The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03

Blni' II sucu Il youth Dnoulu Deneve
what he has been forced to read In our
schools. lie could but blush for the
South and Virginia. The true story OF
tho South. from the settlement OF
jamestown In 1907. down to this pres
ent moment--tho story OF it's religious,
military. political and material career
and advantages IL an asset that should
be made powerful in inducing our
youth TO remain at home. and con-
straining the citizenship of less fav-
ored sections to make their homes in
such favored cline. 1t is true, as
Worseley wrote. that the Southern Con
fedcracy is realm OF tombs, for 1t is
'"The land with grave In each spot
And names in the graves that cannot
be forgot
But IL thoser graves contain an Amer
lean patriot, whether he honestly fol-
lowed the fiai, of tho Union or the
s;sanncr of the States. his undying spirit
Is leading OH. and we do not seek the
living among the dead. That geo
graphical subdivision of our country
known rs the South is to-day, to say
the least, In the vanguard of tho Amer
lean Union.
we believe that Virginia is the most
fragrant and most beautiful flower In
the Southern bouquet; and that Roa-
nokc County is one OF the fairest
petals of that flower.
iiN hONC'ttil VI dTHIIeS, inc
record OF great generals. the history
OF nations may he written, and yet To-
calities and men who are factors may
he lost in the mass. Local history must
be preserved by the locality.
Roanoke was taken from Botetourt
In 1888. She WAS peoplcd by the
Scotch Irish. and tho Germans who
cane up the valley and by the de-
acendants of the cavaliers who came
across the Blue Ridge. She gave to
the colony before the Revolution, Rob
ert I'lcmning, the Christian statesman
and soldier, the friend OF Washington
one Of the heroes of Point Pleasant and
president of the Privy Council of Nir-
2inia. He succeeded Jefferson. for a
short time, as Governor of the State.
Colonel Fiemming's dauntless courage
and energy saved the State papers at
Charlottesville, when the capitol was
moved there and .Tarleton. the very
dashin{ British commander, made one
of his sudden raids. General Andrew
Lewis, OF Indian and Revolutionary
war fame, lived upon and owned the
lands on which the greater part of
Southern Salem IS built. Robert Craig,
the intimate friend of President jack
son. and Colonel Henry A. Edmundson,
the eloquent tribune of the people. were
residents Of Roanoke County and rep
resented this district I'm the Congress
OF the United States continuously, with
tho exception of two years, from 1928
TO 1850
On the 14tk of January, 1861, the
General Assembly of Virginia called
constitutional convention. whose mem
beers We're 10 be elected or February
!, and convene on the 18th day OF
that month. Before tho day OF cleo
ton South Carolina. Mississippi. Flor
ida. Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana ana
Texas had seeded and formed the
southern Confederacy on tho 4th day
or February. 1861. Two candidates pre-
scntcd themselves in Roanoke County
for this convention; the one was Will
nam watts, afterwards Colonel of the
Twcrf%-cight Virginia Regiment, who
favored immediate secession; the other
was George p. Tayloe, the Union can
didatc. Mr.. Tayloc was elected and in
the convention voted against secession
until the Federal government demand
ed. April 10. that Virginia should fur
nish troops to subjugate the then or
gained Southern Confederacy He re-
turned 10 his home and sent his four
boys 10 defend Virginia. One of these
was George f.. Tayioe, Colonel of the
Eleventh Alabama Regiment, wounded
Mt the Crater, and acting as brigadicr-
general at Appomattox. Another was
Lieutenant James l.. Tayloe, of the
Raleigh. killed in the naval enga &c
inent preceding the battle between the
Merri,nac and Monitor. The other two
were Major John w. Tayloe, second ad-
Jutant Virginia cavalry, and I.onax
Th?lnc, adjutant of the same regiment.
who was killed at Raccoon Ford. Cap
tain IL NJ Rogers. commended In gen
erals orders by General Fitzhugh Lee
Tor conspicuous courage and General T.
4. Munford. married two of Colonel
Tayloc's daughters.
In 1911 four companies from Roa-
noke County were organized at Salem
ana one at Botetourt Springs. These,
with men from Roanoke County who
preferred to volunteer in other com
T::tndS, aggregated o. men, which was
more than oDc-siNth OF the entire white
population of the county
The men did not volunteer TO fight
and did not fight for secession or
slavery. for Roanoke remained true to
the Union until the issue was pre-
battle in defense Of their own fire.
sides, neighbors and soil or turn fratri-
cidal hands against their own brethren.
Twas not glory that they fought for
through those weary years of
pain,
Though the glory fell upon them 40 G.
ne'er may fall again.
ihat sentiment inspired them which
ms men TO make them great,
1--we oi hearthStone. friends and
neishbors. and devotion TO the
state.
Not as rebels. but as warriors. they
sent forth their famous cry
Not az traitors, bu- rs freemen. thew
went forth to do or dic!"
Salem became the rendezvous for
the gathering forces of tho surround
ing counties Here Robert c. Allen.
young lawyer of Salem. and a graduate
OF the Virginia Military Institute. was
placed IN general command, and bv
urn ara instruction nodded the raw
troops into soldiers. Robert {, Ala
afterwards became colonel VT tha
lwehty-eishth Virginia. one of the
regiments composing Picketts Diyi-
son. ne was with his command until
Ge,'yspurs' where he led the Twenty
eighth to the stone wall. After civ
regiincntal color bearers had been shot
Gown IN that maalstrom Of death. Col
onei Allen, the blood streaming from n
wound In MS shoulder. seized the flag.
ana, waving