The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-06-03

the grand old omm0nWealth OF Gc0r-
gia one who was destined to take
high rank among the distinguished
men of his generation and to reflect
constantly increasing honor upon his
countrymen. His ancestors, as his
name indicates, cmigrsted from Scot
land and settled in Virginia and North
Carolina. HIS great-graudfather was
one of seven brothers who fought
against King George III in the revolu-
tionary war. His grandfather was a
prominent citizen in Wilkes county,
North Carolina, and his father, like
the father of many another distin-
guished man, was clergyman. De-
scended from an ancestry 80 upright
s1d 30 able, it was natural that this
son should dedicate his abilities to
che service of his country. Gradu-
ated from the University of Georgia,
at tho head of his class, in 1852, this
young and representative southerner
made study Of the law, but later
abandoned the profession in order to
aid his father in industrial work in
Georgia and Tennessee. AT the age
Of twenty-one years he had the cour-
age to marry and without fortune to
face tho responsibilities of married
life with hope for the future and with
supreme confidence in his ability to
win his way honorably aud success
fully through life.
When, in 1861, civil war broke over
his land, he enlisted, in his twenty
ri th year Of age, as private in the
Confederate army. He had little if
any political influence to aid him, but
even had he possessed it he would
have scorned to use it IN the effort to
obtain promotion. He was splendid
representative of the citizen soldiery
Of the south who never yet have fail
ed to respond to their oountry's ap-
peal, determined to do the work their
hands might find to do and to rise by
the might of merit. In the four years
Of war this young man did his whole
duty-did it with fidelity, with zea!
and with brilliant success. He enter.
ed the war as o private; he surrender.
ed as lieutenant general. He was
Eve times wounded. He was sin the
thick" Of the fighting from the begin
ming to the end Of the war. He was
loved and admired by his soldiers.
His name stirred them as would the
sound Of trumpet. His mere pres.
snoe on battlefield was worth to the
Army Of Northern Virginia many men.
He early won, and even to, the end
held, the confidence Of GeEeral Lee
and Of President Davis. In the battle
OF the Wilderness it wes he who avert.
ed General Lee from the peril Of
almost certain death. When the COM
mander in chief attempted personally
to lead the Confederates in an effort
to Tecapture q pivotal position, il was
this young Georgian who, taking in
che situation at q glance, spurred for
ward his horse, gripped General Lees
bride and exclaimed: General Lee,
this is no place for you. You must
go to the rear. Thesc troops are
Georsians. . They. lave never fail.
ed; and they will not fell now. Will
you boys?" he cried turning to his
troops. "Noi Nor they answered.
General Lee to the rear!" Led by
their dashiug and determined general,
they swept the enemy before them
and recaptured- che coveted position.
Throughout the dark period from 1864
to 1865, tlfis oitigen soldier was at
General Lees side, sustaining the
great Confederate with his faith and
supporting him with his works; and
when Richmond was abandoned it was
he also who led the last charge at
.asepomastoz,. driving the enemy be-
fole him.
Attde surrender the iron did, in.
deed, enter his soul; but he lost neith-
er faith in himself nor hope for his
people. He did not sit down and be-
moan his fate. He exhorted his
Ibroken-hearted men ITO endure their
trial in silence, TO return peacefully to
their homes, to obey the laws, to re-
build their couhtry and to work for
<the Welfare and the harmony Of the
republic. Settling in Atlanta, he
SSeoame a safe, taotful and wise leader
Of his people; and it was to him as
much as to any other man chat the
people who plundered Georgia in her
poyerty, oppressed her in her weak
ness and nooksd ct her in her calamity
Szvere e lensIh eas! aewa. Hs vas
elected to, but nounted out Of, the