The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-07-21
Anther Pleasant Day at Rivers
Bridge.

Kearse, July 15.-When we wrote
you last twas of a scene Of galety
where youth and pleasure meet.
To-day we write you of different
scenes, of different ideals, though no
less happy occasion. This was the
reunion of Confederate veterans of
Camp Rivers Bridge. This reunion
was celebrated last Wednesday, the
18th, and is an annual affair. AS
usual, the gathering was at the me-
mortal grounds and in sight of the
old battle ground.
The day was ideal, the dinner a
feast, and the ice cream and cold
drinks all that could be desired.
The crowd was not as large as we
wished for, still all entered into the
spirit of the occasion and happy
day was spent.
We regretted to hear of the death
of Mr.. William Kearse, son Of Mr. and
Mrs. c.. H. Kearse, of Colston,
which occurred at this time and kept
many old soldiers away. Our sincere
sympathies are extended to Mr.. and
Mrs. Kearse.
The exercises of the day begun at
1880. The camp was reorganized by
electing the same old officers; then
followed an address by Rev. W. NJ.
Jones, of Williston, which was ap-
preciated by both old and young. He
tells the rising generation to honor
the principle for which our fathers
fought, to be proud Of his valor, but
to do this without enmity towards our
neighbors across Mason and Dixon's
line. He expressed the cause OF the
war as Tennyson did in his Charge
of the Light Brigade'-"some one
had blundered," and the plumbers
were not all among Southern leaders.
At the close of his address he sug-
gested that some effort be made to
preserve the old battle ground by
raising the breast works, which had
bed n partially cut away, and placing
cannon there, to tell the story Of the
fight to future generations. This
suggestion met with no response at
this time, but we feel sure the cause.
is not lost. Has there ever been a
worthy cause presented to the peo-
pie of the "happy valley" that met
with no response? We think not.
We hear of battle grounds being
preserved all over our Southland
and in the North; in such a manner
that the whole history of the battle
is told. Why should we sit idle, and
make no effort to preserve this old
battle ground right at our doors?
Some will say, "But this was only
an insignificant skirmish-a mere
walk over, and is hardly worth re-
membering" Be it as it may, still
this sacred spot tells the story Of
the valor of the Southern soldier, and
twas here that many brave men from
our sister State laid down their lives
for the cause they represented. At
this time they fully realized that the
cause was lost, for their star Of hope
had waned. Still they fought with
Spartan courage and died as heroes
should.
We notice that the ranks OF these
old veterans are growing thin, for
each year some are "marshalled out
of life's service and go to join their
comrades In a land where they
dream ,of battle fields no more, days
Of danger, nights of waking" Ere the
years are many this brave land will
have passed away; reunions OF Con-
federate veterans will be thing OF
the past, and The story of the sixties
will only be told by the dry facts
of history. Perhaps we'll hear OF this
valiant band occasionally in song and
story, but this is not sufficient. We
need living monuments to cause the
young to pause in life's march and
think of the cause for which our IA
theirs fought. Let us preserve the
ruins. Father Ryan has said "A
land without ruins is land without
memories"