The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-05-15
Memorial at Rivers Bridge.

On last Thursday, the Sth instant,
the writer had, for the first time in
about twenty-five years, the pleasure
of attending the memorial services at
Rivers Bridge.
Thirty-six years ago the writer was
one of a small band of citizens to Or
ganize a memorial association at that
place, and was honored by being
elected president of the association,
Mr.. ]. B. Kearse vice president, and
Mr.. John F. Breland secretary.
The bodies of all the soldiers we
could locate were removed to one
spot, committees of ladies and gen
tlemen were appointed to solicit sub
scriptions to raise monument to the
soldiers killed in battle at this place
On February 4th, 1865. This stone
is small and inadequate to do justice
70 the memory of those We wished to
honor, but it was the best we could
do at that time. This fact caused me
to write this article, to plead for
larger shaft to be erected in the place
of the one now standing sentinel over
the patriotic dead. Will not the Riv-
ers' Bridge Memorial Association be-
gin a movement to get larger and
more BETTING stone? I am sure the
patriotic people of our Southland, II
called upon, would respond generous
" and be proud of the privilege or
contributing. When this was sug-
gested to a veteran on the memorial
grounds he remarked in a sad voice
that this would soon all be ended,
as after the veterans had all passed
aVav there would be very little IN
terest taken in the affair." Is IT
possible that this prophecy will prove
correct? l can not think so. While
majority of the veterans in gray
have passed over the river and the
others are waiting on the border
land for the bugle call to join their
comrades on the other shore, our
children and grandchildren, on and
on for centuries, will love to honor
the Confederate soldier. Let the
Younger generations have camps and
associations of sons and grandsons,
daughters and grandaughters, to do
reverence to those who wore the gray.
If a larger stone should be erected
at Rivers Bridges l would suggest
that on one side of it be inscribed
suitable homage to the ladies of that
place and surrounding country for
the services they rendered the sold
iers who were wounded that Febru-
ary day in 1865. Some Of those
ladies were present last Thursday
who I know were faithful in nursing
the wounded after that battle. Their
memories should be perpetuated in
marble.
N.
able president of the memorial asso-
citation, presided at the meeting on
the Sth. He was surgeon in the
Confederate army and ministered to
some of the wounded on this same
battlefield.
At the request of the president,
Rev. E. A. Mcdowell opened the
meeting of the memorial association
with a suitable prayer. DR.. kirkland
in introducing the speaker of the
day, Mr.. Richard I. Manning, of Sum-
ter, gave description of that section
and the good people who lived there
that was intensely interesting; called
the names of the most of the families;
told how prosperous and happy they
were till the war cloud burst upon
them: how promptly the men re-
sponded to the call in defence of
their homes; how valiantly they
fought for their rights, and though
their cause went down in defeat, out
numbered. overpowered, their men,
ory should be perpetuated by genera
tions yet unborn.
Mr.. Richard |. Manning, the regu-
lar speaker of the day, gave a learn
ed and eloquent description of the
causes that led up to and brought
about the war and our justification
in defending our homes and country.
R. G.. BRABHAM.
Ellenton, S. c., May 12, 1913.