The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-08-14
HOYT'S TRIBUTE TO HAMPTON,
THE SOLDIER
AND THE STATIISA! NJ


The Spirit Animntinp the Con-
fcdcrate Soldiers in War and
in Peace.
The following is The memorial Offer
ed by Col. James 4. Hoyt, of Green
vile, at the reunion exercises on The
7th inst, held in commemoration of
Gen. Wade Hampton, the soldier and
the statesman, and which was q most
interesting feature of the reunion
Tho Confederate hosts arc marching
on TO victoryl Tho world looks back
ward to Appomattox to hear Nations
doath cry Tho dark and awful night
or the Confedoracy had then como, and
mon woro unproparod for the final shock
OF tho contest which had been wagod
for four years. 1t was an era moro
oycntful than any period in the worlds
history, where moro battles wero fought
within a given timc than on any other
portion Of the globo-groat and terrible
battles in which hundreds and thous.
and were slain on both sidoB. Our great
loader said the time had como to sur.
| render, and yet even at that momcnt,
when the flag OF truce was going for.
ward, some of Lees ragged, half starved
| men wcrc driving tho onomy in front OF
| them.
In altogether another sonae tho thin
| grey line that disappeared at Appomat-
tox has achieved victories that arc not
less important contributions to tho
! worlds history, and today for passing
momcnt amid tho sacred pleasures OF
reunion wo pause to recount the virtues
Of tho slain who died In vain for free.
dom on tho field or who havo made
record since that has challenged the ad.
miration OF tho men and women who
have known the Confcderacy only as a
memory OF tho past.
In momoria]izing our own great chief.
tain In war and In peace, lot US recall
somo OF those who were his compatriots
in tho triumphant tide Of war and in tho
hours OF bitter anguish, whom tho
stOutost race that over fought was
brought low In the dust OF humiliation,
and in tho brighter days that came with
hope and reconciliation to take the place
OF haggard waste and supreme DESPAIR.
Let us enter with Father Ryan the won
drous woodland whore he hoard a grand
memoriam strain that came in solemn
measure till his soul. with comfort
blessed,
"sank down among the lilies
with folded wings to rest."
"Through the forests twilight aisle
Passed host with muilled footsteps,
In martial rank and file;
And knew those gray-cad figures,
Thus slowly passing by,
We're the souls OF Southern soldicrs
Who for freedom dared to die"
Look yonder at Albert Sidney John.
ston, who on Shiloh's bloody fold yielded
up his noblo and unsollish lifo even
whom wicked and cruel slander was
| dragging down his name. and his vindi.
cation swiftly camo to rebuke and silence
tho vilo tongues OF his traducers. He
was among tho nobleBt and bravest, and
the South will over cherish his glorious
memory and unstained character. Swift
as the eagles wing there goes StoneWall
jackson, in whose cars rang the ylcto.
rious shouts OF his own soldiers at
Chancellorsvillo, as he passed to his re.
ward with crown Of glory won and hia
warfare accomplished. The civilized
world recognizos tho fact that the supre
NEST attribute Of his character, though
reno who'd as a militant soldier, was th,
inilcxiblo devotion of his soul to tn,
cross Of Christ, an humble faithful. in
trepid follower OF the lowly Nazarcne
The warrior priest, Leonidas Polk, tn,
great and might leader Of mon. VIII,
counted 1t Joy to meet his Master Will
battling for the right and whose life wa
freely given for the land he loved 81
we'll. A. p. Hill, whose pure and nob
spirit joined tho martyred host on th