hurried forward the flower OF
the Western army to the aid o. the Federal
commander, Roscc1ans. "And when the
mlsts had rolled away" on that autum.
nal Sabbath morn Of the second day and
reycated the scrricd ranks Of the oppos.
| ing hosts to each other, it was q sight
| before which the Sun of AustcrlitZ would
| have dimmcd, and sight to which the
Old Guard of Napoleon and the English
Squares of the Iron Duke at Waterloo,
| opposing each other, was but circum.
| stance.
What was donc-what deeds Of daring
were achicvcd-what charges and coun-
ter. charges were developed how bat
tcrlcs were handled with wonderful sci
cntlho sklll-hOw battaliOns of in fantry
ana SOU Ldrons of cavalry covered them
| 'o''eS Will SloIy now paFtlCua Ut COM
| mands and individual commanders cspe.
cially distinguished themselves, those
who were here and mingled in the fray
can better tell than l.
The carnage of the contest best tells the
| talc OF the lighting. 16, 179 on the side
of The Fcderals 1854 on the side of
the Confcdcrates.
When nightfall came the complete dis
c)mliturc of the Federal army was ar.
rested only by the intrepid stand of
George Ii. Thomas, himself Virgin ian,
who has gone down into history as the
Rock or Chickamauga" and whose name
as al imperturbable leader OF fighting
men should be written high in the gall
lcry Of fame
How those who persisted here, whose
blood darkcncd these slopes, raYines and
hilsidcs, arc rcvcrcd by their peoD,e at
home, is told in mute and silent language
by the monumental spires that have been
erected in this National Park by sixteen
Of the States Of this reunited Union, at
the aggregate cost of $506,O0O.
1t was certainly a bclitling and mag
unanimous act on the part or the Govern.
mcnt of the United States to permit the
establishment of a National Park on this
battlefield, where the Confcdcrates OBJ
tanned the advantage, and Ccially
when the Act OF Congress permits both
sides to mark their lines Cf battle and tC
erect monuments over their gallant dead
The South has accepted the opportunity
and joins in the spirit Of reconciliation
She did her best. Whatever she haG
OF blood, of treasure, of spirit and love
she unstintedly laid upon the altar as q
sacrifice for love Of freedom and liberty
Of conscience.
What Courts and Constitutions and
Conventions and Congresses and Presi
dents could not do, it took the arbitra
mcnt Of stern war to do. The "Indisso.
lublc Union" on the one side, and "Inde.
structibc States on the other side, have
become the ''indissolub.c Union" of Gin.
destrucliblc. States"
Whoever else we may fight as an
American people, we will never again
fight ourselves. Discussions and strifes
and turmoils, 'bcgottcn of political fer
mcntations and uphcavals, will come ;
but the question of the separate action
Of the States (whilst they have their
rights, which exist and are respected
every day by the courts and the govern.
mcnt,) is settled for all time
To-day the Palmetto State, the grand
7 old Commonwealth Of South Carolina,
rs a member Of the American Union,
comes to this shrine Of sacrifice, this al
tar Of freedom, whclc the pride and
glory Of her ycomanry shed their blood,
to show her appreciation Of their patri-
otto cndcavors.
True, she was the "cradlc of seccs.
sion,' but she always was aDd always
will be leader in conscientious action !;
and her history of patriotic devotion TO
duty has been open to tho world from
the time She joined with Massachusetts
in dcfying the tyranny Of "taXation with
out representation to the present time.
For her devotion to republican prin
| ciples, IS fairly understood by our fore