The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-27
WILKINSVILLE

Mr.. Editor: want to take off my
hat and from the depth of my heart
thank Mrs. B. G.. Clifford for what
she has done and is still doing to pre-
serve the records of the Union county
soldiery during the war between tn.
States. Why they were and what
they did is comon heritage which
belongs to this and all future genera
tions which they should be proud of.
The diary and memories of Ma Tor
James B. Steadman which this noble
lady has brought to notice and placed
upon record is an act for which we
can never compensate her. Hers is a
labor of love. Your last issue of the
paper was a daisy, and many Incl
dents mentioned are still fresh in
the minds of the survivors who will be
careful to file away for future ref
erence. The history of that war has
been our hobby for many, many years
and we are perfectly willing to bu
called "crank" on this subject if
such appellation is more acceptable
to our censors. They are welcome to
all they can make out of it.
That Mrs. Clifford has the thanks
of the survivors of that war as well
as their loyal sons and daughters is
foregone conclusion and you too.
Mr.. Editor, will be gratefully remem-
bered for what you have done in help
ing to preserve these hallowed mem
orles. Yours, too was labor of love
In which you can expect no reward
other than that which comes from
a consciousness of duty we'll done.
From what the u. D. G. have done
and are doing and will continue to 90,
some day the South's history in tha.
war will take it's proper place among
the text books of the nation and the
men who made it will be revered as
they should be.
"Bright angels looking from the
skies
Behold no holier spot of ground
Than where defeated valor lies
BY woman's love and beauty crown
ed."
Congressman D. E. Finley, of tho
5th Congressional District has intro
duced bill in congress to have a full
and complete roster of the men the
South furnished in that war, togeth-
er with other data now in possession
of the war records Office at Washing
ton. This will fill space in Ameri-
can history that has been vacant for
more than fifty years and which 9TH
erwise must be shut out for all time
to come with the collapse of the Con-
federacy. Its muster rolls and army
records went into the hands of the
federal government and they have
been stored away in the vaults of
the war department offices ever since
and it is only scraps of Southern his
tory that has been brought to light.
Vfc fy.rrn hot J.
both flags and other paraphernalia Of
every equipment were destroyed (or
disposed of in some way) when it was
a settled fact that the Confederacy
must go; yet the federal authorities
were very dilligent in gathering up
every thing that could be found as
souvenirs tof the greatest conflict
that the worldshas ever known. There
are the recQtdB and other/
5f That connct Sll6t MR. Finleyys bin
is intending to preserve and which
we feel sure it will accomplish. Our
state has almost everything in it's
power to duplicate The rolls of the
meSri+t Il furnished ARiisshaeed the Confederate
army, but they are as yet far from
be're complete in every detail. Only
a few hoary heads can be seen here
and there to tell the tale and it's d
sad fact that
"Day by day our ranks are thinning
One by one we disappear;
And at each succeeding roll call,
Fewer comrades answer, here"
But notwithstanding all these
calamities we are proud that we lived
at that time-every one of us, and
have been permitted to enjoy all these
years of our life in the best way we
could. And most especially that we
have been permitted to form many
pleasant acquaintances among the
many readers of The Times who have
been so lenient towards our weakness
and imperfections and to see that the
dear old paper is taking on a new
lease of life and is Frightening SO
NOW homes with its wise comments.
fully realize the fact that if we have
done nothing good it is not because
of want of opportunity and we have
no one to blame but our sweet self.
Mrs. "Vox" is still at our side, the
same loyal, faithful and loving help
mate she has been all these years and
the sweetness of her life intensifies
with advantage of time For twenty
ei"ht consecutive years she has stood
before her Sabbath school class try
to teach the younger generation that
there is brighter and better life be-
yond. How far she has succeeded O..
how sadly she has failed she will new
or know this side of the Great Be-
yond. She has the blessed assurance
that the "laborer is worthy of his
hire"