Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-07-26
LA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, July 20, 1911

ted States has said, in some of it's
comparatively recent opinions, that
the principles for which you fought
are the only ones that can be reach
ed from correct Interpretation Of
the constitution.
In his lectures on THE Last Days
Of the Confederacy" Gen. John B.
Gordon pays high tribute to the
Vaior and courage, as well as the
grim humor, that the men on both
sides exhibited, and he gives exam
pies to show each; but he omitted
one thing that the study Of history
imp resses upon me, among many
other things, and that is the remark
able genius of number of the
Southern commanders in handling
men when they knew nothing Of
military tactics. A story told on
Gen. Gordon himself illustrates this.
When he raised his company of "Rac-
coon Roughs," ESQ called because
they all wore coon-skin caps), he
notified the Governor of Georgia
that he had a company ready to 20
to the front, but the Governor said
they had enough men and declined
to accept the company He then
communicated with the Governor Of
Alabama, and his company was ac-
cepted. They prepared for duty and
started to the nearest railroad sta
ton to take the train. They we're
marching in column of twos and
came to gate that was too narrow
for them to pass through He did
not know enough about the school Of
the soldier to give Left by File"
but he did know how to get his men
through that gate. He gave the
command, Company, halt! Left
face; fall out, and when you fall in
again. fall in on the other side of
the fence!' So we do not wonder
that Capt. Gordon later became Brig
adler General Gordon.
Then we welcome you because we
want you with us and are glad to
see you, and also because the young
er people of our generation need to
hear of some Of the deeds of daring
that were performed by you that we
might enjoy the freedom of the great
est country on the globe. While liv-
Ing IN the ease and luxury that we
have to-day, we would not have them
forget the hardships and privations
that you underwent that we might
have these blessings. We realize
that the lesson must be learned
quickly, for the bugle call has sound
ed, and one by one the Great Com
mander Is ordering those of you who
came back from Gaines's Mill, NAL
vern Hill, Characteristic and Ap-
pomattoX, to go to the front and
cross over the river to take up the
last long watch before the final roll
call.
AS ! look across the river, IN my
minds eye, methinks | see the regi-
ments of infantry, all tattered and
torn, swinging into line around Lee
and Jackson, and then little fur
ther see squadron after squadron
of cavalry gathering, and in the cen
ter are Stuart and Hampton. They
are drawn up in battle array, and
again hear Jackson, as he wanders
IN MS dellrium after being wounded,
saying, Tell Hill to prepare for ac-
ton; pass the infantry to the front"
Then we see Stuart dash to the head
or his column and shout, Turn,
boys, turn! we're going back" AS
the maneuvers begin, look
again, and behold! not a weapon of
war Is seen, but each is carrying an
olive branch, the emblem Of peace,
and see they are marching to join
the hosts of the Prince of Peace.
individually l welcome you be-
cause some Of you were at Gaines
Mill on that memorable 27th day of
June, and felt that storm of lead
that made thousands of orphans and
hundreds Of widows, and some of
you can tell me whether my grand
father spoke truly when he said he
last drop Of blood in his veins before
a negro should rule over his chill
dren, for that was what many Of the
brave men died for-some histories
of the present day to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
To my fellow-townsmen 7 would
say that there are two things a SOL
aler must have If he fights success
fGliy-rations and ammunition. On
this occasion they do not need the
ammunition, but | dare say they can
use the provisions now Just as we'll
as they could In the sixties, so let's
give them enough. This reminds me
OF one OF Gen. Gordon's stories. The
.Een In Lees and Jackson's armies
were very pious and held FREQUENT
prayer meetings. AT one Of these
meetings was an old soldier who had
one leg shot off right near the hin,
and he had Just come back on a visit.
He was unable to kneel when the
prayer began, so he sat uD while
Brother Jones prayed. Brother
Jones was praying for more man
hood, more strength, more courage.
That was more than the old one
legged fellow could stand, so he yell
ed out right in the midst OF the
prayer: "Hold on there, Brother
Jones-hold on there, sir; don't YOU
know you are praying all wrong?
Why don't you pray for more pro-
visions? We've got more courage