Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-04-12

| Helen Pnp", the sister OF her moth
er; anil who in her native state bet
ter than he TO consult? The result
was. the youth was sent back TO this
state and placed in IN institution of
learning then located at Lexington,
which was afterwards removed t.
Newherrv and became Newberry
college. The idea seemed to have
been, that after a course of prepara-
,ion at Lexington, the boy would
he entered in the South Carolina
college at Columbia, of which The
Chief Justice was a graduate. But,
after year or two's successful
study at Lexington. he went back
to Kentucky to see his mother. For
some reason, the plan as to his
education was changed and he was
entered in Centre college at Dan
Vile, KY, where be studied for
some years; and next he was enter
ed IN the college al Grpencastle,
Ind, now known as De Pauw uni
versity. After his college course was
finished, he attended law lectures
for awhile, and then returned to
South Carolina 10 study in the
office of his klnsman Joseph Abney,
at Edgefield, and to be admitted 70
the bar of this state. That was in
1857 or 1858. After diligent study,
he was admitted to the bar of the
common law courts at Columbia in
1859 and to the bar of the equity
courts little later. While stu
dent here, he participated in the
gaities of youth. He was an excel
lent player of the guitar. He was
amiable and made many friends.
With it all, he was a member of
the literary club aud an omniverous
reader, and remembered to advan-
tage what he read. BY many he
was considered genius.
Soon the war came on; and in
January 1861, he enlisted in The
Edge6eld Rihemen,' company Of
which his friend Cicero Adams was
Captain. The ladies' presented the
company with flag of heavy blue
silk. On one side was the large lone
star of the state; and on the reverse
side was the palmetto tree with the
shields of the state at the base and
the coiled rattlesnake. The call then
was for troops to serve six months.
The brave young men hied away to
Charleston. Our editor, Col. Sim
kins, then wrote them: The very
noblest company of young men we
have ever seen organized, left this
village on Sunday for Charleston"
Once there, the company was in
corporated in the first regiment of
Soutl Carolina volunteers, COM
manded by Col. Macy Gregg. They
witnessed the fall Of Fort Sumter.
That being accomplished, the regi-
ment went on to Virginia. William
Henry Abney with it; and he par
tiuipated in the battle of Vienna,
the first one of the war. 1t was said
at the time that he bore himself
with great GOODNESS and gallantry.
At the end of the term of service
his company was bisbanded; and he
returned to Edgeheld, i'll with fe-
yer. He afterwards attached him
self to Capt. Ira Cromley's compa-
ny of the Salpda side Of the dis
trict and accompanied it to Colum-
bia; but his strength was not re-
stored and he had to return. On the
formation of a battalion of Sharp
shooters, of which Joseph Abney
was made major, he was rendered
the position of ordinance sergeant
of the battalion and accepted it
and went again to the war with it.
Afterwards he was transferred to
the position Of ordinance sergeant
of forces known as the End regi
ment Of South Carolina artillery.
He was with the regiment at Sc
cessionville, James Island. Artillery
duels with the enemy there lasted
many months. After the evacuation
of Charleston, he accompanied the
the End artillery, in Elliott's brig.
ade, into North Carolina and was
in the battles of Avervsboro and
Bentonv;lle, and served until the
surrender at Guilford court house.
In all this he had been distinguish
ed for his courage and bravery; and
then he did not feel that he could
formally surrender. Some of his
comrades in company X felt the
same way. They chose him to lead
them back to South Carolina; and
he did it. In his words, they fully
accepted the conditions;" out they
'nreferred TO 60 home, as they