The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-18
Chairman Monument Committee.
he sumter Chaptr. Iivingaton.

The Sumter Chaptr, Livingston.
We were organised late In 1900, and are
still few In number, but feel that w
have accomplished something worth
while. Since we are the first and. as yet
the only Chapter here. and because we
take great pride in our country's historic
name, we have called ourselves '"The
Sumter Chapter, U. d. c."
At the very beginning Of our existence
as an organization, we determined TO act
upon the motto. do the duty lying near
est" so, with the efficient aid Of our
Probate and Circuit Judges. and other ex-
Confederate soldier friends, we found cut
all the Veterans in our county who were
needy and went TO work to help them.
BY means OF various luncheons, concerts
and other entertainments, we soon put q
good little sum into our treasury, upon
which we have been drawing as the help
was required. We know that this has
been given only when and where II was
actually needed and we are certain that,
In every instance the recipient has keen
made more comfortable and happisr by
our money and sympathy. All those we
now assist are prevented by family ties
from going to the Alabama Soldiers
Home, but one OF our sounty's Vetersns,
whom It had been our pleasant duty To
help, went there last summer. Being old
and afflicted and having outlived family
and fortune we all thought, with him,
that he would be more comfortable and
have more companionship there
Not long ago he died, and was the first
Veteran to be laid to rest at the new
home.
Outside Of this duty Of helping care
for our county's own, we have not been
able to make SO many or so large do
nations as we should like to have done
to the various other worthy causes from
time to time presented. II has been Ia our
hearts to contribute largely to all these
but not in our treasury.
Our Historical Department has been un-
able to find many local war time inci-
dents OF general interest, although Sum
ter County was well represented at the
front during the hlstory-making days Of
the Confederacy; It furnished to the diff
ferent branches Of the Southern Army
somewhere between 1900 and 400 sol
diers, but these brave men did their fight
ing far away from home. principally in
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Our
county was away down here in the very
heart Of the Confederacy. and. although
1t suffered many OF wars privations and
sorrows, 1t saw little OF actual warfare
So, in order somewhat to supplement cur
local history, we have from time to time
been asking a few OF our older veterans
for briefly written sketches OF some par
ticular day or incident in their war ex-
perIence. AS these "reminiscences are read
aloud in our regular meetings they at
ford us so much pleasure that we wish
for them larger audience. It surprises
US to find what some Of our quiet, cid
erly citizens have gone Through. some one
OF them was in most OF the great battles
of the war and one saw the commandment
OF Fort Sumter.
Davis and Lees birthdays have been
observed by our Chapter, and, when pos
sible. we have celebrated them publicly
with an appropriate program, trying thus
to acquaint our young people with, and
to remind our older ones OF, some things
we would not have unknown or forgotten.
Having recently received several new
members we hope greatly to enlarge our
work during the coming year.
Asking your best wishes.
Yours cordially,
n. B. sprall Historian.