Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-08
A NOBLE VETERAN.
Veteran of Two Wars Passes
Away at Ripe Age. Gods
Finger Touched Him,
And He Sleeps"

Let me come to-day with uncov-
cred head, and lay bouquet of tioW-
ers on the newly made grave of my
friend and comrade, Uncle Joe Gull
breath. This is one time that l
wish I could use the pen of a ready
writer of this wonderful man. One
hour before high twelve, April ls,
1919 Gods finger touched him and
Uncle Joe went from labor to re-
freshment.
Tried by the fires of two wars,
and never found wanting, he was
called twice to uphold the honor
and defend the flag of his country
and most nobly did he answer the
call. In ls4e when war was de-
clared against Mexico, he volun,
teered in Capt. J. II. Williams
company L, of the famous Palmet-
to Regiment, commanded by Col.
Pierce Butler, and was in every bat
tie in which his command was en-
gagged. He was promoted from
Fourth Sergeant to First Lieuten.
ant for galantry at the battle of
Vera Cruz. 1t was in this battle
that piece of shell tore off q part
of the sole of his shoe without
wounding the foot. He was dis
charged with his regiment at Mo-
bile, Ala, in July, 1s4o. He was
awarded gold medal containing
$500 worth of gold. On one side
is the Palmetto tree, the coat-of-
arms of South Carolina, with his
name and rank; on the other side is
the sail ship landing his regiment
at Vera Cruz. 1t is a valuable
beauty, which Uncle Joe priced
very highly. 1t is a letter of no
bility, which will be kept sacred by
the family, and handed down to
their children as an heritage OF
chivalry and courage.
In 1861, when the bugles again
sounded the alarm of war, Uncle
Joe again responded to that call
from his native county, Newberry.
and volunteered in the Third South
Carolina Regiment, and nobly fol
lowed his mighty chieftain from
Manassas to Appomattox. For
long time he was color bearer OF
his regiment, and was what we cal
charmed man. He was in about
forty battles and skirmishes during
the two wars, and was meyer wound
ed. On three occasions the color
guard was all shot away, but Uncle
Joe held the sacred emblem where
it could hutter in the breeze. II
never left his hand nor trailed the
dust, but somehow the bullets went
around him. The Mexicans had
tried to kill him, and the Yankees
tried it for four years, but the balls
were never moulded for that.
Uncle Joe was again promoted to
First Lieutenant Il believe at The
Wilderness, may have been at Cold
Harbor). He was my ideal of a
soldier, always calm, ready to meet
duty and danger, and always pres.
ent when the roll was called. He
had three names while in the army
Uncle Joe, Big Joe, and Iron Sides,
because he could not be hurt with a
ball.
1 have known Mr.. Culbreath in
war and in peace. In war he was
as brave IS Caesar, in peace as gen.
tie as Ruth. Words seem too com,
monplace to express an estimate of
Uncle Joe as citizen. He was as
loyal to truth as the needle to the
pole. He was a man>of strong con.
victions, and these convictions were
based upon the high standard of
truth, honesty, and virtue. He had
abiding faith in Christ, and a sweet
hope. He was rich in the curren-
cy of Heaven, and dying left be-
hind him the sweet fragrance of a
pure Christian character. His tran
quill life was an inspiration to those
who knew him best. As the gentle
stream gives verdure andibeauty to
meadow and forest through which
it flows, so his life, unselfsh, ten
der in his sympathiss, and spark
ling with humor that had no sting
of malice in it, was a benediction to
all who came within its influence,
and he was always ready to throw
the mantle of charity over the faults
of others, and could say with
Pope.
Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see