The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-05-07
RIVERS BRIDGE nEnORIAL.
Interesting Account of the Exercises
Held Last Friday.

Interesting Account of the Exercises
Held Last Friday.
On February 3, 1865, the 18th corps o1
Gen. Grants army marching north en-
countered at Rivers Bridge remnant Of
the brave Confederacy. In the battle 8 o1
our men were killed, a. wounded and 4s
missing. 1t is supposed that the Federal
army lost about 800 in this fight. The
wounded were taken and nursed in the
homes nearby; eight died, making 1e
dead who are sleeping at what is known
in these counties (Bamberg, Colleton,
Hampton, and Barnwell; you need not
travel more than one mile and you can be
in either one of these counties) as the
memorial grounds. Every year on these
grounds on the 10th day of April or an
appropriate day near that date, this year
May Ist, these counties gather to do
honor to the living and the dead Of the
Confederacy.
Last Friday bore testimony to the fact
that the days past are not forgotten. Both
the invited speakers had the undivided
attention of the vast audience, as the gal
liant deeds of the past and glorious oppor-
tunities of the present were set forth.
After prayer by Rev. P. E. Monroe, the
Hon. H. E. Gyles, of Aiken, was intro
duced by Senator Geo: II. Bates, of Barn
well, referring to Mr.. Gyles as Barnwel]
boy of whom his whole county is proud.
Mr.. Gyles is rising young lawyer and is
no less than an orator His voice is clear
and far-reaching, he could be easily heard
by every one of the 800 seated under the
large shed built for such occasions. His
reasoning was logical.
He eulogized in the highest terms the
Confederate dead, who died for the de-
fense of Estates rights" nor did he for.
get the devoted, loving womanhood be-
hind the men, behind the guns.
He most beautifully set forth the
characteristics of the Confederate soldiers
and women.
No mere review can do his speech JUS
tice. 1t was well prepared, and when he
had finished, he quit. "a very important
requisite of a public speaker.
The Memorial association wasfortunate
in also having on the program the Hon.
E. D. Smith. Every man who raises bale
of cotton, and millions who do not, know
of Mr.. Smiths loyalty to and confidence
in the South. AS speaker, he was born
an orator. He thinks we'll and speaks
without effort.
He briefly reviewed the work of the
Confederacy and the reconstruction. He
believes that there will be North and
a South as long as there is 18th and 18th
amendment to the constitution of the
United States.
He gave us his views on the tariff ques-
ton and many other questions of national
interest. No man who studies the con-
dition of things to-day and heard his
speech can be in doubt as to where Mt.
Smith stands politically. He, says that
our great fight now is not with battle guns,
butagainst anarchism, against ID per cent.
i1literacy and 48 per cent. poverty. He
pointed out the fact that the South IS the
only portion of our country with large
per cent. of real Anglo-Saxon blood. He
believes that the South must work out
her own salvation with her own people.
He is confident of our ability to do it. He
sees no need in bringing to this beautiful
Southland the dissatisfied, disloya peo-
pie of Europe or Asia.
After Mr.. Smiths speech the graves of
the Confederate dead were covered with
flowers by the ladies of the community,
some of whom nursed the wounded as
they awaited the summons from above 43
years ago.
Then cadets of Carlisle Fitting School,
who attended in body, fred salute.
Then was most bountiful dinner
spread in the grove. A dinner in this
community proclaims the fact that there
are no financial panics here, but peace and
plenty are still onr guardian angels.
After 1000 or 1900 people had dined,
they spent the afternoon socially. They
love their country and they love one an
other.
P. S. There was band present which
gave some music. There was the usual
number of candy-dates present wishing to
meet their old friends and serve the peo-
pie. P. E. M.