davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

pie, God bless them, of whom be it
most truly said they are first in war,
first in peace and first in the hearts
of all; wrought with their hands the
banner of our counrty, and committed
il to the care and keeping of Louis
II. Wilson and his yeoman of Edge
combe with the farewell injunction,
that the flag of '76 consecrated to
human liberty, became the flag of the
'46' How we'll and nobly they per-
formed their trust is part of our his
tory.
"CoI. Wilson had the intense satisfac-
ton of seeing the esteem and appre-
citation of his faith to duty grow and
enlarge as he more fully lived up to
his creed. The United States govern
ment unsought and unexpected, APP
pointed and commissioned him Colo
nel of the Twelfth Regiment of the
United States Infantry. Verify doth
duty have it's rewards. OF his sad
taking away in the discharge of his
duty the legend inscribed by his peo
pie has told us. His creed and life,
faith to duty, and the man they
wrought and developed is our legacy,
lit with the fires of the past, 1T is a
beacon light to the future.
At the time the sun hid his face and
woe came upon Pompei from the
mighty throeS of troubled nature, the
Roman soldier whose creed was duty,
quietly paced the sentiners beat. No
enemy or anything that an enemy
could do. could cause him fright, and
when nature in her awful upheaval
vomited from the VOLCANOES crater,
mighty stones and molten lava, the
Roman ceased not his vigil the fiery
lava came upon, surrounded and flow
ed over him, and his body was found
more than a thousand years after
wards encased i'm the lava, standing as
the horrible death smote him at the
post of his duty. In the early days of
this country, during session of the
Connecticut State Legislature, a sud
den darkness came over the land,
mysterious and awe-inspiring, the
legislators were frightened and con-
fused but shortly there came out of
the darkness the clear call to duty.
The sturdy old member from STAN
ford, whose creed was faith to duty,
in the quietness of his strength moved
that the candles be lighted and we
proceed to business, and the returning
light found them led by the man of
faith, at their duty. The call to duty
found Wilson in the ways of peace; at
once he laid aside the senatorial toga
and went where there was death.
1.-The world has no grander or more
valuable gifts than the dutiful acts Of
the Roman sentinel, the Stanford
legislator. and the North Carolina pa
triot. Where known and thought of.
these acts will strengthen the heart
of man and life his soul. Louis Dick
EN- Wilson was the typical North Car
Gilman, simple and strong. dutiful and
faithful: and of such are Gods truest
and best people. In honoring him,
friends, We do the more honor our
selves. Louis Dicken Wilson stands
out marked and singular among the
best men, in that he gave his life for
his country, and his property TO his
people. / ask and demand what more
could any man have done; the answer
will be found beyond the river.
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

Confederates, who had been driven to
the cover of-the fort. Our general Off
Ger of the day in examining the pick
ct about four o'clock in the morning
of the 10th became convinced that
the Confederates were massing for
an attack, and he so reported to his
general. About 4:30 a. m. the at
tack began. General Beauregard
threw an overwhelming force against
our lines. The Union forces with
stood the first shock splendidly, and
the slaughter was terrible.
The Ninth held their fire until the
attacking forces were within fifty feet
when their volley did such execution
that General Gracie's brigade, which
formed the attacking party, in front
of the Ninth, was almost annihilated,
according to Confederate published
accounts. The superior numbers of
the Confederate forces enabled them
to lap our right flank. TO meet this
flaalI attack. first, two companies, and
then the right wing of the Ninth regi-
ment was faced to the right and rear.
I'VE held them in check though the
ground was covered with our dead
and wounded until our ammunition be-
came exhausted, when the command
ing general ordered the Ninth to fall
back some five hundred yards, TO get
fresh supply of ammunition and sup
port our artillery. The casualties in
the Ninth in this engagement was
about fifty per cent Of those engaged.
In the latter part of August, the
brigade was sent to the north side or
the Appomattox While On that por-
tion of our line south Of the Apo
mattox there was constant firing both
day and night, and the men in the
rifle pits could only be relieved un-
der cover of darlSness-the men going
i'm and coming cut stealthily. While
north Of the river, there seemed to
be a tacit understanding between the
! contending forces that there should
be no sharpshooting or promiscuous
firing except when there was
standing was religiouslY OBJ
served by both sides. The change was
so great from our previous experience
that the quiet really became monoto-
nous. Tt was then that the officers
of the brigade urged me to see the
department commander, and ascertain
whether he would not send us back
to North Carolina to recruit and rest
up | therefore called on the COM
manding general. stated my case, Civ
ing as a rcaso1 for the request that
our ranks were thin and it would af-
ford us an opportunity to get recruits
and drill them, and by spring, he
cOuiQ Seilu lOE us NIteil OGI IdilhN
would be filled and We would be well
fitted for the next years campaign
"The general remained very quiet
while / was talking, and ! did not
feel comfortable as to how he would
take my request. After a moments
silence he asked DO you know what
that brigade did en- the 10th of May?'
/ replied, Their duty, / trust Yes
said he, they always did that, and
A.. I'LL 4 =
enemy twice their number They de-
serve anything they ask for. and /
will issue the necessary orders to
bring up five regiments from North
CAROLINA. and Tor your brigade to take
thei1 places
This was done, and that was how
we returned to our first stamping
ground in October, 1864.
1--WE were not allowed to rest much
after our return. We We're almost
constantly on the move in one direc-
Continued on Page Seven.)
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

soul and lead him onward and up
ward to the better life. AS he lived
he was diligent in his labor; as he
labored he thought; we find his trust
and worth growing; the truth and
staunchness of his character exercising
an increasing influence upon his COM
munity. Ever holding fast to the doc
trine of his life, faith to duty, he per-
sistently worked onward and upward
keeping the fires of his energy alive
and bright, thinking and reasoning he
grows in strength of character, broad :
ems his mind enlightens his soul, and
becomes the exponent of his people.
And his people gave him testimonial
of their esteem of his worth by elect
ing him as their representative to the
General Assembly. And so wise was
their selection and so strong and clear
his sense of the doctrine of his life,
faith to duty, that he served his peo>
pie for five years in the House of Rep
lesentatiYeS, and fourteen wears in the
Senate. making continuous service
of nineteen years. His culture and
training. broad and liberal, prevented
the circumscribing of his field of duty.
The doctrine of faith to duty meant no
narrow line of action, it meant right
and Justice to all of Gods creatures.
with him, the condition of location did
not i'm the least effect the principle; it
was eternal right and justice.
"A son of Edgecombe first and
then a North Carolinian, he stood for
her in the country's cause And it
was durine the session of his four
teenth term in the Senate that whis-
pers and rumors that an alien people
had violated the rights of the United
States became swift and frequent;
then came from beyond the Rio
Grande challenges of war; and the
battle flags of two clashing peoples
were hoisted Louis d. Wilson, feel
ing that North Carolina should not bt.
slow to show her faith to duty and
should answer far to the front at the
first roll call: and he loyal to the doc
trine of his life. faith to duty, felt that
his place and duty, was in the very
van of North Carolina's front And so
it was though the winters of many
years had whitened ihs head he.
barking to the CALI of duty, left the
Senate chamber where counsel, peace
and safety prevailed, for the tented
field. where danger, suffering and
death lurked on every hand Going
back among his people of whom he
was a type, he sounded duty's call,
how very great must have been his es-
TEEN and gratitude when quick and
strong. his people passed back TO him
the echcing cnswer, 'we ere with you.
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

responded, but two were selected
Privates William Lemons, of e
company, and e. S. Winands, of tx"
company. These men took their lives
in their hands, for it was a most dam
gerous undertaking, and while the air
was filed with shot and shell, the
smoke in a large measure concealed
their movements. They reached the
bridge, ignited it, and returned un-
harmed to their comrades Shortly
after we forced the Confederates from
their defences by the railroad, when
ou troops destroyed q long stretch
of track.
I'VE were then ordered to return
to New Bern by forced marches, and
there expected to take boats for an
attack On Wilmington. But General
Burnsde's move against FrederiCks-
burg, Va, having failed, dispatch
came to New Bern, countermanding
the orders for a movement against
Wilmington.
Except four months which were
spent in South Carolina, where we
were sent 10 aid in the siege of Fort
Sumter. we continued our services in
North Carolina until October. 1868,
when we were ordered to Virginia.
There we were brigaded with the
18th, 23rd 25th and 9th Massachu-
setts volunteers. The brigade was
designated the "Red Star Brigade -
These Massachusetts regiments were
companion fighters with the Ninth on
the North Carolina battlefelds; each
regiment knew the dependable quail
ties Of their sister regiments, and.
welded together, they made a magnid-
cent brigade of magnificent soldiers.
The bloody battlefelds of GA in the
armies of the James, and the Poto-
mac, from Suffolk, Cobbs Hill, Pc
tersburg, Fort Drewry and Cold Har-
bor and back again to the siege OF
Petersburg, attested their soldierly
qualities; their ranks thinned by the
carnage of battle-filled constantly by
recruits, and the Incorporation oi
three additional regiments i'm the bri-
gade to give it a show of strength, and
yet those that were left on their feet
maintained a steady front and not a
color was lost which they carried
THE order for our return to North
Carolina was brought about in this
way.
"Our campaign i'm Virginia opened
actively on the 9Th of May, l864-
moving out from Cobb's Hill, we grad
ually pushed the Confederates INTO
their lines in front of Petersburg, al
ter which our army swung around To-
wards Richmond. On the 18TH we
had forced the enemy behind thelf
works at Fort DreWTy our men had
been marching and lighting contin-
uously for nine days, and they were
eXhausted-wo out When our
lines We're formed in front of the Con-
federate works on the 18TH the Red
Star Brigade took position on the
right of our line. and the Ninth held
the right of the brigade, The men
threw up a small line Of breastworks
during the night, doing the best they
could, having only their hayonets and
tin plates as tools to do the work
with. Our right flank was entirely
exposed and unprotected.
THE brigade commander reported
this TO his superior officer and asked
that Il battery Of artillery and two
regiments If infai;try be sent to
guard the right flank Of our line
These rcinforcements did not reach
US. The omission cost us many val
liable lives.
THAT night General Beauregard
with large force, reinforced the
The news & observer., 1905-05-21
Stirred Hearts Of Carolin.
ianS.
Continued from Page One.)

who conquered it. In the name of
the Beaufort County Plowboys, and
all our fellow countrymen, most heart
lily do l thank you.
Your ExceIeny. of North Carolina.
through you it is our sacred office to
receive and restore this tattered BAN
ner' to the remnant of those to whom
it was one of my life's most honoriug
acts to entrust it in behalf of the
patriotic women of our community.
more than 40 years ago. That they
could not save it then was no dishonor
to them. for memory guards with
sacred round the record of their sub
lime endeaVor: and it will not be for
gotten that it all but prostrated a
regiment. and such a regiment to cap
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

gagements-our first taste of actual
war.
"R oanoke Island was claimed to be
the first clean victory for our arms
in the East. but its Importance was
somewhat lcssened i'm the public mind
owing To the splendid victory Of Cen
eral Grant at Fort Donaldson i'm the
West, which took place a few days
subsequent.
THE capture OF Roanoke Island
opened the great waterways i'm East
ern North Carolina to the Union
forces, enabling our gun boats TO CO.
operate with the land forces. This
made New Bern, Notwithstanding her
strong line of Notifications, almost
untenable for her defenders. After
the retreat of the Confederates from
their lines Of defence. they set fire to
the bridge crossing the Neuse river,
which halted our army and prevented
thcm from at once marching into New
Bern.
Many fires were started in the
town, but a general contiagration was
averted through the persistent work,
at first, Of the men from the boats,
and assisted later, by our soldiers
"An invading army is generally
charged and reputed to he an army
for pillage and no doubt there were
those in New Bern who believed this
Of our army, and that is why a few
reclllessly applied the torch. That out
rage and pillage occurred in isolated
cases in both armies no doubt, is
true, but believe, Notwithstanding
the ferceness of the conflict that it
was exceptional with the American
soldier. Speaking from my own eX-
perience and knowledge, embracing
service in Virginia and North Caro-
lima covering near four years, l can
recall to mind but one glaring out
rage committed by any soldier in
the different armies in which / served,
and in that case retribution followed
quick and sure. 1t was near Kinston,
II. g., in 1855, and it devolved upon
me to command the troops charged
with the execution of the culprit-
Oet me add that he was NOT a New
Jersey soldier).
During the summer and fall Of
1862, the Ninth was kept very busy
holding the enemy in check in that
portion of North Carolina lying be-
tween New Bern and Wilmington.
Frequent expeditions were sent into
the interior, and in many instances
sharp engagements ensued. In De
cember, 1862, an expedition of some
importance was organized to reach
Goldsboro and destroy the railroad
bridge which crossed the river at that
point. This was to interfere With
General Lee sending reinforcements
to Wilmington. Our march was sharp
ly contested at South West Creek,
Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro
Bridge. The Ninth was, for the most
part, placed in the advance, and fire.
quently the whole regiment was de-
ployod as skirmishers. This, however,
had it's advantages, for after we got
the enemy behind their breastWorks,
we did not have far to march in or
der to become very busy. The Con-
federates stubbornly contested the
ground, but the superior number of
our forces, consisting of about 10000
men and 40 pieces Of artillery, grad
ually forced them out of position.
Reaching Goldsboro Bridge, the Con-
federates made a determined stand
seeming to realize that our object was
to destroy the railroad bridge While
the engagement was going on, the
colonel of the Ninth called for volun-
teers to burn the bridge-a number
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

folds and tear drops sanctifed it
where the blood of IT'S wartime bear
ers had not.
| Address; of General James Stewart. Jr.
The address Of General James Stew
art. Jr., of the Ninth Regiment of New
Jersey troops at the funVeiling of the
monument was a most valuable
contribution to war history ana es-
| peci2lly interesting to Southern sol
diers who met this regiment on a hun
dred baulefelds. He said
1T is through the thoughtful gener-
osity Of the State of New Jersey. in
| her kindly remembrance of those she
sent into the field to uphold the in
tegrity of our National Government,
| that we are privileged to meet here
| today, to dedicate this monument III
remembrance of those of our com
rades who gave their all in defending
| the flag of their country.
I'VE have many, very many of our
| one time comrades who sleep in diff
| ferent cemeteries both South and
North, but as we fought our first and
| last fight in North Carolina during
term of near four years active ser
| vice. and as We have between eighty
| and ninety of sOur comrades buried
IN this cemetery, the survivors of New
/ j
q lifting place for our state to SHOW
! her recognition Of the services Of oul
regiment by erecting this memorial
here where our government guards
the resting place of her heroic dead.
and here where our one time foe, is
today the steadfast friend of the liv-
ing and the dead colder, 70 matter
which side he served with.
THE Ninth New Jer: cy Volunteer
/ ..,i,y - r,V
ment of Rilemen and consisted OF
| twelve companies. The State equip
pee the regiment splendidly in cloth
ing. arms and camp equipage. The
fact that the Ninth was to be regi-
mcnt Of 'Rificmen' or 'SharpShooterS
was an attractive feature and drew
to its ranks q very intelligent body of
men; many young students forsook
their colleges, and professional men
lawyers and physlcians-abando
their practice, and took position i'm
the ranks of this regiment. As eVi-
dence that there was intelligent ma
terial in the rankS-when the regi-
ment returned to New Jersey in July,
1865, for final discharge, there We're
but two officers returned with it who
| left with the regiment in 1861 as Off
GERS; all the others the major, ad-
| iutant quartermaster, ten captains,
| ana twenty HeuIGlldIltS--d Iidd beeli
| promoted from the ranks-and there
was an abundance of deserving men
| left unrewarded by commissions, sim
/ ply for want of vacancies.
''The Ninth Regiment was mustered
in, in the United States service, Octo-
ber Sth, 1861. On December 4th, fol-
| lowing, the regiment broke camp, and
carrying LISP rifles. proceeded to
| Washington City. went into camp on
Meridian Hill, We're brigaded and
made part of General Silas Casey S
division-Col. Joseph w. Allen, Of the
! Ninth Brigade, commanded. One
month later. January 4th, 1862. we
were sent to Annapolis, and there
| embarked with the Burnside eXpedi-
tion for services in North Carolina.
! On February Sth participated in Jhe
Battle of Roanoke Island; on March
| l4th. the Battle of New Bern, and
| later the investment of Fort Macon;
Events followed each other in rapid
succession. We were SO fortunate as
to be successful in all of these en-
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

| ture a company's flag nor then per-
! haps as your EXcellency last night re-
called until the hand that held it had
| yielded to a soldiers death. None
but Americans could have fought SO
| 1iercely for it, none but Americans
could have Wrested it from Americans.
For your noble courtesy sir. in
taking this part with us. in behalf Of
the Plowboys and of all the veterans
of the Old North State, l am most
grateful.
And you, sir, representing him, your
now venerable father, into whose
hands this flag was placed by mine.
must now. and again at my hands,
take it back to him, and under what
circumstances the whole land knows
and will glory in.
THE memories of the past which it
enshrines need to be only spoken of:
but NAV it throu~h those memories
be a talisman to it's future guardians
forever, of the chivalry which becomes
the soldier, of the patriotism the citi-
zen should exhibit of the grace and
dignity of life which make UP the
Christian man. Receive It, sir. bear
God bless him and the loved and
honored remnapt of the Beaufort
County Plowboys."
Mr.. F. G. Harding now holding :.
made the following splendid speech o:
acceptance in behalf of his father, his
eloquent words being emphasized bv
a fine delivery. evoking frequent
hearty applause. He said:
Mrs. Joyner: In behalf OF the sur
viVors of the Beaufort Plowboys per-
nit me to express the deepest feelings
of love and veneration for the battle
flag you have placed in my hands to-
night, and to assure you that 1t is re-
ceived with true and grateful appre-
citation.
Gas the son of the captain of that
heroic company. the Beaufort Plow-
boys. who fought in the gallant de-
fence of your city by the sea, I ac-
cept this flag as the emblem of their
devotion to their country's cause.
~ am glad that L am the son Of a
Confederate veteran. / am glad that
am an American citizen. and / am
glad that after the wild whirlwind of
battle is ended. peace reigns supreme
"Forty-three years ago this honored
flag was waving in the defence Of
your beautiful city but I'm the raging
battle, torn by shot and shell and bap-
tiZed in blood ii was wrested by the
force of superior numbers from the
brave hands that bore It and through
the ever changing VictSSitudeS of war
found its way into the State of New
Jersey. But TODAY peace smiles upon
our great united country. and through
the softening influence OF many inter-
vening years the honored flag finds its
way back to home again.
while we rejoice IN a reunited
county and welcome the return to the
breast of every American citizen that
feeling of brotherly love and friend
ship which prompts the return of the
flag, yet we love the cause that flag
represented in the days gone by, and
we will continue to love and to honor
, the heroic bravery of the boys in gray
as long as time shall last"
If there were heroes and heroines
during the war. they never received
a greater ovation at any time than
did Mrs. Joyner and Mr.. Harding at
the conclusion of the ceremonies.
The whole audience came tumbling
down to the front to press the hand
of the woman who made the fiag and
old veterans would tenderly stroke its
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

81 -
So %
tn things? wit
It We goin' to
mon
o
oubs oe these but ded down tn rich an
promisn shtatesmon
roadan a
wud thoughts till
fr fair bayhn again tn company whn all sudden he
al in
is
Gimme
n a auy ymob be
The news & observer., 1905-05-21

We can speak no grander enconium
on his life than did that act. Quickly
did he gather, organize and discipline
his troop, and move on to the scene
of action. And the women of his peo-
The news & observer., 1905-05-21
A Memorial to Louis D.
Wilson.
Continued From Page one)

earthly remains of this good and true
man slept i'm an unmarked grave.
This monument, constantly declaring
the worth of his life and the record
OF his peoples appreciation, to the
sunlight by day and the starlight by
night clear, white and pure: whisper
ed through the winds, to the ever NOV
ing throng of the life of today, touch
ed the heart of it's current and bade it
halt. Lest We forget, lest We forget.
And thus i'm the year of our Lord 1905,
the current of this busy life staid its
ay and took thought; the hearts of
today burned, being aglow with the
fire and glory of the hCElrts of 1S47.
and rejoiced that there was is and
ever shall be. good in Gods world j;
and are thankful that Louis ID. Wilson
had his being and lived. and was of
our people and to the manor born.
So our people of today, still being his
people for the good of man never dies,
stirred with the memory of his great
worth sought and obtained, the re-
mains of his mortal body and buried
il i'm the midst of the public Commons
of the county seat of the county he
loved so we'll; and then marked the
sacred spot by removing the monu-
ment from the court house green and
plaeing il over his grave. An act tes-
tifying that we too, hold the great
deeds of the past as a solace of the
present and an inspiration of the fu-
ture; and so today We celebrate this
act, and call upon our people to turn
10 the past and consider the things
that have been.
Sketch of Wilson's Career.
col Wilson began life a. clerk in
The news & observer., 1905-05-21
sketch of Wilson's Career.

"Col. Wilson began life a clerk, in
the quiet and privacy of peace, fully
alive to the fact that duty we'll done
only could broaden and lift a mans