A forgotten chapter in
the life l«i*tor.v of the
last surviving officer of
the Confederate Army,
who celebrates his 97th
birthday next week.
«М
Mery W inder Osborne
“Born of a noble prinrrlr line
"And heir to every impulse fine
“For near a century of life’s *pun
“He’» lived lo »erve hi* fellow man."
TO live ninely-reten year» it
in itself exceptional. Hut to
live a life of ninety-seven
year» packed full of haxard. and
serviceable work U a real achieve¬
ment. Such i» the noble record of
a North Carolinian to whom no one
part of the commonwealth lay» ex¬
clusive claim — a rilixen of the whole
Mate — Capt. Samuel A ’Court A. he
who, on September 13, at Raleigh,
•ill celebrate hi» 97th birthday.
A Dutinguuhcd Record
I Wended frotu one of North
Carolina'» most distinguished fami¬
lies with one exception leading hi»
claw for thrve year* at the United
State* Naval Academy, nerving the
Confederacy for the duration of the
war; captured ami exchanged, pro¬
moted by General l’ender for ef¬
ficiency and bravery, under fire con¬
tinuously for two month* while in
command of Fort Wagner, un*ur-
rvndcnd when the war ended, terv-
ing hi. »tate in day» of reconitruc-
tion, alway» progre»»ive in editorial
leadership, writing with truth and
courage the hiitory of hi» Hate and
the live» of it* great men, maintain¬
ing a home in which the lest
principle* of Christian cilizrnihip
are exemplifir-l, appointed Clerk of
the Federal Court under a Demo¬
cratic administration hut retained in
that oSec by the Republican* until
he resigned, and living today in the
privacy of hi» home, with mind alert
and a cheerful »pirit that promise.
When Ashe was
at Ft. Wagner
Captain Samuel A’Court A»he, of Raleigh.
the rontinurd benediction of even
longer life — thi» i‘ an epitome of
the life of Capt. Alb*.
Well informed North Carolinian»
are familiar with ino»t of the thing»
mentioned above but there is one
thort period of hi» service in the
Confederate Army of which little
ha» been recorded: yet thi* event
alone, leeautc of it* unique and di»-
tingu idled heroiim,
•»■
enough to
have made Capt. Albe’a reputation
a» a soldier »afe for all time. We
refer lo hi* conduct a» Commander
of Fort Wagner, near Charleston.
South Carolina.
Trained for the Navy
A »ra voyage at the age of eight
probably mated in hi. youthful
mind the thought of entering the
»er« ice of the United State* Navy.
The voyage
«»»
to Savannah on the
way to a school at Macon, Ga.. where
he waa prepared for college. Hut
after entering the Naval Academy
at Annapolia, where for three year,
he made n brilliant record in bi»
Mudics, the young Southerner derided
that he wa. not fit tel for --a duty
and resigned.
For the lime it looked a» if thi«
•prrial preparation for hi» life work
had gone for naught. Hut not for
long. In 1S61 the Governor of hi»
Slate called for men who had had
military training to take eharge of
the Fort» along the extended »ea coa»t
of the South. Promptly thi» well
equipp'd youth offered hi» trained
•eniec. After a brief rxperionre in
the 8th North Carolina Regiment he
wa» appointed Lieutenant by Presi¬
dent Daria and placed on the Half
of Grn. Clinginan who wa» defend¬
ing tbe South Carolina coast.
The war detriment at Richmond,
of roune, regarded Charleston a» an
important |>ort to be kept open and
relied on Fort Sumter to protect
that city. Hut the merchant» of
( 'baric ton were worried, and on their
own initiative, erected Fort Wagner
at the mouth of the bay. To thi*
project Lieutenant A»he wa* assigned
as ordnance officer. The Commander
of the Fort die. I
а «сек
Utcr and
hi» full authority and rcaponsibilUy
fell upon Lieutenant Asta
Then eluued one of the longest
and
НИМ
intenae *iege» of the war.
On July 10. 1863 a Federal army
la mini twenty mile, below Charles-
ton and Fort Wagner Mood a. the
main obstacle lo the capture of the
city. Night and day for two month,
the Fort was under constant fire.
During thi* period the .oldier» were
replaced raeh week by fre»h men
(C’onfiaucd on /«tye fwenfy)
It
