The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-12

Under the shade of towering gum
trees, many Of whose tops had been
cut of by cannon balls, crowd of
several hundred persons gathered
Wednesday afternoon on the recently
built up causeway across the Turkey
creek swamp at Dingle's Mill to pay
honor TO the men of the South who,
at duty's call, had responded in de-
Tense Of their homes and with an
propriate ceremonies to unveil a tab
let marking the site of the battle of
Dingle's Mill. The oration. of the oc-
casion was delivered by Prof. S. III.
Edmunds of this city, who in eloquent
and fitting words eulogized the men
who had lost their lives in the battle
and paid honor to those who had talk
en- part. but whose lives had been
spared to their country.
The occasion was the forty-eiehth
anniversary Of the battle Of Dingle's
Mill and had been brought about by
the persistent efforts Of the members
OF Dick Anderson Chapter, United
Daughters Of the Confederacy, to
erect fitting memorial tablet at this
place TO mark the site of the battle
and to commemorate the heroism of
those who had lost their lives here
In defense Of their country. Their
persistence had been rewarded for
recently the county commissioners
took up the matter and under the
supervision Of Prof. NJ. Goode Homes
of the University Of South Caroline, a
over the stream and it is In one of
the posts of this bridge that the tab
let has been placed.
The bridge is built for permanency
and will probably last for hundreds
of years. Supervisor Pitts has added
to the appearance Of the place and the
convenience of the public by raising
and widening the old causeway across
the swamp, SO that it will be in keep
ing with the magnificent bridge which
has been constructed.
The exercises were not long, but
they were very impressive. Mr.. Perry
Moses, commandant Of Dick Ander-
son Camp, u. c. V, presided.
The exercises were commenced by
selection from the Sumter Band,
which was followed by short, but
beautiful prayer by the Rev. j. b.
wilson. Another selection was rem
dered by the band and it was while
the band was playing this selection
that the tablet was unveiled. The
girls who performed this part Of the
ceremony were: Miss Aliene Hardy, a
niece of Mr.. A. j. Moses, one Of those
who took part in the battle; Miss Cor
neiia Brower, granddaughter of
Col. j. ID. Graham, another participa-
tor in the battle; Miss Marie Lee Gov
ington, and Pauline Loring Lee. great
granddaughters OF Col G.. w. Lee,
who commanded the Confederate
forces in the attack made upon the
enemy at this point; and Miss Eva
Mlchaux' granddaughter of Mr.. NJ.
j. Michaux, one who took part in the
battle.
When the drapery was drawn back
by these little girls the marble tab
let was relieved. The inscriptions
read: This tablet marks the site of
the Battle Of Dingle's Mill, fought
April 9th, 1865. between Potter's
Brigade and the Reserve South Caro-
lima Militia, G. :. a. Erected by Dick
Anderson Chapter, L. ID. c."
Following the music, Mr. Perry
Moses introduced the orator of the
occasion. Prof. =. ii. Edmunds then
made his address which was short
and To the point. He spoke Of the
circumstances which had caused the
battle and of the battle itself. In elo-
qucnt words he paid honor to those
who had taken part in the battle,
those who were left. as well as those
who had fallen
The address was as follows:
We stand upon hallowcd ground,
hall"wcd because baptized with our
brothers blood. 1t was here that the
gallant Mcqueen fcll: here that
Pamparcy from Louisiana, in sum
ter ON sick furlough. brave almost
to boldncss, shed his lifc's blood,
Will" cheering his comrada ON: here
fell also Thomson, Long. Recdcr, and
Iiarhin. Why? What occasion de
mandod that thcs" men brave and
tru" should die? because they heard
the call to duty, they heard the voice
of love summoninG them to the de-
Tense of their homes ana nrcsidcs. ana
they We're not disobcdicnt to the call.
ON the 18th of April 1868 order