The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-07-24
FRAGMENTS OF
OUR HISTORY.
Some Curious Facts of Confederate
Days That Are Almost Forgot
ten.
FRAGMENTS OF

The following article was printed il
the reunion issue of rhc State on tn
Sth of May, 1901, and it deserves t
be read by every man, woman an,
child in South Carolina, as it deal
with facts II at are not generally known
The history of South Carolina dur
ing the "war between the States
our people should be made known
The glorious jnduct OF our own sol
dicrs in the great battles has been re
corded in a meagrc way, but othcI
trials and suiferngs have not beer
heard Of. Brief mention of few facts
that should be included in the history
OF our State is proper and timely.
On December IA, 1868, the Scualc
concurrcd in the following resolution
"Resolved, That the General Assem-
bly, do tender to Ma Gen. Wade
| Hampton the revolving cannon now in
its possession, satisfied that it caanot
be placed IN more worthy hands, and
hey protest against his proposition TO
replace it by another
"Resolved, That the other revolv-
ing cannon, as they are completed, =,
be disposed of by the Governor in the
way he may deem BEST
How many in South Carolina ever
heard of this revolving cannon? An
article from Gen. Hampton about it
would certainly be read with interest
and might lead to an Improvement in
artillery just as the Stevens Floating
battery suggested lronclad vessels Of
war. The Stevens battery was used in
Charleston harbor and was the design
OF one of South Curolina's sons. IIis
idea was adopted aud the Mcrrimac
was built and clad with iron. The
battle between the Mcrrimac and the
Monitor rcvolutionizcd The methods of
naval warfare.
When the war began there was a
student in f. skine College named j.
+. G. I4amodc. He was Frcuchman
and when he came about Due West he
first worked at the harness making
trade with Col. ID. O. Hawthorn. He
was ambitious and determined TO Sc
cure an education, paying for ii Ivy his
own work. He went into Co. G, Sew
cnth S. G. ", when the war broke
out. He invented a double barrelled
barrels were to be loaded at once. the
balls to be held together by strong
chain. When fired the double load
would do fearful work, for the balls
would stretch the chain at full length
and it would cut down every thing in
front OF its full length. This invcn-
ton did not meet with favor and that
such cannon was ever thought Of has
long ago passed out Of the memory OF
most persons.
On December 3, 1868, the Senate
concurrcd in the following resolution
of the House:
"Rcsolvcd, That the State assumes,
with pride and qualification, the Gus
tody of the banner committed to her
care Ivy the gallant Thirteenth; and
will keep it carefully as another valued
emblem Of the devotion and patriotism
of her CHERISHED sons
"Rcsolvcd, That the flag be com
mittcd to the custody of his cXccllcncy
the Governor.
The Thirteenth 5. G. V. belonged
to Grcgg's, afterwards McGowan's, bri-
gadc, and was not ed for It's gallant ser
wees. How many know that its flag
was given to the State for keeping
us early as December, 1868? The gal
ian. Thirteenth carried the battleilag
after thiA until AppOmattoX.
The names of many Of the nOblcst
sons of South Carolina who fell in that
great struggle have almost been for
gotten or people have no knowledge OF
how or where they fell. Who knows
nI 'nl | a,
he died at Second Manassas? He was
a captain of the Palmetto regiment in
the Mexican war, and one of the most
public spirited citizens of Abbcvillc.
lie was Senator, and when Col
Thomas Thomson announced his death
he paid the following tribute to the
memory of his predecessor on Novcm-
Der oath, 1862:
I.cading his riicmcn into the bap.
tlsm and blood OF battle on the
Chickahominy, with PATRIOTS five
glowing in his heart, he addressed to
his soldiers, at the moment of the
charge, these memorable words: 'Rc-
member the State you are from. Put
your trust in God. Acquit yourselves
like men and follow me- We'll was
this appeal answered by that regiment
of heroes. In the harvest of death
that cnsucd, onc-half fell killed and
wounded, their noble leader himself
passing through the battle mhurt
But on the blood-staincd and glorious
field of Manassas, 50 fatal to many of
South Cardinals leading sons, he gave
his life an offering to his counlry's
cause. lie died as brave man would
wish to die, at the head of the rcgi-
ment he had led so long and loved so
well, their steady and onward tramp
around '.Im, and their earthquake
shouts of victory ringing in his ears.
He fell soldier of his country; he
rose, | hope, a soldier of the cross"
We ought not to let die such an eX.
ample of hcr0ism and patriotism.
1t is impossible for the present gen.
Grafton to appreciate what difficulties
our people met in conducting the war
1t was task to supply powder, bl
the authorities hit upon scheme that
was new and unique. In the cit es
every morning wagons were sent
around to all the residences to coll, ct