The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-04-28


the South is a Matter of History, and
a Iatter of Which Every American
Whether He Wore the Blue or the
Gray May Feel Proud and of Which
Our Children and those of the COM
lug Generations will Read with
Wonder and Admiration.
Contributed.
Hero worship seems from the dawn
of history to have been as universal
as the attributes OF love, Joy, ambi-
ton, hatred or revenge. From the
time that mankind were arranged in
groups or families and on into tribes
and then ON into nations there has
been a soft place in the hearts OF
humanity for the hero or heroine.
Those men and women who despite
their environments or discourage
ments have done something for the
advancement of tribal interest or ma
tional power, the numberless mOnu-'
ments that dot the earth to-day,
some of them lifting their heads into
the clouds are but the evidence OF
this innate principle toperpetuate the
name, or record the acts of those who
have stood out from the mass just as
some mighty planet or star shines
out with more brilliancy or beauty
than those that appear smaller by
comparison. That there have been
many men whose notable acts or
whose acts notorious have not been
such as to inspire them to live in the
memory of each successive genera
tions, and yet have had monuments
reared in their memory is too true,
and vet this mistake if such it has
been is valuable in showing us their
blunders and as the lighthouse built
among the Jagged rocks warns the
mariner OF the danger, so the perpet-
uation of the names of these great
ones, has served as q beacon light to
prevent other men in other times
from pursuing the same course. Thus
the names OF Caligula or Tiberius or
| Nero, while perpetuated in history,
which is but another form of monu-
ment, at least another way OF being
remembered, only teach US what self
ish ambition has made mankind to
suffer in the past, while the names
of Washington, Jefferson, Putnam,
Wayne, Marion and a list of Ameri-
can heroes who by sacrifice and suf-
fering have wrought out so much for
the uplifting of humanity from the
days of oppression and intolerance,
whose names come to us crowned
with glory, so that the soldier tips
his hat to his flag so we are thrilled
at the recollection of the names and
deeds OF the heroes of our own coun-
| try.
Scarcely a half century has pass
ed since the alarm of war was sound
ed in our Southland. Amid the shrill
notes of the fife and the roll of drum,
men rushed to arms in defence OF
their homes; the South was to be in
vaded by hostile force, and it made
no difference that this force was oil
our tongue and kindred, from our
sister States, and marching under
our own starry flag, they were not
coming as friends, but to invade our
State with hostile intent. No true
son of North Carolina had any choice
left but to array himself on the side
of his State, to fight her battles. 1t
was his duty then as it would be his
duty now to resist invasion. In
obedience to that duty, thousands OF
North Carolinians donned the Gray
and marched forth to do or die. And
what they did and how they died is a
matter OF history, and matter oil
which every American whether he
wore the Blue or Gray may fully feel
proud and of which our children and
grandchildren and of coming genera
tions will read with wonder, of the
daring and heroism of the men of the
South. AS we read to-day of Meren-
go, Austerlitz, Lodi, of Bunker Hill,
Moore's Creek, Kings Mountain and
Alamance, SO will they of Bull Run,
Manassas, Shiloh, Cold Harbor,
Gettysburg, and other hard fought
fields. That the tide of war flowed
against the Stars and Bars, as we
perhaps now see it will not lessen the
appreciation, for heroism and devo-
ton to duty. 1t is to perpetuate
these deeds of valor that since the
war has prompted the women of the
South to organize themselves into
the Daughters of the Confederacy to
help as far as possible the heroes OF
that struggle who had returned to
their homes in poverty and many oil
them manned and disabled, and
further still to erect monuments that
will speak to future generations oil
these men OF the South, of their de-
votlon to duty and honor. 1t has
been the custom that these returned
men organize themselves into camps
to meet their old comrades, to ex.
change friendly greetings and to con.
| tinue that friendship formed in the
camp and in the field.
| One OF them, Henry L. Wyatt
Camp, 9S4, was formed in Henderson
by that fearless, patriotic, soldier OF
the South, Col. William 81. Cheek
and is composed of men who have
been baptized by fire. Among it's mem.
bers are those that fought at Bethel
Spottsylvania, Seven Pines, the
Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Fort Stead
man, Plymouth, Antietam, Fort
Fisher, Bentonsville who charged
at the Little Round Top, Gettysburg
in fact, were present and participated
IN the biggest fights from 81 to '65
But we are getting old fast, not many
moons and the passing of the Bows
In Gray and Blue will be complete
the last one of the host that followed
Lee, jackson, Stuart, Grant, Sher
man, and Hancock, will soon have
crossed the stream of death. We re
ioice that history will do US of the
South justice and that this monu
ment erected to our memory by the
women Of Vance County Chapter
Daughters of the Confederacy, will
show to generations to follow the
high appreciation of valor and 10y
atty.
J. T. B. HOOVER,
commander Henry L. Wyatt Camp