The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

IOICe' We VIII HSnt MN mere. he
pair to your respective companies and
have them ready for battle I will be
with you again in few moments
The captains return to their re-
spective commands. A light touch of
the spur and that noble horse springs
forward, bearing his rider out into
the thick woods. We will follow him.
There stands the horse, now and then
impatiently champing his bit, paving
the earth and tossing his head; but he
loves his master too we'll to leave him.
And where is that master? Look
at the root of that great old oak, and
you will see him upon his knees. He
is praying for strength. for guidance,
and for victory. Above him wave the
branches of the tall trees; the beams
OF the morning sun are peering as it
were through loopholes in the dense
green foliage, Pickering over the earth
as the gentle breez stirs the overhang-
ing boughs. What a lovely, what a
pleasant, what a peaceful morning!
Man may rage, but God ever smiles
needless of the wrath of his puny
creatures.
Presently that kneelfng form arises
Again he pats the neck of his steed,
mounts. and rides back to his lines
How those few moments have changed
his aspect His brow is now smooth
and serene, and his whole countenance
is placid; but that stamp of determi-
patton, that high resolve, that
firmness of purpose, still mark every
feature. and that battle-gleam still
lights his eye. He rides along his
lines and addresses his brave North
Carolinians:
Soldiers. the enemy is approaching
in heavy force. In one or two hours
perhaps less-you will be engaged in
battle. Remember you are North
Carolinians, and that the heretofore
untarnished fame of your moth
er State is now in your hands.
This battle is to be the first of a long
series to be fought on the soil of Vir
ginia, and you should be proud that
you now have the opportunity to honor
yourselves and to reflect additional
glory on your native State. Repose in
me, as your commander, the conf
dence l repose in you as soldiers, and
victory shall this day perch upon your
Battle Flag, no matter what the odds
against us
Thus he rides along, uttering these
or similar words to each company, and
he is answered. with shouts, and as
surances that they will stand by him
to the death Then his eyes flash, his
countenance grows animated, for he
knows the battle fever is raging in his
ranks.
He approaches the few Virginians in
his command and addresses them:
''Virginians you stand upon your
native soil and the foot of the foul
invader pollutes it. Show yourselves
this day worthy representatives Of
your great state, and let us all unite
to hurI back the foe that now adj
vances to make us its prey. Remember
the many great and good heroes of
your State. and emulate their deeds.
Give us liberty or give us death, be
your MOTTO
Those gallant Virginians respond
with cheers. The allusion TO their
great heroes has re-kindled the fires
of their patriotism, and they are ready
for the fray.
= 1t is scarcely necessary for me to
say that man was Col. Daniel II. Hill,
a native South Carolinian, a brave
and we'll educated soldier, and Chris
tian warrior. He doubtless has his
faults for no man is perfect; ana
whatever may be thought of some of
his writings. none can doubt his quail
ications for fighting. / believe that
but for a causeless howl raised against
him by some individuals on our coast,
when he had charge of that depart
ment the foot Of no invading Yankee
would ever have found a resting place
on North Carolina soil. 1t was mon
strous that Gen. Hill should require,
for a short time, one-fOurth the negro
men of that section to work on forti-
fications: but that monstrosity pales
before that of the Yankees. who have
taken four-fifths of all negro men,
women and children that they could
lay hands on, together with the fertile
lands once cultivated by those negroes,
and have burned and destroyed mill
lions Of property making once plen-
tiful and happy land, a desolation.
Men are sometimes penny wise and
pound foolish" and alas! competency
is too frequently set aside for incom
potency. through the channels of ia
voritism, partizan preference, petty
personal spite and envy. But we pass
on
Listen. A low, deep, heavy hollow
sound is heard in the distance. 1t is
the rumbling of wheels; the measured
tread of long columns of armed men:
the beating Of iron hoofs on the hard
ground; and various other sounds in
cidcnt to the marching of a large
army. Nearer and nearer approach
these sounds, mingled with the rat
Ting of muskets and the jingling of
swords; and now comes into view
column after column, their muskets,
swords and bayonets cleaning in the
sun, and the blue uniforms looking
like a cloud of destruction about to
burst and overwhelm our little band.
now grasping their trusty arms. Ay,
these gallant few can discern the once
loved. but now detested Flag, prosti-
tuted to the base purposes of a tyrant
and Abolition horde, who then made,
and yet make. the signal for civil war
and cutting the threats of those once
protected beneath it's ample folds. Be-
meath it now is daily perpetrated deeds
at which the very fiends stand aghast
deeds that have smelled rank to
Heaven, and which will yet call down
a retribution, in Gods good time, upon
the enactors, that will startle the
world with the business and venge-
ance of Almighty Power, since He
and his laws have been set at defiance,
His name bIasphemed, and the worship
of the negro substituted for that of
If the hearts of our little band flut-
tered faster than they did before, and
if their blood coursed more rapidly
through their veins than usual, fear
was not the cause, but natural excite
ment that the calmest and bravest
cannot wholly prevent. They may