The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-11


the soldier of the OOnfederacy, and
in this he declared that 1.-The world is
slowly but surely coming to the con-
cluSion that the Cause of the Confed-
eracy was right a latent reason
which caused the men of the South
to do battle in the ranks of the Con-
federate army. Then he passed on to
the history of Manly's Battery.
This he told of as being organized
on the night of April 16, 1851, in his
law office on the site of what is now
the Tucker Building by 1872 of the best
young men of the State assigned as
Go. A. to the Tenth Regiment. He
paid q tribute to these young men
who fought in war ''in defense of
their homes and firesides, the affairs
and graves to their fathers His de-
scription of the life of the soldiers in
the field, his departure from his home
and of the glorious work and sacri-
fees of the women left behind was
eloquent. as was his tribute to the per-
Torrance of his duty by the private
soldier. Then he quoted from the ad
dress of Gen. w. r. Cox on the life
and services of Stephen d. Ramseur.
that portion relating to Manly'S Bat
terry, called first THE Ellis Light Ar
tillery" in honor of the Governor of
North Carolina at that time. its Off
GERS being Manly, Saunders, Guion and
BridgerS. None of these being drilled
men, Lieutenant Saunders applied to
Governor Ellis for trained leader and
Lieutenant RamSeur was put in COM
mand of the men who were then raw
recruits but who under RamSeur'S
instruction became trained soldiers,
arms and equipments being supplied
by the State and by private subscrip-
ton. Without tents or suitable parade
grounds Mr.. William Boylan rendered
his residence and outbuildingS and
ample grounds to supply these. In the
summer of 1861 the company was or
dered to Smithfield, Va, and when the
cry of "On to Richmond came from
the North the battery was ordered to
Yorktown. Here Ramseur was elect
ed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third
Regiment of Volunteers but declined
to leave his battery, but later ac
cepted the position of Colonel of the
Forty-Ninth Regiment of Infantry. In
the battle at Williamsburg the bat
terry received its first baptism of fire,
with Basil Manly as its second captain.
Capt. Manly was the son of Governor
Charles Manly and his wife Charity
Haywood, and was born May 8. 1891
His influence inspired his men, To the
spring of 1862 the company was in the
work of preparation, and then took
part in the conflicts about yorktown
where it did valiant service. The re-
treat upon Richmond was covered by
the guns of the battery, and on the
passage through Williamsburg Capt.
Manly performed the unparalleled
feat of charging for position in the
front of a destructive fire from an OPP
posing battery across an open field. He
described it's services at this time and
showed how it was ever in the heavy
part of the fighting. the battery at one
time firing $50 shots in 20 minutes.
and in forty minutes marched nearly
two miles, captured three pieces, four
caissons, twelve horses and seven rKs-
oners.
Further history of the battery was
spoken of and the speaker then re-
ferred to the services of Capt. Manly as
the chosen custodian of the fortunes of
Raleigh, continued till death claimed
him. In closing Col. Saunders de-
clared that now manv of the soldiers
of the grey stand upon the picket line
of "three score years and ten" and
that posterity would render homage
to the "Prvate Soldier of the Con-
federacy," who had undergone terrible
hardships cheerfully and willing be-
cause this was for their State and the
South. and that with the setting sun
of their days thew can look upon the
position attained by their State. and
Will DIlue eAcldlIil ~ lIle WOIlu IillS
it is to be a son of Carolina"
The Closing Scenes.
At the close of the address the
Drum Corps played and the people
cheered. Then the procession to Oak
wood cemetery was taken up, the eX-
ercises closing here.
Songs were sung and on the graves
of the departed soldiers Confederate
flags were placed and with these many
flowers. A volley vas FREQ and then
Cadet Cgburn sounded the reVcille.
In the afternoon the Oak City
Guards under command of Captain
Dalen Stronach, and the Raleigh Light
infantry under command of Capt. j.
w. Moody, all commanded by Major
j j. Bernard, paraded the streets, and
at the Confederate Monument at the
Capitol fired salute this being done
while the exercises were going on at
the cemetery, honors being thus paid
to the gallant men who have passed
over the river.