State

Boy Heroes of the South Never lias llioro been any greater loyally lo a cause or greater heroism on llie field of balllr Ilian llial uliieli was «lisplayeil by (lie youth of file Confederacy. By MRS. I). It. McK ETHAN THK boy soldi or» of the Confed- eraoy aro truly tho heroes of un¬ written fame. They were called by President Davis the "Swl corn of the Confederacy.” Few pages of his¬ tory have recorded in lofty language tin* deeds of the young private sol¬ diers. (icnernl Fit/hugh Lw once* wrote: "When I . the young battle scarred soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy, with uncovered head and profotindcst reverence I bow before these dauntless heroes, feeling that if the greatest suffering with the least hope of reward is worthy of the high¬ est honor, these young hoys deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with their greatest army commanders in the brotherhood of glory. II is battle picture, even the Hashing of the guns, should bo framed in the memory of all who admire true heroism, whether found at the cannon's mouth or in the blade of the cavalry, or along the blazing barrels of the infantry. There he stood with his old torn slouch hat, the bright eye, the check colored by exposure, the face stained with pow¬ der, the jacket rent, trousers torn and the blanket in shreds, printing in the dust of battle his shoeless feet. No monument eun la* built high enough to commemorate the memory of a typical private soldier of the South.” Extension of Age Limits In 1864 under the necessity of fill¬ ing the rank*, as n result of three years of war. the Confederate Congress, on Feb. 17, passed an act by which the military ages, previously Is to 45 were extended to 17 to 50. President Davis protested against the formation of the duninr Reserves, saying they were "grinding up the seed corn." The make-up of t In* army in those hist months took the very (lower of the .Voting manhood of the South. But how those boy* fought ! Never has there been recorded such devotion to duty and principle. The romance and glamour of the fir.-t days of the war were over: death and sorrow and deso¬ lation were everywhere. They marched through shot and shell, half-fed; they went without complaint, cheerfully sharing their rations with hungry ones. And at last they surrendered like heroes and came home to build up their ruined and Moved Southland, never dreaming that they were heroes. In North Carolina those boys from 17 to IS years of age were formed into battalions, and later into regiments, and one battalion, which became the Junior Reserves Brigade in Den. R. F. Hoke’s Division, Hardee's Corps. Took Part in Many Battles The Junior Reserves of North Carolina were not compelled to serve outside of the state, but when it was known that they were needed in Vir¬ ginia. as one man, the regiments vol¬ unteered for this service. Around Kin¬ ston and Plymouth and at other points they did their part. At Fort Fisher they served with conspicuous gallantry. Col. William l.limh, Com¬ mander of the battles of Fort Fisher said: "It gives me great pleasure to 1и*аг testimony to the gallantry of the Junior Reserves at Fort Fisher when Porter ami Butler were re¬ pulsed. The first life sacrificed there was that of an heroic boy; and an¬ other who volunteered for a desperate task was killed in performing the perilous duty. On that Christmas Day, 1S64, when North Carolina won imperishable renown by repelling the most formidable fleet that over sailed, two out of every three that were killed outright were Junior Reserves. No language can more forcibly describe the bravery and heroism of these hoys than the statement of this fact." In May 11)27 issue of the Confed¬ erate I '<*/ I’ruii , Mrs. Joint II. Ander¬ son, past Ilistoriaiidiencral, and His¬ torian of the North Carolina Division of the F.D.C., gave an interesting story of North Carolina Roy Soldiers at the Battle of Bcntouvillc. She said: “This was the last real battle of the war. and i- of special significance to North Carolina because her Junior Reserves ft hose beardless boys of sev¬ enteen to eighteen years) fought so valiantly those three days unequal engagement.” General Robert F. Hoke, command¬ er of the North Carolina hoy soldiers, gave high praise of them: "The ques¬ tion of the courage of the Junior Re¬ serves was well established by them¬ selves in the battle below Kinston and at the battle of Heutonville. At Bcn- tonville they hold a very important part of the battle field ill opposition to Sherman's old and tried soldiers and repulsed every charge that was made upon them. Their conduct in camp, on the march and on the battle field was everything that could be ex¬ pected from them, and I am free to say was equal to that of the old sol¬ diers who has passed through four years of war.” Many Went From Colleges Practically all of the universities and colleges of the South gave gener¬ ously of their student body to the Army of the Confederacy. Many of them who did not fill n soldier’s grave were unable to return and finish their courses. An instance of the heroism and self- sacrifice of the soldier boys is told graphically by Mrs. John H. Ander¬ son in her Prize Essay on the History of the University of North Carolina. In the chapter on the "University's part in the War Between the States" she writes: "When the war began, the boys at the University rushed away to the struggle with intense ardor. Presi¬ dent Swain was proud of their enthu¬ siasm and patriotism. Four companies were raised in Chapel Hill and vicin¬ ity during the war. All of the mem¬ bers of the class of 1800 volunteered. There wore eighty members of the freshman class of 1850-1800. Only a single one of this class, Titus W. Carr, remained to complete his studies, he being unfit for service because of fee¬ ble health." The class of 1861 was known as to