The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-05-21


"Standing amid the graves of our
fellow comrades, we are full Of ten
der and pathetic memories. We are
here to pay our tribute Of love and
affection, to those who in the dark
days of civil war, marched from hap
py homes and loved ones, to brave
perils and face death in the discharge
Of patriotic duty.
"The tender memories of memo
rials are common alike to North and
South, during this month of May,
and all over this land, the graves of
departed comrades are being decorat-
cd. The federals and confederates
alike, the graves Of federals and con-
federates; the confederates doing
like wise. A Mississippi lady at Ok
ford, clad in the habiliments Of
mourning, who had lost her loved
ones in the confederate army, set
ting the example. The continued OBJ
servance Of these days will serve to
remind the rising generation of the
heroic race from which they sprung.
1t is our mournful, yet pleasant duty
this day to strew flowers upon the
graves Of our comrades, who passed
through the fiery ordeal Of war, and
who have fallen from the ranks since
our battle flags were fruited, and
| who sleep beside kindred and friends
in our own cemeteries. But, today,
we think Of the foot-score comrade
as he turned his face homeward, in
the spring Of 1865, after four years
unparalleled hardships and hcroism.
We think Of him; ragged, half starry
ed, heavyhearted, enfeebled by want
and wounds. This hero in rags, with
heart of gold, having fought to ex-
haustion, he stacks his gun, wrings
the hands Of his comrades, and lift
ing his tear stained and pale face,
for the last time at the graves Of his
fallen comrades. begins his slow and
painful journey home to his loved
ones.
"Aye! this day our thoughts turn
to those who sleep on distant fields
in the dark woods, where the battle
laSed--on The slopes. ur which they
charged-on the hills. once crowded
with death dealing artillery and flash
ing guns-sleeping peacefully under
stars and the shadow of the clouds
thc gentle dew drops like pitying
tears fallin" on their lonely graves
and flowers blooming above them.
"We think of the fierce charge on
the dark lines. where dcaih shouted
in the onset. The booming guns .
bursting she;ls--shriekin% rifle balls
- the wild rebel yell. where 50 many
Of our comrades fell on the field of
their glory. We have tears to this
day for our unreturLcd ncrors. But
This d&y should tr.r, us mutual for
hearan"c. We arc lun far removed
from those terrible S,Hr$. to enter
lai. fatrcd against tlcsc. who with
il purpose fiyed---a cnurag' high-a
conviction strong faced a in battle g
horrible cormagc. Universal charity
ia> thrown the Wife mar tie Of for
Givcnc>s over the men Aho fought
beneath the Stars and s,,lpcs.
"My comrades, with us there is
SNOW in the hairf and soon will we
be floating, floating, floating, on the
sen Ct eternity, and liz o'lr hearts the
iircs Of passion hav" long since ccas-
ed to burn, and we cherish no sell
timent against those who won in the
fierce arbitrament of war. But we
do not-we cannot--wc dare not
we will not love and admire them as
we do our gallant comrades, who stood
beside us in the fierce shock of bat
tie, and fought for cause just and
right.
"Wc have no resentment against
the federal soldier; but we love and
serve our confederate romrades-God
bless thlm.
"In the language OF the poet ;
! Strcw flowers upon their graves and
J still remember grasses grow, alike up
on the resting place Of fallen friend
and foe.
"But we cannot condone their
cruel crime in waging a sectional war
upon us, contrary to the doctrine of
the Declaration Of Independence and
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