The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-12-16

The spring of 1862 is near at
hand One hundred and fifty thou
sand bristling bayonets are slowly
moving upon Richmond. being that
part of the 100000 volunteers called
for by President Lincoln after the
battle Of first Manassas. At the
same time ships OF war begin 10 ap-
pear at Albemarle Sound, threatening
an attack on the fort there. Not
soldier was to be spared from the
front At this critical moment an or
der is issued that all men from twen-
ty-one to forty-five years OF age re-
port at their county-seats to be or
ganized into military companies and
go down to meet the enemy. AL
ready our State had furnished her
quota of men called to meet the best
hordes of 100000 called for by Presi-
dent Lincoln.
What pen can describe the sorrow
and anguish that weighed down the
broken hearted wives and daughters
Of the counties included in this call
The attack Is made-the fort aban-
homeland the men return at once
to their homes amid great rejoicing
of the bereaved ones.
In evacuating the fort the friend
of my youth, W. E. Wilson of Eliza
| beth City falls victim of the Molock
of War. Brave to fault, his face,
with laughing eyes, and noble brow,
were of the dew Of the morning. He
was of the Episcopal church and
evening and morning the prayer book
his daily companion. May the is
LAND be his monument and the waves
that love its base sing for him a
perpetual requiem.
The Legislature of our State is in
session. When the news reached the
capital it was feared the seat of wal
would be here, and the scene Of the
enacted in our midst.
| A resolution is introduced In the
house at once that the members or
ganiZe themselves into military com
panies and go down to meet the enc
my. Soon a like resolution is offer
ed in the Senate. For hours dis
play of patriotic eloquence is heard
until long after the usual hour fol
, adjournment. When a motion i!
made to this effect, Ex-Governor
Graham, of Orange, rises from hi
seat and asks that by unanimous con
}sent he be allowed to add only a few
words to what had been said" HI
began by saying that never in an.
leliberative body had he ever lis
tened to such eloquence as he hat
heard this day. He begged to re
mind them that they were the ser
wants of the people working for
y per diem, and sworn to do a duty il
their behalf, and they had no author
ity to do the thing proposed in tn
resolution before the body. Tha
vast stretches of sand lay betwee
i the island and the main land, tina
the enemy were without field guns O
transportation wagons for ammuni
ton or provisions, and that nothin
q would so please the authorities a
q Richmond as for force like that t
I attempt to penetrate the interior a
the last one of them would be car
tured and made prisoners of wal
When the leaders, after the adjourn
ment, reach the Marlboro House,
r was unanimously decided that tn
=, resolutions be expunged from tn
Journals of both houses and no ful
Their action taken upon them.
t. The Ex-Governor who had sat ths
y morning with little stick betwee
l. his teeth, as was his custom to, wa
Q after this, in spite of his strong unto
sentiments, the one to be consulte
Il on all important business of thu
e body. We are told that South Care
|, lima is still "unrepentant" But no
Il long will our people follow sue
- leaders as these proved themselve
to be in the times that are past.
A SOLDIER.