The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-20
COL. WIN. ELLIOT
IS COMMISSIONER
SECRETARY OF WAR NAMES
HIM FOR THE PLACE.
The Appointment Yesterday-South
Carolina Confederate Veteran
Receives High Honor From
the Government.

y
appointed by Secretary Of War Taft
to be the government commissioner to
mark the graves Of Confederate sol
diers who died in Northern prisons OF
hospitals. The position. provides
salary of $4,000 a year. Col, Elliott
was selected by the secretary OF war
over a large number mentioned TOR
the place and this compliment is par
tieularly gratifying to his South Car
elina friends. The news Of his ap-
pointment was received in the city
early yesterday. Col. Elliott was IN
Washington and is expected here to-
day.
A Real War Record.
The appointment Of Col. Elliott to
this, position is peculiarly appropr1-
ate in view of his record as soldier
and his services to the South. Imme-
aiately upon the secession Of South
Carolina he was appointed upon the
staff Of Gov. Pickens, and served ac-
tively for several months fortlfy-
ing the coast of the state. In the at
tack on Fort Sumter in April, 1851,
he served with the Palmetto Guard IN
the iron clad battery on Morris Is
land, and with them occupied Fort
Sumter on the night Of its surrender.
Immediately afterwards Col. Elliott
Joined Kershaws's regiment In Vlr-
einia, as first lieutenant Of the
Brooks Guards Of Charleston, and
took part in the first battle Of Manas-
sas, the eampaignon on the peninsula
and all the other service Of that
splendid regiment during the first
wear Of the war. Upon the reorgani-
zation of the regiment in 1862 the
company was converted into light
battery, known as the Brooks artll-
lerv or Rhett's battery, and with 1t
lie went through the Seven Days
FIGHT, Second. Manassas, Sharpsburg
and the first battle Of Fredericksburg.
He had the honor Of commanding the
battery in the battles Of second Ma
nassas ana Sharpsburg, in which lat
ter. by 9 o'clock in the morning, the
battery lost 26 men and Is horses
killed and wounded. He was promot-
cd captain and ordered to Vlcksburg
rs assistant adjutant general to Gen.
Stephen D: Lee Of South Carolina; !;
nsrticipated in the Vicksburg cam
paign, in the battle Of Bakers Creek
in which his horse was killed, and ID
the 43, days siege Of Vicksburg was
specially assigned as artillery officer
to disledge the enemy by hand gren-
sdes, improvisel from artillery shells,
from the ditch Of fort which had
been captured during Gen. Grants
assault on the Confederate lines on
the 22nd day Of May; was promoted
major for gallantry; was assistant ad-
iutant general Of the department OF
Alabama, Mississippi and east Lou
>isiana; took part in the battle OF
Harrisburg, Miss; was transferred to
The army Of Atlanta and was present
in the battles Of 2Sth July and Jones'
horo, went with Hood into Tennessee
and was in the fight at Florence, Ala,
and the battles Of Franklin and Nash
Vile. On the day after the battle OF
Nashville he fought with the rear
snard at Franklin and the other des-
perate fighting of that terrible day.
Including hand-to-hand encounter
with the enemy's cavalry; was trans
ferred to North Carolina and was
in the battles Of Kinston and Benton
Vile. in which latter he was severely
wounded. from which he was IN bed
when the army surrendered. He was
IN numerous other fights and sk1r-
Wishes of which is made no mention.
From Sumter to Bentonvllle, the tlrst
and last battles of the war, he had
but one furlough and that was while
disabled for service. This is record
which speaks for itself.
After the war he returned to South
Carolina and took up the practice OF
law. He was elected to the state leg
islature and was delegate to the ma
+ional democratic convention in 1876
and 1888 and was democratic presl-
Dental elector at large in 1880. tie
then served IA years in congress and
OH his retirement moved to Colum-
bia, where he has since been practl-
&axu