The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-12-10
CAPTAIN CHARLES
WESLEY BOYD,
Of the 18th South Carolina Regiment,
G. S. A.
BY Mrs. l.. J. Hames.

ISpeaklng OF the Confederate soldiers
Major General Hooker of the United
States Army said: "Search the world
over, and you will find nothing like
them" How true this is of the brave
sons of Union county, particularly so
of Captain Charles Boyd, husband of
our esteemed honorary member, Mrs.
Maria Boyd.
shall not attempt to write an
article on this noble man, but read a
beautiful tribute written by Professor
Means Davis, classmate and friend
of Captain Boyd.
| Charles Wesley Boyd was born at
Walterboro, S. c., March 9th, 1885.
His father, Dr. Robert Boyd, was a
physician at the time, but afterwards
gave up his practice to enter the min
istry of the Methodist church, in
which he spent many fruitful years;
being well known in various parts of
the State as preacher of force, and
man of weight in his church.
| The Boyds were Scotch Irish, hav-
ing come to this country from the
north of Ireland, but originally from
Kilmarnock, in Scotland, branch of
the family having once been in pos
session of the castle of that name.
Charles was second son and one of
a large family of children. He was
sent to the preparatory school at
Cokesbury, and from there entered the
South Carolina college. Here he took
high mark as student from the
first. He became a member of the
Euphradian society, and in his junior
year took the medal in that society for
medal given by the college for an es-
say on Sir James Macintosh. He
graduated from the college. He then
went to Germany to the University of
Cottengen, where he maintained a
nigh stand, graduating after two
years with the degree of doctor of
laws.
Mr.. James Lowndes, in an address
at an alumni banquet held n Charles
ton year or two ago, Spe ks of him
as follows: 81 cannot close these re-
marks without performing the pious
office of bearing my witness to the re-
markable ability of Charles Boyd. I
shall always remember the attic nights
in his little room in far-away Ger
man university town, where he daz-
zled his companions by his learning
and ability. 1t was an evil day when
lie fell at Charlottesville in the front
of the battle"
He returned home in 1858 and stud
led law at Union, in the office of Judge
Goudelock, whose second daughter,
Maria, he married.
He began the practice of law at
Onion in partnership with Judge Will
liam Wallace, in conjunction with
whom he edited the "Union Times"
| In 1860 he threw himself heart and
soul into the secession movement, and
made political speeches throughout his
county. He went to the coast at the
opening of hostilities in 1861, was
made orderly sergeant, and was pres
ent at the taking of Fort Sumter.
He went to Virginia with Gregg's
First regiment, and when it was dis
'anded, returned to Union, where he
1ised company, received a captains
commission and joined the Fifteenth
South Carolina regiment.
He was with his command through
out the campaign in Virginia until he
was killed at the battle of Chancel-
lorsville, May End, 1868.
When Colonel DeSaussure was in
formed of his death he said: "Cover
him with the regimental flag, for his
are the shoulders that should have
borne it,"
General Kershaw said: "Our State
has sustained great loss"
Thus passed away in the full tide
and promise of his youth one of South
Cardinals most loyal sons.
In estimating mans character it
is always illuminative to know the
impression made by his presence upon
his contemporaries. The impression
made by Captain Boyd on the fellow
college students and friends in after
life seems well expressed by the ia
nous phrase of Matthew Arnold,
Sweetness and light" He was a
born student, lover of art and lit
erature, brilliant conversationalist,
and withal, so genial and urbane, so
kindly and sincere that wherever he
came men, women and children were
at once his friends.
Under normal conditions he would
never have chosen the career of a SOL
'ier. War, with it's hardships and tur-
MOL, it's suffering and bloodshed, was
abhorrent to him. But he was en-
dowed with the highest order of cour-
'Ge, and an unwavering devotion to
duty, and wherever duty called he
went without question. He believed
firmly in the righteousness of the
South's cause, and in the obligation
of each one of her sons to give him
self freely for it. His was not the
enthusiasm of the young and ambi-
tious soldier who goes into battle to
achieve name and fame for himself