The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-27
WAR STORIES.
Recollections OF a Soldier.


following address with request that
we republish. 1t is clipped from a
paper, probably the Grecnville News
of several years ago, but there is moth
ing about the clipping to indicate the
paper or year when delivered.-Ed.
Intelligsncer.]
The following was an address de-
liyered by Vannoy Cleveland, July
2lst, at the reunion of the Davis
Guards, Company T, Of the Hampton
Legion, at Grove station, this county.
It is published by request OF members
Of the company and will be found Of
interest
Ladies and gentlemen and fellow
soldiers of the Hampton Legion:
Thirty one years ago on the last day
of June there assembled at this place
1877 brave hearts, led by Capt. Man
ming Austin, to embark for Columbia
to join the Hampton Legion at that
place, and to give their services to
battle for the cause Of the Southern
Confederacy. There are few Of that
gallant band who hear me to-day we'll
remember that scene. 1t must have
been truly touching and affecting
that parting from families, from moth
ers, wives and sweethearts, and with
many that was final separation.
The bones Of many of them lie buried
on the distant battle fields Of Virginia
and Tennessee. What bitter anguish
was in that parting, and what bold re-
solves animated their breasts, as they
answered with promptness the call to
uuty aud to arms.
"We have met here on this occasion
to commemorate the anniversary of o
great battle, fought thirty-one years
ago, and also to have hearty hand
shake and social reunion with the few
survivors Of Captain Austin 8 company
and members Of other companies of
that gallant and renowned body Of
soldiers. Twas in that battle Of Ma
nausas we first had the opportunity to
burn gunpowder and fire our first shots
for the cause that began at Fort Sum-
ter and ended at Appomattox. 1
would were an orator that I might
portray in fitting language why the
Southern soldiery were animated to
enter this grand conflict and to re-
count the many deeds Of bravery done
by them for the cause they loved 80
we'll but then come after me orators to
speak to you who's shoe straps I am
unworthy to pull on and whose oratory
you will this day have an opportunity
to lear and appreciate. 1 might take
up all the time allotted for speaking
in giving you "reminiscences aud Incl
dents that happened during those four
years we spent in days Of toll and
nights Of waking. on the hillsides and
valleys Of Virginia and Tennessee un-
til we laid down our arms and return
ed home in peace, after wearing our
selves out whipping the Yankees, as
expressed by the immortal Toombs, Of
Georgia. But I will weary your pa
tienS5 obly short whiie as I try 10
tell o few incidents that come to
memory and you will pardon me if
may seem egotistical in this detail.
IA few years ago I was strolling
through a small city Of the dead at
Washington Church, in the lower part
of this county when my attention was
drawn to marble head stone on which
was inscribed the name of Robert
Farmer, died August, 1861. For more
than quarter Of a century an Incl
dent connected with that name had
entirely passed out Of memory. It
brought to mind one evening in the
attic room of an old farm house near
rthe Potomac soon after the battle of
J Manassas, scene which at the time
Impressed me with its sadness. 1t
was at that time just after that great
battle when disease was fast decimat.
ing our army, and our camps were one
vast hospital. In that little room lay
several of the sick Of our regiment,
and among them was Bob Farmer,
handsome youth of sixteen, breathing
his last. There was lack of woman's
nursic., there was dearth Of woman's
tears at the death bed Of this soldier
of the legion. There was brother
by him and I remember his agony and
grief as he watched the shortning
breath, tbe quick gasps and the ap-
preaching pallor of death. sat by
window watching the sun go down for
could not bear to look upon the dy-
ing boy so far away from home, moth
er and friends, and when that golden
orb had sunk behind the western hills,