Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-09-06

cd more than their share.
"The first man killed in the battle
at Bethel was Henry l.. Wyatt Of
North Carolina. General Longstreet,
on being asked what state furnished
the bravest soldiers for the South re-
piled that he had always found more
dead North Carolinians on the field
Of battle. This statement from one
Of the great commanders Of the Con
federacy. should add additional weight
to the evidence of the bravery of oul
soldiers during the Civil War.
Surely. North Carolina has just
cause to feed proud Of the record Of
her soldiers during tho Civil War.
First to shed their blood in defense
Of the South and the last to surrender,
their bravery was equaled only by
their loyal devotion to the Southern
cause.
And while We turn the pages Of oui
war record with pride we cannot but
fsel that =.
The paths Of glory ! ''''"
Lead but to the grave
The war was q great tragedy In
our nations history. The suffering
endured by our soldiers can never be
truly described. The battlefield retain.
ed its toll of death but disease claim.
Cd about as many. The soldiers who
survived were many of them disabled
Tor life either from wounds or from
disease.
"The Civil War cost us thousands
Of our bravest men and left desolate
homes and weeping women and child.
rem In every part Of our state from
tho mountains to the sea. No country
escaped the sorrow and suffering Of
this dreadful war. Watauga, though
q small county In population at that
time. furnished . large number Of
soldiers for the Conefedarcy. Many of
these lost their lives, either in battle.
by disease or from other causes. The
first soldier from Watauga county to
give his life for the South was Abner
Smith Of Silverstein. When the first
call to arms was sounded and the land
of his forefathers was threatened with
invasion, he cast his lot with the
South and with many other men from
Watauga was mustered into the 37th
Regiment Of N. C. Infantry.
"The 37th Regiment was sent to the
eastern part Of this state and took part
In the battle Of Newbern. After this
battle the Confederate forces fell
back to Kinston and here March "a,
1862 Abner Smith was killed by the
accidental discharge Of q gun in the
hands Of careless comrade. Although
not killed in battle Abner Smith gave
his life for the Southern cause.
History shows that North Carolina
stands first in whatever she under.
takes. North Carolina has many his.
toric facts for which she has never
been given credit by some. Situated
between Virginia on the one hand and
South Carolina on the other, and al
ways very modest state. she did
not proclaim the facts as the other
two states who have made the welkin
ring. o. It were. with their deeds OF
valor. For every fact that they car
give we can give one better. The first
settlement Of America was made In
l7S5 on Roanoke Island. N. c. The
first white child born on American
soN was on this island.
"N0rth Carolina had q tea party al
Bdenton and one at Wilmington some
time before the noted one in Boston
Mass, and the participants were moi
disguised a. Indians q they were
but boldly proclaimed that they woult
not be taxed unjustly and threw thu
tea overheard. She declared her in
dependence Of the British crown II
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County. MAJ
20, ITS. more than q year before Il
was declared in Philadelphia, Pa.
but the grandest of all-Norti
Carolina was first at Bethel, farthes
1t Chicamauga and Gettysburgh ant
last ct Appomattox.
1T was in the hour Of the last marcl
Of our troops that General Lee said
God bless, North Carolina In tn,
late Cuban war the first man killed Il
the army was Lieut.. William Shipp
Of Charlotte. N. G. In the navy tn,
first man killed was Worth Basley
Of Raleigh, N. G., and North Caro-
lima troops placed the first America,
!, flag on Moro Castle, Cuba.
"The first interment In Arlington
Cemetery was George L. Rhinehart
q Confederate soldier Of the 26th an,
: 23rd North Carolina Infantry.
|, "They ray North Carolina ID slov
!, in enlisting in the present war. Yea
North Carolina is slow; and yet some
how she usually manages 10 reach tn
, front in, time for the crucial moment
North Carolina was slow in the Wa
, Between the States. But sOmeho,
' after she did secede, North Carolinian
/ were always so near the front tina
4 after Gettysbursh so per cent 6f Mort
. Catolina's men were left ON the fiel
! Of honor, many Of them lying furthe
within the enemy's lines than the mA
Of any other Southern State. 90 slo'
II North Carolina that sha could nc