The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-10-20
WITH AUNT BECKY.
"reminiscences of Wartime
Days Crop ProsDects-Other
Correspondence of The Robesonian.

Matters. I.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Old Fork, Oct. ia short
time ago, noticed with much
appreciation a request from that |
lively and optimistic correspond |
ent of The Robesonian, Happy
jack" for Aunt Becky to write
up some of Robeson's war his
tory. | thank Mr.. Happy |
Jack" for the compliment i'm |
piled in his request, and would |
gladly crafty him if knew just |
how and where to make a start. |
think that every county should
preserve and conserve the his
tory of her brave boys during
the conflict of the sixties, but
that task should be delegated to
a committee of the surviving
veterans, who are more able to
give facts and figures than are
those who were non-participants.
regret exceedingly my lack of
knowledge regarding the num-
Der and different commands of
our Robson boys, but l was
quite young at the beginning of
hostilites, and the passage Of As
years is a severe test on the
memory. Just now I can recall
but three full companies of vol
unteers-the Highland Boys"
from the upper end of the county
with Capt. Bob Lily command
ing; the Scotch Grays" from
the Alfordsville section, Capt.
McBryde Il Think, commanding;
and a company from the lower
end under command of Capt.
Pope, o f Lumberton. Besides
these regularly organized troops,
many of our boys joined other
companies, and later on Col. w.
F. French ,of Lumberton COM
manded a battalion of junior re-
serves composed in part of Rob-
eson county boys. Besides these,
there was also the senior re-
serves, conscripts between the
age of As and so years. l can
not give Happy Jack" an &C.
curate account of the quantity.
but | can readily vouch for the
quality of our heroes in gray,
than whom no Drawer ever drew
sword on field of battle.
When the Southern States Sc
coded, and war was inevitable,
was attending a fine country
school, near m home. This
school was presided over by Mr..
James Patterson, a teacher of
such experience and noted ability
as to fill the school building with
well-advanced pupils, especially
boys, who would come from var
ious sections as boarding pupils
so at this time there were a doz.
en- or more fine, stalwart young
men in the school, several o,
whom came from Marlboro coun
ty, S. C. The fires of patriot
ism soon kindled within theil
bosoms, and in short time thei
manly forms and gay laughte
were missing from their accus
toned haunts. One by one they
fitted away leaving behind then
sense of desolation and loss
One of these, a neighbor DO!
who had joined some command
outside the county, was on thu
eve of going to Virginia and my
sister and went over to BIZ
him goodbye. Alas! this proves
to be a long farewell. AS lit
tie sovenir of kindly remem
brance and usefulness, our dea
mother gave US a nice poke
Testament, as a parting gift t
him, toa ether with some othe
little articles. He was buoyan
with that grand hope and coul
age which inspired our Souther
braves, and marched away t
perform nobly "a soldiers duty
his beloved country. Only
few short months had passed
when one sad day the harrow
ing message came that he w;
dead, slain on the field of battl
and there buried by his comrade
The first time / saw his 0grar
old mother afterward she gait
cred me in her arms and sal
God bless you, child, you gay
my darling the pretty Testame1
which was found in his breas
pocket when he was cold ar
still in DEATH"
This was the sad beginning
fearful defamation in the rar
of my former schoolmates. six
whom were killed and two de
perately wounded, and all Il
very flower and chivalry Of O