The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-05-01
Jenkins Receives Sword

Jenkins Receives Sword
BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONIAL TO GALLANT
SOUTH CAROLINlAN.
Major Micah Jenkins Receives High.
est Mark of Appreciation and Re-
gard That a Soldier Could Ask
Presented With a Handsome Sword
by Admiring Friends - President
Roosevelt Makes Speech of Presen-
tation-One of the Most lnteres sting
Incidents of Presidents Day at the
Charleston Exposition.
Charleston News and Courier, April 10TH
Probably the happiest man in
| Charleston yesterday was Major
Micah Jenkins, L. S. ", for he had
received during the day the highest
mark Of appreciation and regard that
an American could ask From the
hands OF the President Of the United
States a beautiful cavalry sabre, and
with it came word. of appreciation
and friendship. The presentation
took place in the Auditorium Just
| after the Presidents speech The
sword had been secured by voluntary
subscription on the part OF South
Carollnians who honor the valiant
soldier. The sword, in a beautiful
| hard wood case, was brought and
ho -,
the audience. Captain Wagner then
introduced Ex-Governor Hugh S
Thompson.
GOVERNOR THOMPSON
Governor Hugh S. Thompson then
| rose and, coming out to the platform,
| took from its case a handsome cavalry
sabre. He then stepped back towards
his seat and facing the President, who
| rose as addressed, said:
MIR. President: On behalf of South
Carolina friends of Ma or Micah Jen-
kins, | have the honor to offer you
their greetings, and to ask that you
| will present testimonial OF their re-
gard and esteem to your gallant
| comrade in arms in the war with
Spain.
The war was worth all that it
| cost in blood and treasure if for no
| other reason than that it aroused a
spirit OF patriotism which cemented
| anew the bonds of union among our
once divided people. At the first
sounds Of the coming conflict the
voice Of discord was hushed, and
from all parts of the Union men
| were found crowding together to the
temple, bringing their gifts to the
| altar OF common country Beneath
their feet the last slum bering fires OF
| sectionalism were stamped out for
| ever. 1t is but simple truth to say
that to this contamination so de-
voutly wished by all patriots, by none
| more than by you, sir, no command
contributed more than the Rough
Riders, a regiment Of as gallant
| lighters as ever wore the United
States uniform Composed of men
| representing all classes Of our society
and all sections of this Republic. they
were animated by one purpose, to
carry the flag of the country with
| honor to victory. 1t was this spir-
1t which inspired them as thew
| fought an unseen foe in the dark
jungles OF Cuba, and with courage
that never quailed charged the in
| trsnchments behind which the Span
! iards vainlv sought protection.
when the smoke of battle cleared
away, and honors and rewards were
distributed, the people Of South Caro-
lima saw with just pride that Micah
Jenkins had won the laurel leaf, and
that in recognition of his services he
had been promoted on your recon-
| mendation from Captain to Major.
His gallantry recalled vividly memo
ries of his heroic father, Brigadier
| General Micah jenkins, whose name
and fame are dear to South Carolin-
ians. General Jenkins, one of the
youngest. bravest and most distin-
guished of his rank in the Army of
Northern Virginia, fell at the head of
| MS troops, in the forefront of the
| fight. He was one of the many gal
| liant soldiers of the two great armies
who made the soil of Virginia 'rankly
| fertile with the blood of men.' In
| every clash OF arms in which this
| country has been engaged the sons of
| South Carolina have borne we'll their
| part. In the long roll Of the war
| riors whom this State has sent forth
to death and glory there is no
| knightlier name than that of General
Micah Jenkins.
| at was the sou of this sire of whom
you said that he was a gentle and
courteous South Carolinian, upon
whom danger acted like wine. In
action he was a perfect game cock
and he won his majority for gallantry
in battle In token of their regard
some of his friends have had given
! this field officers cavalry saber, which
has been fashioned with rare skill
and taste. Upon one side the scab-
bard bears palmetto tree and an in
scription showing by whom and why
it is given. and that it is presented
by you; upon the other is an extract
from the history of the Rough Riders.
in which you commended Major Jen
kins.
MIR. President, the men and wo-
men Of South Carolina who greet YOU
today have come to testify by their
presence 10 their esteem for your
character, their admiration for your
achievements and their respect for
the office which you till-the highest
in human gift. They will be ami
mated by sentiments of pride and
patriotism as they see one native to
their soil thus honored by their Chief
Magistrate. These sentiments know
will also stir the breast OF Major Jsn-
kins, but he will be inspired by
another sentiment not less noble