The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-07-30
HONOR HEROES
OF CLARENDON,
WITH IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY
COUNTY SHOWS ITS LOVE
FOR OLD SOLDIERS.


here today attracted an immense
throug of people from all sections
of the county and a feeling of pa
triotic enthusiasm seemed to per-
wade the entire assemblage.
A band from Charleston was
present and furnished excellent
music at intervals throughout the
exercises of the day.
The first feature was an automo-
bile parade in which about two
score cars took part, taking for
ride over town all the veterans
present, about so in number, the
speakers of the day, the ladies COM
posing the monument committee
and the little girls who had been
selected to draw the cards at the
unveling of the statue.
JH Lesesne, Esq, presided and In
troduced the speakers, who were Jno
McSwain, Esq, of Greenville and
Col James Armstrong of Charleston.
The addresses were of an unusually
high order and were heard with
great interest. The business houses
of the town closed during the exer-
cises.
The monument, beautifully SYM
metrical and chaste in design, is 26
feet high and consists of triple
base, a die containing inscriptions
on all four sides, shaft bearing IN
raised sculpture, Confederate flag
dropping from broken staff and
the whole surmounted by a statue
representing young soldier stand
ing at parade rest with an old-time
muzzle loading musket. The ma
terial of the monument is Winns-
boro granite, except the statue,
which is of Italian marble. The
inscription on the four sides Of the
die are all in raised lettering and
are intended to be read progress
sively from north to east, south and
west. On the base of the north
side is inscribed in ornate capitals:
Our Heroes" while above on the
north face of the die is this inscrip-
ton:
Erected
To the soldiers from Clarendon
County who served in
the war for Southern independence,
Charleston1S61. Appomattox 1865. "
On the east side of the die is the
following inscription:
Hope, like the eastern sun, rose
bright in the heart of the Southern
er for home government and the
Confederate States of America.
Contending against armies over
whelming in numbers and with re-
sources inexhaustible, he fought
with patriotism undaunted, and
love of country unexcelled in his
tory. Unawed by fear of defeat,
he defended the sacredness of home
and the sovereignty of his State
Then on the south side is the fol-
lowing inscription:
"Not to disrupt righteous union
or a true republic did the Confede-
rate soldier take up arms, but to de-
fend cherished principles of civil
rights did he leave his all to do
battle unto death. Though over
powered by force he was unbroken
in spirit; offering his life as a
crowning sacrifice he faced the fate
of war; unconquered in defeat; un-
dismayed in Divine faith; undis-
couraged in hope for the future.
Untiring in rebuilding"
Finally on the west side the fol-
lowing inscription appears;
In 1914 when this memorial is
erected to the Confederate soldiers.
when the sun of life of the few who
remain hovers in the western horiz-
on; as we view their patriotism
through half a century past; as the
time stage of their deeds recedes,
their lustre brightens. Generations
unborn will proudly claim their an
cestry. Many answered the last
roll call in battle; others have an
swered since; the remaining few
must soon answer. Their memory
lives.
Peace, Reverence, Union!'
These several inscriptions were
written by H Lesesne, loyal son
of the Confederacy, to whom is due
the credit for the inception and
most of the earlier work looking to
the erection of the monument. The
work was finally carried to success
full completion by a special commit |
tee of devoted, patriotic women
COMPOSED as follows: Mrs Joseph
Sprott, chairman; Mrs F o Rich
ardson, secretary; Mrs D M Brad
Low Mre OR Gieper and Misses