The age-herald., 1902-03-16


 will recall with kindliest memories the noted Royston brothers of that gallant war-scarred regiment. Both were men of striking physical characteristics and could scarcely fail to attract attention In any assemblage of men. Both were men of pronounced individualities, and both had had experience in public life or ad- venture before enlisting in the service of the confederate army. Both were almost gigantic in stature. The older Young L.. was six feet eight inches tall. erect, slightly angular, but well proportioned. The younger, Dr. Robt. E., was six feet two inches in height and symetrical as Apollo. They were life residents of Mar ion, distinguished for the culture, ur- banity and generous hospitality of It's society, while from the number and high class of It's educational institutions 1t came to be known as tho Athens of Alabama" The Roystons came of Eng fish stock. one of their descent being claimed to be from Sir William Temple, an English statesman of the seventeenth century, who for many years was ann bassador to The Hague, and who sup ported Montague and Godolphin in the financial policy on which was founded the national debt of Great Britain.
 For some years before the civil war Young L. Royston was the honored soli- citor of his judicial circuit the important duties of which he discharged with eff ciency and conscientious fidelity In the state he had a wide acquaintance and was familiar with all its leading public men. In politics he was a state rights Democrat and a pronounced secessionist
 At the beginning of the war in 1861 Young L. was prompt to enlist with the armed forces of his section, and he became an officer of the Eighth Alabama Regiment In the organization of that command. It is unnecessary to our pur- pose to enter into the details of its or ganization. It is sufficient to know that the regiment was promptly ordered to Virginia, which was to become its future field of operations. Here in organizing the Army of the North in Virginia the Eighth became a part of Wilcoxs bri- gade, trat participated in all the great historic battles of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, under the leaderships of Johnston or Lee.
 Shortly after the seven-day fights around Richmond in the early summer of 1862, when Lee drove McClelland under the shelter of the federal gunboats, Col onel John A. Winston resigned the com mand of the Eighth Alabama and Roys- ton succeeded to the colonelcy. In Au- gust following the Army of Northern Vir- ginia took the offensive by the campaign into Maryland The federal army under Pope was encountered on the 31st on the fl sld at Manassas. when the federals were defeated with great loss and driven across the Potomac behind their en- at Washington, making the second battle on this noted field almost es disastrous to the union forces under Pope as 1t was under Mcdowell, little more than one year before
 Disseminating the pursuit of Pope, the confederate army crossed the Potomac, captured Haroer's Ferry, drove the enemy from his position at South Mountain and fought the bloody battle at Sharps- burg on the 17th of September In the battles at Manassas and Sharps- burg, wilcox's brigade was engaged and behaved with its characteristic gallan- try.
 After the fiercely contested field at in which both opposing armies suffered the losses of defeat, the confederates withdrew to the south bank of the Potomac, fell back to Bunkermn and finally to a point near Winchester, where the army went into camp and rested for some weeks, and meantime recruiting Its depleted ranks.
 During the encampinent of the army at Winchester, General Lee ordered a general review of his troops, the first since leaving his position below Rich mond. An incident in ths review, in which Colonel Royston was the innocent cause. for time nearly threw the great leader off his accustomed boise Of dig nifty, and may be recited as Illustrating the unusual stature of the colonel.
 In the order of review the various com mands of the army were properly aligned through some untitled farms. The ground was not level. but rolling. It so happened that the brigade was aligned across sharp eminence, with the center in the summit, and if the writer remem- bers correctly Royston was now in com mand of the brigade, since General Will cox was in command of the division, made necessary by the temporary disa- bility of Major General R. H. Anderson from a wound received in a recent battle. The proper position of the commanding officer on such occasions was few paces to tho rear of the line, and as 1T to exaggerate the condition, this point was some feet higher than the ground on which the file stood. Nevertheless, Colonel Royston, with his striking per of six feet eight, took the pre- scribed position. He wore a coloners uniform. comparatively new, a new wide brimmed slouch hat, orna- mented with a heavy black plume His mount was a remarkably tall bay horse spirited but without the graceful outlines of equine beauty. Every feature in the makeup contributed to exaggerate stature already gigantic, and in his place on this occasion he was indeed strikingly spectacular.
 All was now ready for the inspection of the chief commander. And now came General Lee and staff, riding at the pace ordinarily practiced in a general review. Long before Lee reached the point in front of the Alabama brigade it was seen that his steadfast gaze was directed not to the line. but to it's tall officer in the rear, Nor did he turn his eyes from that spectacular picture until he had passed and could no longer see without painful tension of the neck. And then he assumed his natural boise, doubtless .,,re that he had seen the tallest officer fin all his army.
 From Winchester the army moved tc Cuipepper, where it remained a few days, when the march was resumed, and reached fredericksburg just in time to confront Burnside, who occupied the north side of the Rappahanock. In the n eat battle that occurred at Fredericks- burg on the 18th of December, WilcoXs brigade was on the left flank of the army.