The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-05-02
RIVERS BRIDGE MEMORIAL.
Annual Address by Col. d. S. Hender-
of Aiken.

The annual memorial exercises at
Rivers Bridge were held last Thurs
day. The exercises this year were
attended by large crowd, and quite
a number of old veterans, who are
now growing scarce, were to be seen
about the grounds. About twenty
five veterans occupied places on the
stage.
The exercises were presided over
by Hon. B. D. Carter, of this city,
who acted in this capacity for the
venerable president of the Rivers
Bridge Memorial association, DR.. N.
F.. Kirkland. The meeting opened
with very feeling prayer by Rev. P.
D. Risinger, of Ehrhardt, after which
Mr.. Carter made short Introductory
talk. Music for the occasion was
furnished by the Dixie orchestra, of
Bamberg.
A very interesting part of the exer-
cises was a short address by Mr. S. L.
Thompson, a Georgia veteran. Mr..
Thompson was stationed at the time
of the battle at Rivers Bridge at
Broxton bridge, where it was thought
the federal troops would attempt a
crossing over the Salkehatchie. In
stead of crossing at Broxton bridge,
however, the attempt was made at
Rivers Bridge, where the battle took
place.
After the exercises were over, the
veterans marched to the monument,
where the remains of the defenders
of Rivers Bridge are buried, and dec
Grated it with flowers.
COL D. S. Henderson, of Aiken,
was the orator of the day. Mr.. Hen
derson was introduced in a short
speech by Mr.. Carter.
In opening his extemporaneous ad-
dress, which was delivered without
notes or manuscript of any kind, Col.
Henderson felicitated himself on be-
ing privileged to attend the meeting
of the people of Colleton, Hampton,
Barnwell and Bamberg counties on
the historic spot, where was fought
the battle of Rivers Bridge, between
small band of Confederate forces
and portion of the right wing OF
Sherman's army, in the spring of
1865. He said that he was proud Of
the fact he himself was born in this
section of the State, for he was ma
tive of old Colleton county, and he
looked upon Colleton and the coun-
ties adjoining it as embracing his own
people; that he was always devoted
to their traditions and interests, and
that they had nothing to be ashamed
of in their history in the past, as they
had always been faithful to every
call of patriotism and public duty.
Col. Henderson referred to the fact
that he had addressed the people at
this historic place twice before. In
1887 on the invitation of the associa-
ton he had come to this place in
company with the late John W.
Holmes, of Barnwell, to whom he
paid tribute. Again, in 1902, thir-
ty-seven years after the civil war, he
addressed the people here, and he re-
minded them of what he told them
that General Sherman in his great
book on the war told of the fight at
Rivers Bridge and the Importance of
it, and related the fact that in going
from Savannah through South Caro-
lima he followed his right wing, which
was led by General Logan, because
he expected when he got to the South
Carolina railway, about Midway, a
great battle would have to be fought,
as that. was quite strategic point,
and the capture of the railroad very
important matter, but to his utter
astonishment when he got in reach
of the railroad his foragers reported
Continued on page 5, column 3D.