The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-06
AN OLO C0NFED
WAY OUT IN OKLAHOMA SENDS
GREETINGS TO HIS

Surviving Comrades Of the Confed-
crate Army Wherever They May
Be Found.
Headquarters Joe Shelby Camp, No.
975, U. C. ", Geo. G. Buchanan,
Commander.
Chickasha, Okla, June 20, 1909.
Greeting to my old comrades, where
ever they may be:
The fast-heeing days of the year
| 1909 still retain you as the happy re-
cipient Of this earthly habitation.
| You have been kept in sweet remem-
brance of an allwise Creator, and to-
day this beautiful Sabbath morning
has found you in the loving em-
brace of all that is pure and good.
The open hand of luxury is pointing
the finger of consolation. The oil
Of JOY is still pouring out to the
toiling millions of your land and
country. The sweet fragrance OF
Gods loving kindness has brought
melody to all nations and preixed its
greatness in earth's remotest bounds.
The guidance of heavens own sweet
entertainments has been your guiding
star through all the years gone by.
Your sorrows have been turned to
10y. The great touch Of sympathy
has been as bread cast upon the wa
| ters. The mighty hand of kindness
has been extended to you until to-
day this day of greeting has come
with the rushing tide Of the fondest
hopes of an everlasting future--all
blended with the profoundest graf
itude to God and charms of peace
and good will to all men.
We should teach lesson to all
| the world in every fabric Of our ma
ture, where the deeds of charity shall
be the watchword that shall light our
pathway on to that final destiny from
whence no traveller ever returns.
Yes, my dear comrades, the out
stretched hand of kind and loving
| Providence has staid your sorrows
and turned them into joy and glad
ness. The fragrance of times pur-
est flowers will embalm the whole
world with the sweetest notes OF frul-
ton. Today, with the passing years
and events of SORROWS entermingled
with gladness. you are the men OF
nations born fighters. The bond
| of brotherhood which unites all true
Southerners into and through the
ties of blood, sacred sentiment and
hallowed memories, is in a great
measure the stronghold Of a nation S
| life.
And to you, my comrades, is the
onward march toward your setting
sun-the fifth decade whose close
will mark a half century since were
hushed the roar and din OF battle IN
which you were engaged in behalf OF
cause most sacred. 1t IS impos-
sible to efface from your youthful
minds the recollections of those days
of carnage and the supremacy OF
nations pride. Today we rejoice to
know that the civilized world recog-
nizes the old Confederate soldier the
greatest of all human/effort and one
who represents everything to fur
ther the interest and achievement of
great people.
At no period of the worlds history
have the tradition Of men been more
cherished and reverenced than are
those Of the men who wore the gray.
Fortitude, fidelity, forbearance, braV-
cry and long-sufferlng was the very
keynote of the whole makeup of the
brave boys who marched to the sweet
notes of "Dixixe."
And, my dear comrades, while SO
many have obeyed the final command
and are known to US no more. they
have only gone ahead, following their
standard bearers.
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
Angels guard the sentry round
The bivouac of the dead.
The growing guns Of war are still,
The foes have gone afar,
The flag that Aoated proudly on the
Has called you back to single
star.
BY old Potomac's rushing tide
Their bayonets CLEAN no more.
Far DER the bounding waters Wide
God is calling to the other shore.
They hear from out that sunlit laid
Beyond these clouds that gather
The happy sound from Gods own
Calling brother to brother.
In all that heroic th-ong,
Shall wear 4 scmblance grarder;
Bedecked with fresher wreathes of
sang
Than any earthly commander.
They sleep the sleep of the brave.
While we drop tear not forgot.
With flowers We bedeck their graves
Let them rest and disturb them
not