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About The banner of the South. (Augusta, Ga.) 1868-1870 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 1870)
y*\ .; "Ji'- •.• I / ** '^2."'•''' "*“' 4 '" S - /^S^fZT * EL > Gto ‘^viA - '■ Z^SS^SsßS^f, I i-AjST' J iU-' - __ VOL. 111. For the Banner of the South. After Years. * BY S. K. PHILLIPS. Here you shall rest your feet Where we were wont to meet, Where life was rosy as the month of June; And all its borders were, As golden as your hair, Tho' like your hair they lost their color soon. Here as the evening drew, Around the sky's pale blue, 1 Her amber curtains to enfold the day, You us'd to watch and wait, Beside the rustic gate, j Half angry at me for my long delay. You were so full ol life And eagerness. Such strife Too oft, I told you, held your peace at bay; Then you would laughing sing, “I am the bounding Spring, And you (’twas true.) the quiet Summer’s day.” I read it then, but knew Some day that thro’ and thro’ Your inmost soul, this love you laid aside, Would be the one great law, Os life to you.—'twould draw You to its heights of calm above the tide. You do not talk. What now, To you and me, if brow And cheek alike are furrow’d o’er and o’er? All vain the thought -within, — This thought: “It might have been,” We both are wiser than we were before. Life's wine is spiff'd, you say. So I once said, —to-day, I look abroad upon my garden, place, And where the vineyard grew, We planted—ine and you— Empurpl’d fruitage looks me in the face. i What doth it promise—Wine ? Perhaps—so yours and mine ; Shall this new wine be truer than the old? Shall it to heart and brain, Give peace and strength again— Cleanse out the dross and leave hut purest gold? So I believe and rest Content, supremely blest. That to my life a sob'rer love is given ; As steadfast as the stars, Bright as the glowing bars, That loom above the pearly crest of Heaven. Washington Light Infantry Monument. Dedication Services—A Monster As sembly—The City Deserted—Un veiling THE Mox un:ENT —REV. Dr. Winkler’s Poem— Speech of Gen. Hampton. [From the Charleston Courier.] Yesterday afternoon the Anniversary of the Battle of Seccssienvifle, was se lect*, and as an occasion appropriate for the Dedication of the Monument erected to the memory of the fallen members of the Washington Light Infantry. Al though the weather was lowering and the rain fell, these did net deter the citi zens of Charleston from turning out cn mosso to do honor to the memory of the breve men who had fought in their be half. At an early hour in the afternoon the principal stores were closed, and the people began to flock towards the City of the Dead, and by live o’clock the Greets of Charleston seemed deserted of the population. The various Masonic Lodges in the City marched to the depot in procession, and. were joined there by the various Fire Companies (in citizen’s dress), the Carolina Rifle Club, the va rious German Socieres, and the Hiber nian Society. A long train of thirteen ears, loaded with human freight, carried j the crowds who flocked thither. Arrived on the ground the crowd soon augmented to over 6,000; and the ceremonies began. On the platform were the ( dicers of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, Odd ' Fellows, and some of the officers of the Suivivors’ Association, General Wade Hampton, Col. Simonton, Gen. Conner, Maj. Barker, and others. • The proceedings were opened with a feeling PRAYER BY REV. E. C. EDGERTON. 0 Lord God ! Our Heavenly Father! we have assembled here to-day, in Thy presence, to dedicate to the sacred mem ory of our brethren and comrades-in arms who have lost their lives in our be half this imperfect monument and me morial of our affectionate gratitude. Standing, as it were, by the side of their graves, we lift our eyes and hearts to Thee. We thank Thee, 0 Lord, that we have been able to bring our work of love to this successful completion*, and that this monument is standing to-day as an evi dence that their patriotic devotion and unselfish sacrifice, however vain and fruit less they may seem to have been, are not, and shall not be, forgotten, or unappre ciated by us for whom they died. And we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, to hear our prayer. Let Thy kindly bene diction descend upon us and upon this our work. Grant that this stone may long remain a testimonial to departed virtue and valor. Grant that it may long incite us, and our children after us, to imitate that example of devotion to our country’s service, in good report and evil; and that it may* ever appeal to us, by the tenderest emotions of our hearts and the warmest associations of memory, to follow in the path of duty and honest conviction, with the same unshaken fideli ty aud unfaltering tread, through the darkest experiences we ...ay meet in life. And we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, that, as we stand among the graves of those who, like our fallen brethren, have passed into that world where all the mysteries of Thy Providence are revealed, these these may be impressed upon our hearts. Let us feel that we, too, shall soon see Thee face to lace ; Thy ways shall soon be known to us, also, and Thy just dealing be clear as the noonday; the mists of error, igno rance and prejudice shall forever flee, and the possibility of honest differences of opinion shall ferever cease. Let us learn, therefore, to hold fast to conviction with the calmness and consistency of princi ple, and not with the rancor of partisan zeal —knowing that this bitterness aud hate can never make what is false true, nor what is true false, Let us learn to be just and gentle to those who honestly oppose or honestly differ from us, remem bering how soon lor us, as for those whose bodies sleep around us, the differences of time will be settled by the infallible arbi trament of eternity. Let us learn to abhor pretension and deceit, knowing this, that falsehood in principle and hypocrisy in heart, however they may flourish for a season, shall triumph only for a little while, And let us always remember that the best offerings we can lay upon the altar of truth and right, are presented in trie hour of their humiliation and trial, and at the cost of sacrifice. And now, O Lord, Thy ways are in the seas, Thy paths are in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. We desire to acknowledge Thee the high and mighiv Ruler of the universe, who dost from Thv throne behold all the dweliers upon earth. Thou doest accord ing to Thy will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay Thy hand, or say un to Thee, what doest thou ? We be lievc Thou art seated on the throne, judging right, and though ciouds and darkness be about Thee, nevertheless we know that righteousness and judgment are the habitation of Thy seat. We believe that all Thy doimrs are beneficient; and though Thy thoughts be not as our thoughts, and Thy ways not as our ways, st.ll we desire to follow with patient and j >yful faith where Thou dost lead; and to stand in our lot, under Thy hand and covenanted care, until the end shall come. Us fold Thy purposes, AUGUSTA, GT-A.., JULY 2, 1870. 0 Lord! Still, according to Thy cus tom, out of evil bring forth good. Look with compassion upon the afflictions of Thy praying people. Sanctify thy father ly visitations to them. Turn Thee again and let the light of Thy countenance shine upon us. Comfort us after the time that Thou hast plagued us, aud for the years wherein we have suffered ad versity. And to Thy service we devote our selves in heart and soul and body; and to Thy glorious name we ascribe (as is our bounden duty), all might, majesty, praise, power, and dominion, henceforth and forevermore. Amen. dr. winki.er’s poem. Rev. E. T. Winkler then recited the following beautiful Poem, written by himself for the occasion: A graceful pillar in the waste, A shrine to love and memory dear, With arts and arms, and trophies traced ; The Eutaw guardians proudly rear: They bring the tender tribune here— The sculptured spoil, the laurelled prize, Which to the noblest of her name, — Her foremost on the lists of fame, — The conquered State denies. For death may come, but duty lives, And reverence and love remain : The sacrifice.that nature gives, When dust must sink to earth again, Is not the rending of the chain That bound us to the valiant shade: But Honor claims the immortal urn, For lamps that languish as they burn, And flowers that bloom to fade — All, was it not a knightly thought, That gathered from her fields of pride, And here our country’s relics brought, And laid her heroes side by side — So none their ashes might divide, Os break their brotherhood of soul ? As one, the sleeping hosts below Shall hear the final trumpet blow, And answer to the roll. As one, the gathered hosts above Renew the commerce of the free, And watch till resting Life and Love Awake at morning’s reveille. And face its kindred face shall see— The slumberers front, upon the sod Reclining now—so wan and marred ! The sentry’s, bronzed and battle-scarred, Flushed with the light of God. «• Around this templed monument 1 What memories gather, proud and grand, From Snmter's bastions brown and rent; From Wagner's dunes of billowy sand; From lines where Johnson’s beacons stand ; Where Pinckney sways His realm of blue ; Where every palm and every wave Recal the triumphs of our brave, W here Moultrie’s eagles flew. But 0 thou cynosure of eyes, Thou sceptered city by the sea! From other lands where trophies rise. Thy children bring their spoils to thee ! Accept the offerings of the free:— From Fisher, ’mid the thundering fleet, From Petersburg’s embattled lines. From Richmond’s plume of Sabbath pines Falls homage at thy feet. Thy sons beheld the invader fly Across Manassas crimson ford, And, when to battle was to die, At Avery met his countless horde ; For thee that priceless blood was poured? 0 mother! crown their Spartan martli, And lay them at its high ascent, Beneath no funeral monument But a triumphal arch ! They did not agree, but they fought. When the dear State said : “Fight for me! From death-struck hand to hand they caught. And bore aloft her palmy tree Through storms that never smote the Stra — Content its grand device to show : ’Mid thunder-clouds of wrath and hate, Burned quenchless “virtue” for the State, And ‘•valor’’ for the foe. When ail the sea swo- -ped white with sails; With spouts of fire the harvests bled; When valor pent in frozen jails, With wormy dust and ashes fed ; Drew life and courage from the dead ; Still, on our decimiated ranks Os Titans were the mountains hurled, The mercenaries of the world 'Smote front and rear and flanks, 0 hearts that only sought the right, ’Mid howling, haunted wildernesses ; O hands that bore the unequal fight With legioned perils and distresses ; O names that Love, that Glory blesses; From hoary sage to college tyro, * Each at his country's call a hero : Your legend then, Dura spiro spero , Now, Sp>e.ro dura expiro. Beyond the tomb extend your lives, And we that sacred trust may shield— The spotless honor that survives And blooms upon the battle-field. Whate’er those gory acres yield Os private worth or public good, A warring world cannot subdue; The virtues of the leal and true Are canonized in blood. To shift and veer with changing time, To cringe and fawn to frowning power, Is to our buried dead a crime, An insult so the living hour! Let martial Friendship guard her dower And place as pledges on the grave The gleaming stones, the shafts that tower With name and wreath, and sculptured flower, In honor of tiie brave. In silence now sleep all t]ie isles, That once the booming battle stirred, Save where benignant Summer smiles, As flutes and trills her mocking bird, Amid the moss-clad forest heard: The Morning’s bugles are unblown, Relieved is Evening’s restless tramp, Grey Memory sentinels the camp, Bland Nature claims her own. Her own the trunks of prostrate pine, Thronged nightly when the ‘‘church call” blew ; Her own the grasses of the line Once gemmed with blood instead of dew; Her own the century oaks that threw Their shelter o’er the Jasmine flowers:— But the sweetest genius of the place, Its joy, its beauty audits grace— Its noblest life—are ours. Resume, soft Nature, thy domain ; ileal bleeding hearts with balms of peace, But keep within thy gentle reign The magic token we release, Nor let that native virtue cease, To which this altar pile is given— Its base aglow with fields of fume, Its slabs that guard each shining name, Its spire that flames to heaven. UNVEILING TIIE MONUMENT. At this stage <t»f the proceedings the monument, which was enshrouded in the folds of a white veil, was unveiled, the old Eutaw Band playing the prayer from “Moses in Egypt.” As soon as the cover had been removed, a member of the FEtna Fire Company hung upon one of the cornices a handsome laurel wreath with the name of the company inscribed. Oilier floral contributions, (all magnolias) followed, and the monu ment was soon covered with magnolia wreaths. THE DEAD. We have already presented our rea ders with a description of the monument, which stands upon an eminence near the centre of the graunds It is of Ten nessee marble and contains the following inscriptions : NORTH SIDE. Company A. Washington Light Infantry, Hampton Legion. LIEUTENANTS. Theo, K. Klinck. W. A. Henning. SERGEANT-MAJOR. F. Forcher Hughes. SERGEANTS. E. F. Coachman. J. W. McGee. CORPORALS. 0. E. Stroheeker. K. Yeadon Smith. PRIVATES. Atkinson, C. S. Middleton, H. A. Brantley, B. B. McDonald, A. G. Blankensel, TI. Meyers, J. S. B. Bedault, J. A. Phelps, Geo. L. Blum, Juo A. Roux, H. S. Coxe, C. E. Sweet, Robert A. * Chapin, J. R. Smith, T. H. Cay, Thad. L. Smith. J. S. Ferrell, H. C. Sterling, C. M. Hughes, W. L. Suggs, Arthur. Jones, J. 0. Seaford, M. 11. Jenkins, Thos. Taylor, H. C. Jervey, J. C. Todd, W. H. Kennedy, H. E. Verdier, H. E. Leiber, 0. M. Wharton Jno. Wid. Whittcmore. EAST SIDE. (Transferred to other Commands:) BRIGADIER-GENERAL. J. Johnson Pettigrew. LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. B. J. Johnston. Robert DeTreville. CAPTAIN. H. R. Lesesne. LIEUTENANTS. Allston, J. J. P. Gbver, W. E. Bee, J. S. Glover, Leslie Dibble, Samuel W. Gregg, J. B. Fuller, Jr., G, N. Ragin, C. 11. Gardner, J. B. Seabrook, C. P. PRIVATES. Schmidt, J. M. Fleming, W. H. Graham, G. C. SOUTH SIDE. Company B, Washington Light Infantry, 25th Regiment, S. C. V. LIEUTENANTS. Robt. A. Blum, R,obt. M. Taft. Richard W. Greer, J. E. Bomar. SERGEANTS. Fleetwood Lanneau Jr., J. F. Marion. Win. Whitaker. PRIVATES. Burns, L. T. Gray, Alfred Bleakley, R. Oliver, T. P. Caldwell, J. ShapterO’Hara, W. P. Gadsden, Jr.tT. N. Saltus, Samuel Grady, E. Silcox, J. Gibbes, J. B. Tavener J. H. Gilliland, E. R. Tharin, E. B. WEST SIDE. Company A., Washington Light Infan try, 25th Regiment, S. C. Y. LIEUTENANTS. Jas. A. Ross. SERGENTS. N. Capers Owens. J. Adger Stevens. Alfred L. Olney, J.K. Dickmson. CORPORALS. J. G. Newcomen. J. F. Kellers. PRIVATES. Anderson, S. W. Jervey, Wm. C. Ballot, F. F. Klinck, Jr., John Breese, S. V. V. Lee, LS. Blackwood, J. C. Locke, F. 0. Beaseley, E. B. Muckeufuss, W. C. Burrows, S. I;. Mahoney, 1). A. Burrows, F. M. Mcdlichamp, J. W. Burn, 0. J McCabe, J. W. i Baker. H. G. Pritchard, Wm. ! Calder, James Patterson, W. N. | Dotterer. W. A. Proctor, H. G. Dooly, Wm. Petit, J. J. | Gibson, Walter E. Robinson, S. A. i Hall, John Small, Joseph J. | Jones, J. Walker Shepperd. I>. T. On the V» est panel facing the Avenue—- “The Washington Light Infantry Chari table Association, to their Fallen Comrades On wli e South panel— “DU.M SPIRO SPERO.” On the East panel— “dedicated, may, 1*70.” On the North panel— VIRTUS KT VALOR.” ADDRESS OF GEN. WADE HAMPTON. After the unveiling of the monument ! Col. Simonton introduced Gen. Wade * Hampton, who was received with loud A No. 16.
