French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-22
CALL TO ARMS
AS IN 81?
Henderson County May be Called Upon
to Furnish Soldiers as in 1861.
She Will do Her Part.
OLD LETTER REPRODUCED.

A letter is reproduced below, pub
lished by lady from Hendersonviile
to relatives out of town il 1861. The
contents of, the letter are particularly
interesting just now, while the United
States is on the brink OF war with
Germany. 1t is highly possible that
war will be declared before this artl-
Gle is published, as it is a known fact
that President Wilson is seriously
considering such a step. Should this
country go to war, Henderson county
will stand by it's traditional records
in furnishing. men and money to de-
fend the interests of this country.
1t is we'll known fact that the
mountaineers of Western North Caro-
lima have proven excellent soldiers in
every war that the U. S. been engaged
in. There is at present one military
company here, but when call for VOL
unteers is made by President Wilson
hundreds of young men will leave this
county to fight for their country.
The following is an exact reproduc-
ton of a letter written by Mrs. Ripley
and is a clear description of the con-
ditions here at the opening of the civil
war:
Hendersonville, N. c., May 13, 1861.
Yesterday (the Sabbath) I was an
interested witness of most touching
scene. and as there is contained in it
much of example, will describe It for
the benefit of your many readers. -
- You all know that North Carolina is,
politically fairly aroused, and this VII
lage and county are not backward In
the good work. Several companies
have been organized an" the "Hender-
son Guards, under the command OF
Capt. Shipp are now en- route to Ashe-
vile.
Of the ninety men who compose this
company only two or three are mar
ried men. The remainder are hardy,
vigorous. young mountaineers. Eager,
/ Iimpetuous and daring, we would as soon
expect to see their own mountain tor
rents stayed and driven back to their
sources as these mountain boys return
defeated or dishonored. -
But our hopes do not lie altogether
in the might of their arms, the strength
of their purpose, or even the justice Of
their cause These youth are the
very jewels of the county; the sons of
Craying mothers, they are sent forth
il tears, their commission baptized by
prayer. Let Us give you the instance
to which we at first alluded.
+, Yesterday a few of them assembled
at their Bible class, when the leader
of Their class and their minister. CDR.
Parks. of the Presbyterian church in
Hendcrsonville) waving the customary
lesson OF instruction arose, and after
q few impressive words of warning,
encouragement and direction, present
ed each of them with a Bible given by
the lady members of the class. We
will not soon forget the affectionate
tenderness, the earnest entreaty OF
their beloved teacher and pastor, as
he besought them to make the precious
gift ."the man of their counsels"; and
cold and hardened must have been the
heart that did not thrill at the picture
of true bravery which he presented in
the Christian character, bearing un-
moved the jest of the scoffer, or firmly
defending, as a true soldier of the
Cross, the principles of truth, and OF
that freedom by which, the principles
of truth. and of that freedom by which
Christ maketh his children free"
1t was no shame to the manhood of
mingled with those Of the congrega-
tion who had assembled for afternoon,
worship, and as the voice of prayer
arose every heart was lifted with it's
! full burden of tearwul petition to that
! God who mas promised to hear and
answer. Can a cause, watered by such
tears, baptized by such prayc" be un-
| holy? If we believe that the Spirit
dictates prayer, must we not believe
| that Cod will, that he does hear us?
AS we looked upon the young men
accepting with bowed heads and over
| flowing the sacred gift of their young
companions, we felt that they could
not be conquered. and our faith gave
US this promise, ''He that goeth forth
and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with re-
joicing, bringing his sheaves with
him"
Indeed the whole of that hundred
and twenty-sixth Psalm seemed to be
peculiarly applicable to us at this
! time. For surely we have been "like
them that dream" for "the Lord hath
done great things for u.s.
Have you time for more?
Let me tell YOU something of the
women of Hendersonville.
The call came suddenly to them that
these volunteers were to be equipped
for the field. Matrons and maidens,
the old and the young, We'd with each
other who should give the most as
s1stance. Uniforms. shirts, KNAPP
sacks, even tents were to be made, and
to avoid sewing on the Sabbath, these
wives and daughters of Henderson
vile, God bles them, denied them
selves natural rest, and worked faith
fully, cheerfully, earnestly, until every
soldier was supplied. We believe
women delight in works of superero-
CATION, for not content with their Sc
we're work, they resolved their volun-