The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-29

desperate and deadliest of struggles: they ar,
broken into silvery spray against the walls o
grand Fort Sumter. They seem to chant th,
death dirse for the brave men who fell during
the ilcom parable defence Of Charleston har
Dor: to the renown Of which the chivalrou
sons of Abbeville added 80 much lustre
Your comrades enriched those battle field
with their blood and immortalized them b,
their valor. This reminds me OF the fact
that after the return OF our Army from Penn
sylvania. 1t became my melancholy duty L
inform Col. A. e. Haskell, The able and heroi
Adjutant General of McGowap's Brigede
able death OF bis dauntless and noble hearted
brother, Capt. William T. Haskell, who feI
in front of battle at Gettysburg. Sad to say
be beard the mourDful tidipgs, lew min ute
afterwards, Of the death Of another brothe
and an uncle, who were killed at Battery
Wagner. My hear prompts me TO max,
further reference 10 William T. Haskell
whose infancy was Graded in Abbeville: u
whom / wBs devotedly attached. He was th'
inpersonation Of manly worth, OF Christian
thoughts be gave an impnlse-to me he wa
an inspiration.
Ibaveepoke en- OF your earliest military ser
vice around Charleston. Today We have beer
tue martial N usic OF one of the finest Bandl
in this great country of ours. Director Ensey
and the other talented musicians came L
Abbeville direct from Sullivan'B Island
where day after day, the melody and measure
of their sweet strains have been blended
with the mystic sound of the waves on the
beach; with the miserere of the wind as i
swept over bay and battlements. 1t was 8
graceful act on the part of the National Gov.
ernment TO sent you this spl endid band, and
1t was generous OF the members to attend &C
cheerfully.
the Athepians for the city Of the Viole,
Crown; Of the perils they encountered, the
fhpu dlanlQCoH tho T0rftfnhn thou
exhibited. Pericles said that bis country.
men rivalled all the achievements of Spartan
valor, Notwithstanding the fact that they
enjoy ed pleasure and amusements, and did
moi have 10 submit to the simple fare and the
rigorous discipline OF the Spartans. What
Perices said of the Athenians truthfully
may be applied to the men who served In
the Confederate Army and Navy. Before
they responded to the call Of patriotic duty
they enjoyed the comfort and conten tm ent OF
cosey and cherished homes. All Of them
may not have been accustomed 10 feasts: yet
the bumblest Jared we'll and knew not the
tyranny Of a task master. In our army the
mechanic and the merchant stood side by
side: the patriot who had left his plow In the
turrow was often the file leader OF the plant
er. The smooth faced boy who cast aside bis
rhetoric to shoulder rifle marched next to q
gray bearded man, who left his raft ip the
river to fight for hearth and home.
Follow the path OF martial glory from
Marathon to Manassas; from Salamis to Fort
Sumter; from Aginconrt to Appomato1. and
not anywhere could there be found achieve.
ed from the battle plains, the bays and rivers
where our men met the foe In that long
death struggle; when their Ill fated vAlor
evoked the applause of the world. The al
fed crate forces withstood the ever Increasing
columns OF we'll armed, trained troops
elicited even the admiration Of the men TO
whom they were finally forced to yield.
ll1l ~ Hag~ he
depleted by sickness and death; when the
army was little stronger than skirmish
Inc Of starvelings. They gained glory even
in defeat and won name which shall be
remem bered and revered, while courage is
valued, patriotism rs priced. or liberty is de-
sired.
VINO were the men, whom we miss and
mourn: who went grandly down to death In
defence OF principles as high, as pure and al
mortalized people. They were men who
had no selfish ends to serve: who sought not
reward, who were not actuated by ambition;
with whom love Of liberty was breathing
inspiration: They were worthy Of their
cherished comrades. this heart OF
mine Is warmed at the recollection OF your
valiant deeds and sublime self-saoritice,
which come back TO me on the mystic tide OF
in hand: their manly faces lighted up by the
sheet of flame flashing from their guns The
crimson breast OF the battle plain seems To
shake beneath the Cavalry and the Artillery,
The death. dealing cannon and the spirited
charges 60 rapidly to the front. Our men ad.
vance to meet the determined foe. We again
hear that inspiring cheer, that denotes a
Confederate charge, which was the percusor
OF a Confederate victory. See those brave
bear the brunt of the battle: unmindful OF the
numbers arrayed against them, with cour.
age az iDf1exible as their bayonets, with q
fidelity eQualled only by their affection for
the dear ones at home. Their names are our
proudest memories, are linked with our
fondest thoughts. aud are treasured among
our proudest recollections.
Mystic memory opens the portals OF the
storied past, The manly forms, the flashing
eyes, the familiar faces, wreathed In the curl
our mental vision. See the laurel browed,
cypress crowned comrades, as they march
along the ehadowy pathway OF the days that
are dead; How stately Is each measured
net Of unyieldipg courage, sparkling with
gems of unfaltering devotion, They are
wearing their wounds like stars. One ol
Abbeviles attractive sons and gallan,
soldiers, Augustus M. Smith, rode resoluiely
to the front. cheering on the First Regiment
of South Carolina Volunteers. at Cold Har
bor, where he dauntleesly fell by the bonnie
blue flag OF his daring and devoted command
seem TO again hear his thrilling words, az
Lu6 hdS WdS Oh Luo 1Sb
die by your colors. let their folds trail
One Of the most pathetic scenes OF the wal
was the death Of the brave and brilliant Col
J. Foster Marshall, a hero OF two wars. He
arms, and was the commander of the First
Regiment OF Rifles, which lost greater
number OF men in battle, than any other
Regiment In the Confederate Army. There
are among the brave daring survivors OF Ab:
beville present those who stubbornIy stood
alongside of Col, Marshall that August day
and who remember how his expressive black
eyes flashed and how his cheeks glowed with
the excitement OF that desperate charge
across the railroad out, He died hero's
courageous young son, when he STOOD along.
side OF his dead father. 1t moved everyone
present 10 pity and to tears. Comrades, you
remember Lieut.. Higgins, he also had fought
Fredericksburg. and when he was killed that
December day, ,Abbeville lost another OF her
noble sons. Albert Wardlaw was one OF the
gentlest and most afiable OF boys, who drew
every heart toward him, and proved himself
worthy Of his land and Image: At the VIII
dernesH, he charged unto the front, and fore.
most fighting fell" one OF the rank and file OF
the Confederate Army, meu who for courage
and devotion were unsurpassed and un-
model of manhood, faithful and fear.
less, an intuitive soldier, and one OF
the most promising OF officers. He fell at the
post OF duty and Is numbered with the noble
spirits who gained glory and grave at the
battle OF fChanoellorsvllle.
The praiseworthy work Of the patriotic
women of Abbeville has been accomplished.
There glands before US memorial OF their
love for the brave and the true, who fell on
distant fields. on the trackless ocean and
along the shore, or who suGoumbed to sick
ness in homes or In hospitals, Heroes who
died in defence OF the land in which they
lived~-thst they SO devotedly loved.
This monument is not intendee to revive
rancorous recollections, 10 foster seotiona
feud. 1t has higher, holier significance and
everywhere. In the erection OF this monu-
ment the people of Abbeville had two.fold
object in view; 10 express their affection for
the patriot dead, and to teach q lesson to the
living; an affection as deep and durable as
ever thrilled the heart; lesson as grand and
as glorious as that which was transmitted