The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-10-13


Although the Southern Cross o
Honor comes as a gift from th'
Daugbters of the Confederacy Mrs
Mary Ann Cobb Irwin originated the
nlan of the presentation of the Gross
of Honor 1T was an inspiration,
as she herself says, with no previous
+honght." The angel of consolation
mnst have inspired her when she
said in her quiet manner: Il think
IL would be we'll for us if we could
give a cross of honor to our veter-
ans. England gives the Victoria
Cross. France the Legion of Honor
Germany gives her iron cross; why
should we not give all the honors we
can to our veterans7" There was no
sovereign they might look to for hon
ors. Their commander in chief had
long since passed away, so from
whom could the tribute come more
appropriately than from the Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy?
Mrs. S. E. Gabbett, native of Sa-
vannah, the designer of the Cross,
expressed her admiration of her
plans, and assisted her in bringing
the matter before the convention in
1899. She herself wrapped in an at
mosphere of by-gone days, cherishing
an abiding love for her dashing hero
husband. threw herself into the work
of immortalizing the men in gray
with an energy which amounted to a
passion. She was elected custodian
and later elected honorary custodian
for life. ssts4 es4Ns AKA 4. 63sgs ~~.
8 In course of time the old veterans
were passing away so rapidly and
the rush was so great on the three
Memorial Days, it was deemed advis-
able to have an extra day for the be-
stowal Of the Cross between July list
and January 18th, to be selected by
each state division. At the conven-
ton in 1908 the Georgia division
found it necessary for an extra day
All Saints Day, November LIST, was
selected. This is why we meet today
for the last bestowal.
MY greeting in the past has been
to the Confederate veterans; today
it is mostly to Sons of Confederate
Veterans. 1t is one of sadness and
yet one of pleasure. We miss the
loved ones; yet we are reminded that
each year musters whole battallions
of wearers,
And soon will be missed this token
so dear;
But ages to come will remember with
honor
The man who'd the right this
bronze emblem to wear"
With our hearts full of love we
greet you sons of Confederate veter-
ans. I feel somewhat encouraged
that the time has come when you
begin to recognize the necessity that
truthful and just record of the
deeds of your fathers shall go upon
the pages of history for future gener-
ations to read, admire and, if neces-
sary, emulate their patriotic exam
pie.
In the language of General Evans,
Terrell county and it's soldiers made
a grand record that should be known
to future generations. One of the
best companies that fought with me
from the first to the last came into
my brigade from your county, and
some of them still live and can give
you information of their thrilling ser
vice
Few know that only few miles
out near the roadside lies the first
victim on the altar of patriotism from
Terrell county. Robt. j. Hayes, who
went out in the prime of young man
hood, was killed at Santa Rosa Is
land, Fla, Oct. 10th, 1861. The
modest little stone tells its own sto-
ry: HE gave his life for his coun-
try"
Capt VIM. C. Thornton was the
first soldier laid to rest in Dawson
cemetery during those stormy days
this November 81 years ago. All the
history of the part the men of Ter
rell county took in that struggle OF
1876 lies buried with them except
the little obtained in the certificates
given for the Southern Cross of Hon
or. There is no duty more binding
on a people than that of preserving
and cherishing the memory of their
patriotic dead. 1t is a busy world,