Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-07
Ths Sturu Tsller.
lone OF The GRAYJACKETS.
e. Crayton McCants, in McClure's.

1t was in 'siXty-five near Appomat-
tox court house, that Brethitt lost
track of his command; it was in nine
ty-eight, on the crest of San Juan Hill,
that he found it again. Between these
dates he acquired the title that Is
craven on his small white tombstone
/ for Brethitt is in a national cemetery
now.
AS may be seen from the above, the
story of Brethitt begins away back
behind the Civil war. Previous to that
war Brethitt's father was a plain far
mer in the Carolina hills, and Brethitt
himself was but a boy. Under nor
NAL conditions there is no doubt that
Brethitt would have grown up OBJ
scurely, would have married, would
have spent the greater part of his life
at the ploughtail and finally would
have grown old peacefully in the COM
pany of his children and his grand
children.
But, as events fell out, great stir
arose about the time Of Brethitts six
teenth year. For years the politicians
had been predicting and grumbling and
scheming, for years the slavery ques-
ton had moved the nation TO wrath
and vaporing and recrimination, but
all this had seemed of little moment
| to the Brethitts, father and son. so,
the mother of the lad being long since
dead. the two titled their little farm,
gave attention to the direction OF the
wind and the times of the rain, and
held a large faith in God and their
fellowmen.
Suddenly, however, all this changed.
First there were whisperings, then NUT
terings, then the hoarse diapason OF
people aroused. Contrary to his usual
Quiet customs, the elder Brethitt went
about the house singing the fierce old
war songs that some other Brethitt
had brought home from Mexico, while
out at the neighborhood church there
were speechmakings first, and after
ward arming and drilling and muster
ing. And presently the term "one's
country," once but a vague and imper-
sonal idea, came to mean to the boy
all that was good, all that one might
live for, all that one might love.
Then the older Brethitt went away to
First Manassas and to death. 1t Is
quite likely that Brethitt passed by
his fathers body on his own way to
the front, for when the news or the
battle reached the little hill farm
Brethitt did not delay. Dixie" the
bands were playing,-"We'll live and
die for Dixie,"-and consumed with the
fervor Of his patriotism, Brethitt hum
med the stirring air and meant every
word he muttered.
| 1t was in this spirit that the lad took
his place among the fighting men,
After that the history Of Lees army
was Brethitts history. His the en-
thusiasm Of the boy, his the ardor OF
the fanatic To him there was no
sound so good as that Of the rafting
guns, and the battle flag of his reg
Iiment seemed close akin to Deity. Un-
der that scrap Of silk he fought al
Fredericksburg and at Chancellors-
VILE led by it he forded the clear Po-
tomac and marched through the green
lanes Of Maryland, bearing it he climb
ed the long slope of Gettysburg. and
with it he was there thrust down
again.
| Afterward there came gloomier days
could Brethitt have realized as much
The Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and
Petersburg-and Grants grim lines
were Tightening.
| But Brethitt's soul was in the game
Rapier thrust against hammer stroke
il was, and dazzled by the play OF the
lighter weapon the boy forgot the blows
which the other dealt. So many times
had the odds been against them, and
so many times had the good gray lead
er led the way and the ragged bat
talions countered on their enemy, that
other results seemed impossible. In
the last days others may have des-
paired, but not so Brethitt. Even as
they were forced to evacuate their long
held lines, he uncased his flag and bore
liz jauntily. Hunger?-They would eat
Tomorrow. Weariness?-No matter
But the end had come, and present
Ily Sheridan barred the way. For the
last time the thinned-Out columns
thrust forward their skirmishers, for
the last time Brethitt advanced the
colors," and the spent ranks greeted
them-giving in one long yell the NOR
Iituri salutamus of the Army Of North
ern Virginia.
| There were shots-a charge-then
the cavalry swept aside, the solid lines
of the blue clad infantry stood sullen-
lly revealed. There was no giving
back-Forward the forforn hope!
Again the YELL then the flash OF
musketry, the scream Of a shell, and
Brethitt and his flag went down. In
his dimming consciousness he saw the
gray lines reel, saw the quick advance
OF the blue, and reaching a desperate
hand. he tore the silk from it's stan
and thrust it into his bosom.
L
| When he woke again, he was In a
cabin, and there were women minis
tering to him. Something was the
matter with his head-a splinter OF
shell had struck him there-and he
had been brought here weeks ago and
left to die Lee had surrendered, they
told him, the Confederacy was dead
the army broken and gone. Unable
to comprehend, he turned his face to
the wall and tried to puzzle 1t out.
But one day he asked them to bring
his clothing to him and his flag. with
an odd gleam in his eyes he spread
the latter on the bed beside him, fin
gering the shot holes and spelling out
the names that were written beside
them. Seven Pines. Antietam, NAL
vern-with quick motion of the hand
he broke off.
when you bury me-" he said. wrap
my body in that"
Still he did not die. but as his wound
1healed his intellect clouded. 1t was