Sunday, October 4, 2009

Dedication honors Robeson Confederate

By Hilary Kraus

Staff writer

ST PAULS - The heroics of the late William Townsend were brought to life Saturday afternoon.
Eighty-two years after the Civil War veteran died, a stone dedication was performed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans South Carolina 7th Brigade.

About a dozen members of the Capt. Andrew T. Harllee Camp 2010 chapter from Dillion, S.C., dressed in Civil War garb, presented a dedication fitting for the time.

Rifles were shot, a cannon was fired and taps was played, as a few friends and family members stood near Townsend's tombstone at the Oak Ridge Cemetery.

"It touched my heart to think about what all he must have gone through and what all the others must have gone through," said Jean Townsend Duncan, great-grandaughter of William Townsend and a St. Pauls resident. "It made me almost tearful to think about it."

The ceremony was one of eight performed at six different cemeteries on Saturday. The brigade also was in Hamer, S.C.; Raynham and Lumberton, before arriving in St. Pauls.

Gilbert Townsend, a distant cousin of Duncan and member of the Dillon chapter, is a descendent of all the men recognized. He organized the ceremonies.

William Townsend, a native of Robeson County, was a private with the N.C. Infantry Company D. The infantry was organized in 1861 and included members from Robeson, New Hanover, Bladen, Columbus and Richmond counties.

The army unit of 1,100 men participated in numerous battles and lost 57 percent of the 396 men in the Seven Days battles. Of the 346 in action at Gettysburg, 25 percent were disabled.

Duncan said her great-grandfather was wounded in the war, but she was uncertain of details.

"I know he was known as a sharp shooter and was there right behind Gen. (Robert E.) Lee," Duncan said.
William Townsend was 84 when he died in 1927. He was buried with his confederate pin on his chest.

http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/10/04/940007

No comments:

Post a Comment