)12 
 
 S8 
 ay 1 
 
 
 ANNUAL OifSERVANCE 
 
 OF 
 
 AVashington's Birthday, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Washington Light Infantry 
 
 OF 
 
 CHARLESTON, S. C 
 
 22D FEBRUARY, 1878 
 
 CHARLESTON, S. C. 
 
 THE NEWS AND COURIER BOOK AND JOB PRESSES, 
 
 1878. 
 

WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY. 
 
 22d FEBRUARY, 1878. 
 
 ARRIVAL OF GEN. LEE-HIS WELCOME AT THE WASHINGTOX LIGHT 
 
 INFANTRY ARMORY. 
 
 [From The News and Courier, February 22, 1878.] 
 
 At half-past 7 o'clock last evening, Thurs- 
 day, the Slst Inst., the committee of citizens, 
 of which Commodore Ingraham was chairman, 
 together with the honorary and associate mem- 
 bers of the Washington Light Infantry, as- 
 sembled at their armory, which had been 
 decorated for the occasion. 
 
 The drawing room, in addition to the ele- 
 gant appointments, was adorned with flags 
 and bunting. The several colors of the com- 
 pany were displayed, including the new memo- 
 rial flag to be presented at Military Hall on the 
 22d instant. 
 
 It is of rich cardinal red silk, and measures 
 five feet in length by three and a half in 
 depth. It was designed three years ago by 
 the late John B. Irving, Jr., of whom (South 
 Carolina is so justly proud. The skill with which 
 the needle has been made to reproduce the 
 conception of the artist is hardly less to be 
 admired than the design itself. The em- 
 broidery is indeed exquisite, and only the 
 closest inspection can do justice to its merits. 
 
 On one side, in the centre of the red field, 
 stands a large Palmetto tree, wrought in fine 
 chenille, shaded to represent the varied hues 
 of the natural tree. Below the base appears 
 in small letters, also of chenille, the date "22(Z 
 February, 1873," the date of the revival, 
 after the war, of the military observance of the 
 day. Beneath this in laree letters of old Eng- 
 lish text in gray shaded silk, is the name of 
 the corps and the date of its organization : 
 Washington Light Infantry, 1807. The flag is 
 outlined by a border of oak leaves in green che- 
 nille, interspersed with acorns and branches of 
 wood color. Gracefully interwoven through- 
 out the whole appear, at intervals, legends 
 bearing the record of the IF. L. I., in letters 
 of golden silk, edged in blue. The first is 
 ''Vliarlestmi, 1812-15;" then follow ''Lafay- 
 ette, 1825;" "£Htaw Flag, 1827;" "St. Augus- 
 tine, 1836;" "Fourth of July, Capt. Porter, 
 1846;" "CowjieiVs Monument, 1856;" Wm. 
 Washington Monument, 1858;" "Bunker Hill, 
 1875;" "Fourth of July, Philadelphia, 1876;" 
 *' Hampton Reception, ' 1 877 . " 
 
 On the reverse appears a rich border of 
 oak leaves and acorns in chenille, with an 
 
 inner wreath of the same enclosing a faithful 
 copy of the marble monument in Ma"-- 
 nolia Cemetery, erected to the one hundred 
 and thirteen members of the W. L. I. who 
 died in the Confederate service. This is em- 
 broidered in silk floss, shaded from white to 
 darkest gray, reproducing the effect of lio-ht 
 and shadow in stone. Two palmrtto 
 branches, torn by shot and shell, worked in 
 green cheniile, are crossed at the base, 
 and displays this pathetic motto, "Pariier 
 Pletate vel Armis Itisignls," and the date of the 
 late struggle, "1861-65." On the two upper 
 corners, "Co. A, Twenty-flfth S. C. V " "Co 
 B, Twenty-fifths. C. F.;" at the lower left 
 hand corner, also in letters of golden silk is 
 "Co. A, Hampton Legion Infantry," on the 
 right, "IF. L. I. Charitable Aasociation, 1866." 
 The whole is bordered by a handsome 
 fringe of red and golden silk. The silk 
 fringe, cords and tassel were imported from 
 England in 1875 for this purpose through the 
 agents of the manufacturers of the silk used 
 for the standards of the English army The 
 embroidery was done at Mr. Shuckman'n's in 
 King street. The flagstaff is of palmetto 
 surmounted by an eagle. Altogether, this 
 standard, in conception and execution, has 
 no equal in the Southern country. It reflects 
 the highest credit on those who designed it 
 and have brought the work to so brilliant a 
 termination. 
 
 Among the other decorations were the arms 
 of Great Bkitain, France, Germany, Spain 
 and the United States on silk bannerets in 
 very handsome style. The portraits of Wash- 
 ington, Lee, Hampton, Porter, Gilman and 
 others were adorned with laurel leaves, ivy 
 moss and evergreens, the work of the 'lady 
 friends of the corps. Over the silk-woven 
 portrait of Washington the tri-coior flag of 
 France was in full display as a compliment to 
 the donors. 
 
 The Sumtek Panel now occupies the space 
 between the King street windows of the 
 drawing room. The central attraction is 
 Stuart s portrait of Gen. Stephen Elliott, in 
 gray jacket, standing on the ruins of Fort 
 Sumter with a field glass in his hand. The 
 portrait rests on a frame containing the fol- 
 
4 
 
 lowing portraits of officers identified with the 
 defence of Sumter: Capt. Jno. C. Mitchel, 
 who succeeded Gen. Elliott in command and 
 died at his post; Maj. T. A. Huguenin, who 
 succeeded to the command upon the death of 
 Capt. Mitchel and held it nntil abandoned; 
 Capt. (now Rev.) John Johnson, engineer of 
 the post, who found a way "to hold the fort;" 
 Capt. Frank Harleston, of 1st S. C. Regular 
 Artillery, a graduate of the Citadel Academy, 
 who fell at the post of duty on the southeast 
 rampart, and Capt. James M. Carson, Com- 
 pany A, W. L. I. Volunteers, 25th Regiment. 
 It is intended to add other portraits as oppor- 
 tunity presents. 
 
 Above all is temporarily displayed the rem- 
 nants of the battle flag recently presented to 
 the corps by Mr. Gibbes. Its permanent loca- 
 tion will be the same so soon as it can be pre- 
 pared for a glass case intended to preserve it 
 to posterity. Close beside this portrait is one 
 of Lieut. R. A. Blum, who was killed at Bat- 
 tery Wagner in command of Company B, W. 
 L. L, on the night of the evacuation of Mor- 
 ris Island. The armory proper was decorated 
 with flags. Between the centre windows the 
 word Welcome blazed forth in bright gas 
 jets, and on either sides the names of "Hamp- 
 ton" and "Lee," the chief guests of the occa- 
 sion, flashed out in brilliant effect. Opposite 
 the splendid gun case, which has been so 
 universally admired, was surmounted by an oil 
 portrait, life size, of Governor Hampton, sup- 
 ported on either side by the arms of Virginia 
 and South Carolina on silk bannerets. On 
 either side of the Governor's portait bronzed 
 cannon and other military decorations were 
 displayed, while over the portrait a small 
 palmetto flag waves in honor of the "Man of 
 the Legion." 
 
 The handsome oil portrait of Governor 
 Hampton was loaned by Mr. G. N. Barnard, 
 artist. King street, who also reproduced the 
 portraits in the Sumter panel. 
 
 Gens. W. H. F. Lee, Harry Heth and T. M. 
 Logan were met on their arrival at the North- 
 eastern Depot by Capt. Courtenay, Lieuts. 
 Geo. D. Bryan, Alex. W. Marshall, W. Lucas 
 Simons and Geo. B. Edwards, with Secretary 
 F. H. Honour bearing the Eutaw flag, and 
 Privates E. J. Masterman and D. B. Gilliland 
 as color guard. After cordial greetings, Capt. 
 Courtenav, with the guests from Virginia, en- 
 tered an open carriage, in charge of Stephuey 
 Riley, who had asked to be allowed the honor 
 of driving Gen. Lee into the city. 
 
 The carriage proceeded to the left of the 
 brigade line, and the W. L. I. formed in 
 square around it as a special guard of honor, 
 with the Palmetto Guard, Lieut. B. C. Webb 
 commanding, German Fusiliers, (Japt. W. 
 Knobeloch commanding, Sumter Guards,Capt. 
 D. Huger Bacot commanding, and Irish Vol- 
 unteers, Capt. B. F. McCabe commanding, as 
 the escort to the Armory. 
 
 The following gentlemen were present by 
 invitation of the Washihgton Light Infantry, 
 as a committee of citizens to assist in the re- | 
 
 ception of Gen. W. 11. F. Lee, Gen. Harry 
 Heth, and Gen. T. M. Logan, of Virginia: 
 
 Commodore Ingraham, Chairman. 
 Col. C. H. Simouton. Gen. F. W. Capers. 
 N. R. Middleton, Esq. J. D. Aiken, Esq. 
 Gen. Jas. Conner. L. D. Mowry, Esq. 
 
 I)r. Henry Winthrop. Capt. James Simons. 
 Col. T. Y. Simons. Dr. J. Ford Prioleau. 
 Dr. A. B. Rose. Col. C. S. Gadsden. 
 
 T. D. Wagner, Esq. J. L. Honour, Esq. 
 Col. P. C. Gaillard. Col. S. B. Pickens. 
 A. O. Andrews, Esq. James M. Eason, Esq. 
 Col. Ed. McCrady. Rev. E. C. Edgerton. 
 Hon. Henry Buist. Dr. F. L. Parker. 
 Rev. A. T. Porter. T. D. Jervey, Esq. 
 Gen.W. G. DeSaussure.Oct. Wilkie, Esq. 
 A. S. Johnston, Esq. C. P. Aimar, Esq. 
 Capt. F.W. Dawson. Wm. Th;iyer, Esq. 
 Jas. M. Wilson, Esq. Julian Mitchell, Esq. 
 Maj. R. C. Gilchrist. Dr. J. L. Ancrum. 
 F. J. Pelzer, Esq. R. M. Marshall, Esq. 
 
 A. St. Amand, Esq. Isaac Hayne, Esq. 
 H. S. Grigffs, Esq. Rob't D.'Mure, Esq. 
 
 Col. G. H. Walter. W. L. Webb, Esq. 
 Maj. T. A. Huguenin. W. L. Campbell, Esq. 
 Andrew Simonds, Esq. H. P. Archer, Esq. 
 Jas. S. Gibbes, Esq. B. F. Huger, Esq. 
 Prof. F. S. Holmes. A. W. Taft, Esq. 
 R. B. Rhett, Esq. W. M. Bird, E^-q. 
 
 J. P. K. Bryan, Esq. V. C. Dibble, Esq. 
 
 Commodore Ingraham, who received Gen. 
 Lee, as soon as he entered the hall, addressed 
 him as follows : 
 
 General : As chairman of the committee of 
 citizens charged with the agreeable duty of 
 receiving you, it is my pleasure on their be- 
 half to bid you welcome to Charleston. My 
 long friendship with your noble father and 
 gallant uncle Capt. Lee, enhances the occa- 
 sion, which affords me an opportunity to wel- 
 come a son of Robert E. Lee to our city. I 
 sincerely trust. General, that your visit may 
 add another link to the chain which binds 
 the people of South Carolina to those of gal- 
 lant Virginia. Again, General, I bid you a 
 heartfelt welcome. 
 
 Gen. Lee shook hands cordially with the 
 citizens as they were presented, and also with 
 the ofiicers and members of tne Palmetto 
 Guards, German Fusiliers, Sumter Guards, 
 Irish Volunteers and Washington Light Infan- 
 try of the military escort who had called 
 in a body to pay their respects. Numer- 
 ous hearty cheers were given for the distin- 
 guished guests and for the hosts of the recep- 
 tion. Gens. Lee, Heth and Logan remained 
 at the Armory some time receiving visitors, 
 and at 10 o'clock. Commodore Ingraham, Dr. 
 Rose, and other gentlemen of the committee 
 escorted the Virginians to their quarters at 
 the Charleston liotel. 
 
 After the reception at their armory last 
 night the Washington Light Infantry repaired 
 to the Charleston Hotel Vith the Post Band, 
 and gave the newly arrived guests a serenade 
 with a number of choice selections, beginning 
 with "The sweet bye and bye." 
 
THE HAMPTON-LEE RECEPTION. 
 
 [From The News and Courier, February 23, 1S78.] 
 
 The Sevent3'-tirst Anniversary of the Wash- 
 ington Light Infantry was celebrated with 
 great eclat oq the 22d inst., at 5)4 o'clock, 
 in the afternoon. Over two hundred and forty 
 guests assembled at their magnilicent armory, 
 Masonic Temple, which was elaborately de- 
 corated for the occasion. At 6 o'clock the 
 band played an inspiriting march, and the 
 entire company proceeded to the adjoining 
 banquet hall, where one of the most elegant 
 fruit and wine parties ever given in South 
 Carolina, was appointed. The tables were de- 
 corated with floral offerings, most tastefully 
 arranged, and around their entire circuit 
 '"Mumm's Extra Dry" iced champagne was in 
 full supply, a bottle projecting from amid the 
 floral offerings at intervals of about ten 
 inches. The only decoration in this hand- 
 some saloon was the banner displayed in front 
 of the armory October 30th, 1876, upon the 
 disbanding of the Washington Light Infantry, 
 by President Grant's orders, bearing this la- 
 conic inscription: "Disbanded, but solid for 
 Hampton," suspended from which was a 
 (rimson flag — with W. L. I in white letters — 
 ajlracalliug the tyr£uny of the election period 
 of 1876. 
 
 As soon as the company had refreshed them- 
 selves, Capt. Courteiiay, in behalf of the Wash- 
 ington Light Infantry, then welcomed the 
 distinguisiied visitors in the following elo- 
 quent address : 
 
 Friends and Countrymen : We have as- 
 sembled in patriotic commemoration of 
 the birthday of Washington ! With deep 
 thankfulness for the blessings so recent- 
 ly vouchsafed to us, and the hope that the 
 peace and political progress we now enjoy, in 
 marked contrast with the vulgar tyranny of a 
 short year ago, may, for centuries to come, 
 be the lot of a free, happy and prosperous 
 Carolina. 
 
 It is my pleasing office to extend a wel- 
 come, cordial and heartfelt, to each and 
 all. Welcome ! to the steadfast patriot, our 
 honored Chief Magistrate, who has labored so 
 well for us; as true a follower of the voice of 
 conscience and of duty as ever walked the 
 world's rough highway. South Carolina's 
 best future is implicit reliance on the words 
 and acts of Wade Hampton ! 
 
 Welcome ! to the brave men and true, who 
 did the State large service in her successful 
 struggle against corruption and wrong. 
 
 And not alone in this our joy we welcome 
 to our hearts and homes citizens of a sister 
 State— how near and dear to us may be seen and 
 felt in the sparkling eye and warmth of grasp, 
 at the mention of the familiar name— Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 Men of Richmond !— welcome to Carolina ! 
 We thank you for your pilgrimage hither, in 
 generous appreciation of our love for you. 
 
 Welcome ! thrice welcome to him, the im- 
 mediate representative of one whose memory 
 is enshrined in all our hearts, who bore our 
 faintest hopes to the end, and when the end 
 came, taught us new lessons of duty and of pa- 
 triotism. 
 
 "O good grey-head which all men knew! 
 
 O voice from which their omens all men drew! 
 
 O iron nerve to true occasion true!" 
 
 Mother State ! Birthland of Washington and 
 Lee ! the Palmetto State can ask no higher 
 honor than that you should send as yourlep- 
 resentative the son of such a sire. 
 
 And now, my countrymen, on this secular 
 Sabbath, sacred alike to memory and to hope, 
 let us rejoice that we are not alone in our oli- 
 servance of this day. Not only in the populous 
 centres of the Kepublic^ but as well the 
 lonely and remote have their part in this com- 
 memoration. "Where the boatman follows the 
 winding stream, or the woodman explores the 
 forest shades, where the miner lays down his 
 eager drill beside rocks which guard the pre- 
 cious vein, or where the herdsman along the 
 Siei-ras looks forth on the seas, which at our 
 midnight shall be gleaming like gold in the 
 setting sun — there also will the day be regard- 
 ed as a day of memorial. The sailor on the 
 sea will note it, and deck his ship in its bright- 
 est array of flags and bunting. Everywhere 
 will be those who have thought of to-day, 
 and who with us greet its coming." 
 
 Such is the day and the event we celebrate, 
 one of the two holidays of the countrv, and in 
 national esteem is identified with the birth 
 of the nation itself. That which a hundred 
 years ago was the unwritten creed in the 
 hearts of all the people, has since received the 
 .sanction and solemnities of law, and the birth- 
 day of the Father of his Country has become 
 a National Sabbath. 
 
 This thought and this feeling were per- 
 fectly expressed, by an illustrious Virginian 
 when our greatest earthly benefactor passed 
 from earth; and we cannot better express 
 our veneration and gratitude, on the dav 
 we have met to do homage to the immof- 
 
tal Virginian and American, than by adopting 
 the words of Lighthorse Harry Lee, which 
 then and now, with accumulated emphasis 
 and sanction, symbolize the thought of his 
 countrymen everywhere. 
 
 Permit me, then, to propose, as the toast 
 of the day : "The memory of the man— first 
 in war— first iu peace — first in the hearts of 
 his countrymen," and I have the honor to 
 call on our'distinguished guest, the grandson 
 of "Lighthorse Harry," to respoud. 
 
 AftcT the cheering which Capt. Courtenay's 
 remarlis elicited. Gen. W. H. F. Lee was in- 
 troduced, and was greeted with prolonged 
 cheers, which prevented him from responding 
 for some minutes. When the cheering ceased 
 he spoke as follows : 
 
 A.lr. Chairman — In replying to this toast, I 
 must thanli you for the warm sentiments which 
 you have been pleased to express toward Vir- 
 ginia and her sons; for Virginia, proud it is 
 true of her greatest son, does not think that 
 slie can claim him solely for herself. She is 
 satisfied in having been able to have given 
 him to this great American nation. First in 
 war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of 
 his countrymen, he stands out in the world's 
 history as the Father of his Country— and that 
 country, now cof hardly a hundred years in 
 age, ranking among the foremost nations of 
 tlie earth— and his mother State, whatever be 
 her fate, will be honored for all time to come 
 fur having given to the world such a man — a 
 perfect model for the imitation of mankind. 
 And we also, sir, your sruests on this joyous 
 occasion — sous of the same old mother — come 
 among you with our hearts warm towards 
 Carolina and her gallant people. Tliere has 
 been no period iu your history, either in war 
 or peace, that the hearts of the people of Vir- 
 ginia have not been in sympathy with those 
 of Carolina. And especially has it been so in 
 the last years of trial and tribulation which 
 have been the darkest in your history. We 
 have wept with you in your sorrow, and now, 
 thank God, can reioice with you in your 
 great and glorious political victory which 
 has brought again the smiles of gladness to 
 your cheek, and it is with the proudest satis- 
 faction that we hail this day which gave to 
 freedom Washington as a brighter omen for 
 the future of your State. And now, sir, 
 as you will have to listen to me in a short 
 time in the same line of thought, I will 
 not detain you longer, but before taking my 
 leave I wish to oiler you a sentiment. I give 
 vou, sir, Carolina — May her future, under the 
 wise and prudent guidance of the gallant 
 Himpton — a man not more honored in the 
 Palmetto State than in Old Virginia— be in the 
 material life which lies before her, not less 
 srlorious than that which she achieved iu the 
 Leroic age of the South. [App'auseJ 
 
 Vociferous cheering greeted Geu. Lee as he 
 progressed in his eloquent speech, and at its 
 close the hall rang with deafening applause. 
 Governor Hampton rose to respond to the 
 sentiment with which Gen. Lee had closed 
 his speech, the warm delivery of which 
 
 greatly added to its effect. Governor Hamp- 
 ton was heartily received, none the less by 
 the Virginians than the Carolinians. He 
 spoke as follows : 
 
 My friemU of the Washington Light Infantry! 
 This is the second occasion to-day that I have 
 had the pleasure of meeting men who were 
 my comrades during the war. I have seen 
 the men of the Washington Artillery and now 
 I meet those of the first company that volun- 
 teered for the Hampton Legion, the men who 
 were on the right of that legion; who under 
 Conner went always nearest the flashing of 
 the guns, and out of 106 came out of the war 
 with but two men who were not killed or 
 wounded. I remember all these things; I 
 remember all the incidents connected with the 
 legion, and I tell you that you and all who 
 served with me are bound to me by ties 
 which death may, but nothing else can ever 
 sever. I have had the good fortune to lead 
 many of you in battle. It has been, per- 
 haps, my better fortune to lead you during 
 this last political canvass. I take no 
 credit to myself, for I was but the exponent 
 of the feelings, the voice and the entire heart 
 of the people of South Carolina. But I can 
 say this to you, young men of South Carolina, 
 that I dedicated every feelins:, wish and 
 thought to the safety, honor and pi'osperity 
 of South Carolina. You cannot know, you 
 can never know, the sacrifices I made in that 
 canvass; but, had they been tenfold greater — 
 had they involved even my life— the satisfac- 
 tion I have felt since in seeing a free people 
 once more upon the soil of my old mother, 
 and iu recosinizing that in the hearts of the 
 people of South Carolina I have a warm 
 place, would afford me ample compensation 
 for all that I have had to endure. [Applause.] 
 My time is almost out. Let me say to you 
 that the fight is not over yet. That this next 
 election will be the crisis in the history of this 
 State. You have it in your hands to say 
 whether that will perpetuate the peace and 
 prosperity of the State; whether the power 
 will remain in your hands, or whether it will 
 be lost. You have seen that by doing justice 
 to all, recognizing the rights of all citizens of 
 Soutli Carolina, you can carry the State. If 
 you go on in that line you will carry it agrain, 
 but I warn you if you depart from that 
 straight and narrow road, if you allow the ex- 
 treme men of this tState to take possesion of it, 
 just as sure as the sun will rise it will rise 
 upon your failure. I speak as a Carolinian to 
 Carolinians. I ask you to think of these 
 things. You, the young men of South 
 Carolina, into whose hands her destinies will 
 soon be placed, who are to take our 
 places, are the ones to work upon this 
 line. Yf)u have a glorious destiny before 
 you. By your conduct in the last 
 election you have stamped yourselves 
 heroes. You have shown a courage hi'gher 
 than the highest courage in facing the 
 cannon's mouth — that you can govern your- 
 selves; that you are worthy of the freedom 
 you have achieved. Now, let me adjure you, 
 
to go on in the same line and devote your- 
 selves to your State. Think of nothing but 
 the interest of that State. Work for it, dedi- 
 cate youselves to it, and tliough I may not 
 see it — it may be I will have passed otf the 
 scene — but your children and my children will 
 rise up to call you blessed. 
 
 I did not intend to say so much to-night, but 
 there are themes which when they are touched 
 arouse the emotions of my heart, and one of 
 those themes is that toast just given — South 
 Carolina. 
 
 I close as I began, praying that you as citi- 
 zens of South Carolina will prove worthy of 
 the destinies before you, and that you will 
 lift the old State up, and proud as her record 
 has been, you will make it prouder, brighter 
 and more glorious in the future. 
 
 Tremendous cheering followed the Gover- 
 nor's speech, so replete with wisdom and 
 liberal and patriotic sentiment. 
 
 Lieut. George D. Bryan, of the Washington 
 Light Infantry, made a complimentary allu- 
 sion to the citizen soldiery of the State, which 
 called out General B. H. Rutledge, of the 1st 
 Division, who said he would not make a 
 speech, but would take occasion to refer to 
 one who had added lustre to the State and 
 to the people from whom he had descended. 
 All eyes were turned upon Brigadier-General 
 Rudolph Siegling, who was greeted with 
 cheers. 
 
 Gen. Siegling, after responding to the com- 
 pliment paid to the Fourth Brigade and him- 
 self by Gen. Rutledge, said : 
 
 It gives me very great pleasure to dis- 
 charge an agreeable duty for our hosts of 
 the evening. It is to express the high appre- 
 ciation of the Washington Light Iniautry for 
 the public spirited and zealous manner in 
 which the adjutant general of the State has 
 discharged the duties of his laborious office. 
 Actuated by the desire to elevate the stan- 
 dard of military excellence, and despite great 
 obstacles, his aim has been to secure for the 
 service a limited force of volunteers, well 
 equipped and disciplined, which would com- 
 mand the respect of the people of the State. 
 This command has especially invited Gen. 
 Moise to be present on this gala occasion, 
 that, in the presence of this distinguished as- 
 semblage, these acknowledgments should be 
 publicly made, for his interest manifested in 
 
 in their affairs, and receive, as he was sure 
 they would, the unanimous approval of the 
 representatives of the Fourth Brigade pre- 
 sent. [Prolonged cheering and cries for Gen. 
 
 Moise.] 
 
 Gen. Moise on rising was received with en- 
 thusiastic applause, and spoke as follows : 
 
 Soldiers of the Washington Light Infantry ! 
 I am deeply sensible of the very handsome 
 manner in which you have received the gen- 
 erous remarks of Gen. Siegling. 
 
 I am conscious that these are more to be 
 attributed to his noble nature, than to any 
 merit which I possess. 
 
 Looking around me and seeing the superb 
 array of citizen soldiery assembled at your 
 festive board, and in tliis splendid hall, I am 
 overcome by a sense of proud exultation that 
 here, in the metropolis of our State, under 
 these smiling, joyous skies, we meet in pros- 
 perity and in peace. The future must ever be 
 a nameless fear and an undefined hope. In 
 either event, whether to enjoy the blessings 
 of happy and deserved rest, and to reap the 
 rewards of earnest effort well directed, or to 
 face with calm serenity the storms of fate, 
 and bear with fortitude the evil results of 
 dissension and consequent misrule, South Car- 
 olina will rely on her soldier sons and will see 
 her honor reflected from their arms. Gentle- 
 men of the Washington Light Infantry, by the 
 light of your past record, I read the glory of 
 your future history. 
 
 Gen. T. M. Logan, who never fails to re- 
 ceive a hearty greeting from the Washington 
 Light Infantry, and particularly from those 
 veterans whom he so often and gallantly led 
 in Virginia, was loudly called for. It was 
 doubtful if he would have time to speak as 
 the hour was drawing nigh for the oration, 
 and he only consentedto do so because Gov- 
 ernor Hampton introduced iiim. He s):)oke 
 briefly in relation to his presence in the city 
 and at the entertainment, which he said was 
 due to his former chieftain, Governor Hamp- 
 ton, whom he followed in peace as in war. 
 He then proposed three cheers for Gen. W. 
 H. F. Lee, which were given with great spirit. 
 This ended the reception, which was elegant 
 and tasteful, and which was enlivened by 
 music by the Virginia Band and the famous 
 Eutaw Band. 
 
ORATION AND FLAG PRESENTATION. 
 
 ANNUAL ORATION BEFORE THE WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY, 
 FEBRUARY 22, 1878, BY THE REV. E. C. EDGERTON, A MEMBER OF 
 THE COMPANY. 
 
 The spacious exhibition room of Military 
 Hall was jjacked to its utmost capacity last 
 night to witness the presentation of the flag 
 given by the ladies of Charleston to the 
 Washington Light Infantry. The audience 
 was largely composed of ladies, and was one 
 of the most brilliant ever gathered in this 
 city, the uniforms gleaming conspicuously 
 among the silks and jewels on the floor. On 
 the stage was gathered a large number of 
 distinguished gentlemen. Among them were 
 the Walker Light Guard of Richmond, Va., 
 Rev. J. Wm. Jones of Richmond, Attorney- 
 Gen. Leroy Youmans Gen. Sam'l McGowan, 
 Hon. W. D. Porter, Commodore D. N. 
 Ingraham, Brigadier-General Stokes, Brigadier 
 General Sieglinsr, the Rev. Father C. J. 
 Croghan, Col. F. W. Capers, Col. Scully, U. 
 S. A., ex-Gov. A. G. Magrath, Judge Bryan, 
 Gen. Humphreys, Lieut. Bargamin, of the 
 Walker Light Guard, Hon. T. Y. Simons, Col. 
 C. H. Simonton, Col. C. R. Miles, Adjutant 
 Miles, of the First Brigade of Cavalry, Major 
 J. F. Fickin, Col. C. Kerrisou, Jr., Major A. 
 T. Smythe, Adjutant Dennis O'Neill, Col. A. 
 O. Andrews, Capt. Sweeue}', Regimental 
 Quartermaster of the Seventeenth Regiment, 
 Major Von Santen, of Gen. Siegling's 
 Staff, Capt. Post and Major Gould, United 
 States Army, Capt. Rhett and Lieut. T. Piuck- 
 ney Lowndes, of the Marion Artillery, Capt. 
 
 B. F. McCabe, of the Irish Volunteers; 
 Mons. Truy, French Consul ; Col. Zimmer- 
 man Davis, Maj. R. C. Gilchrist, Maj. Wm. 
 Boyle andMaj.McIver, of Gen. Stokes's staff; 
 l^ieut. H. T. Williams, of the Carolina Rifle 
 Battalion; Col. Cain, of the Governor's staff, 
 Capt. E. A. Smyth, of the Washington Artil- 
 lery, and many others. 
 
 The proceedings were opened with a most 
 eloquent and appropriate prayer by the Rev. 
 A. Toomer Porter. At the conclusion of this, 
 Capt. W. A. Courtenay introduced the Rev. 
 Mr. Edgerton, of Aiken, as the annual orator, 
 whose oration we now present in full, as 
 follows : 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow-Soldiers of (he 
 Washington Light In.fantrij : We celebrate to- 
 day the one hundred and forty-sixth anniver- 
 sary of the birth of Washington, the hero of 
 the Revolution, the first of American Presi- 
 dents, the Father of his Country, and the ad- 
 miration of the world. 
 
 To do honor to the memo-y of the illustri- 
 ous dead is both the payment of a just debt 
 which we owe to them, and the source of a 
 great benefit which we derive unto ourselves. 
 It is the payment of a debt of gratitude 
 to them. Reaping as we do the large advan- 
 tages purchased by their labors, sacrifices and 
 unselfish devotion, it is the least that we can 
 do to ever cherish their names in grateful 
 recollection, and sometimes to give public ex- 
 pression to the feelings of affectionate venera- 
 tion with which they inspire us. And if in 
 that world of spirits to which they have gone 
 any faint whisper, any distant rumor of 
 aught that transpires below, can e'er be 
 known, then the benefactors of our race may 
 still continue to reap some recompense of all 
 they suffered, as generation after generation 
 rises up in turn to call them blessed. 
 
 To-day we meet together to make that an- 
 nual tribute, which with few exceptions for 
 many years the Washington Light Infantry, 
 at whose call I speak, has laid'at the feet of 
 him whom all delight to honor — of him who 
 was peerless among patriots, undaunted by 
 darkest disaster, undazzled by most splendid 
 success — ready to take the foremost place 
 when the foremost place was the post of 
 danger — content to resign that lofty estate 
 when the emergency which called him forth 
 was past; as great as he was good, and as good 
 as he was gi-eat. 
 
 Amid the many honored names which have 
 shed lustre upon American history, in arts 
 and arms, by land and sea, in peace -and war, 
 in politics and letters, the name of Washing- 
 ton stood long conspicuous, 
 
 "Fair as a star, wlien only one 
 Is shining in the sky." 
 
 And even now there is but one who 
 shares that place he holds within our 
 hearts. That other honored name, also, 
 Virginia, the mother of Washington and 
 nurse of heroes, has contributed to us 
 and to the world. They stand together 
 in our hearts, as they stand together upon one 
 of her institutions of learning — Washington 
 and Lee. Par nohilefrairmn ! Methinks that 
 either one might well have filled the other's 
 p>lace. Two men, whom neither love of cou- 
 rage, nor ambition for military glory, sum- 
 moned to the field of strife — but only the 
 sense of duty and the love of country. To 
 
one it was given in the hour of triumph to re- 
 strain the excitement of the victors and heal 
 the bitterness of strife, and then to step down 
 of his own accord from tlie lofty position he had 
 occupied only for his country's good. To the 
 other's lot it fell on the dark eclipse of failure 
 to set the beautiful example of patient sub- 
 mission to the inevitable, and to illustrate the 
 duty of conquering for one's count) y's sake 
 those natural bitternesses which war and defeat 
 cannot fail toengenderin the hearts of the van- 
 quished. The fame of him who was success- 
 ful rests upon a world-wide admiration. All 
 nations do him reverence — all tongues con- 
 tribute to his praise. The fame of him who 
 was unsuccessful is our special trust and our 
 exclusive treasure. May we never forget the 
 debt of gratitude which we owe to both ! 
 
 But we not only discharge a debt of grati- 
 tude when we do public honor to the memory 
 of illustrious benefactors — we may also thence 
 derive an estimable benefit unto ourselves. The 
 influence of such men was not confined to the 
 years of their life on earth. They being dead, 
 yet speaketh. By the recollection of their 
 virtues, by the study of their character, by 
 the influence of their example, they yet work 
 a good work in us when they wake our admi- 
 ration and incite us to an humble emulation. 
 
 •'Lives of great men all remind us. 
 
 We may make our lives sublime, 
 And, departing, leave behind us 
 
 Footprints on the sands of lime — 
 Fooljirints which, perhaps, another 
 
 iSailingo'er life's solemn main. 
 Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother. 
 
 Seeing, may take heart again." 
 
 In the character of Washington we 
 find the model by which to measure those 
 who fill the places which once he filled. 
 In his noble simplicity — in his beautiful hu- 
 mility — in his invaluable dignity and courtesy 
 — in his reverence for law, and constitution, 
 and legal authority — in his conscientious per- 
 formance of duty — in his perfect freedom 
 from partisan spirit — in his careful, scrupu- 
 lous administration of public funds — and in 
 his national patriotism, we see the perfection 
 of those qualities which ought to be found in 
 every President and in every public servant; 
 while in his benevolence, his industry, his 
 hospitality, his public spirit, his domestic 
 tastes, and the purity of his personal charac- 
 ter, he presents us with an example which 
 each man may profitably strive to emulate, 
 though it be in the humblest walks of life. 
 What station is there in life which may not 
 find in him the type of its human perfection ? 
 If one be high in rank and station, he may 
 learn from Washington the lesson of unaf- 
 fected modesty, conscientious fidelity, and 
 noble simplicity of life and manner. If one 
 be in subordinate position, he may see in 
 Washington the type of cheerful co-operation 
 and cordial submission to lawful authority. 
 If one be unfortunate, he may learn from 
 Washington to hope against hope, and to per- 
 severe unto the end. If one be prospered^ he 
 may learn the harder lesson of moderation 
 
 and self-control. The man of business may 
 learn from him the habits of neatness, accu- 
 racy, method, punctuality, and unswervins; 
 fidelity. In him the gentleman of wealth and 
 leisure sees the type of refined and cultivated 
 hospitality. Every son may learn from him 
 the lesson of filial affection. Every laborer, 
 of unflagging industry; every citizen, the 
 crowning glory of a self-forgetting and self- 
 sacrificing patriotism. Yes, and every Ameri- 
 can child is brought to think of Washington 
 as the embodiment of that greatest of virtues 
 —truth. 
 
 If association then with great and good men 
 when living, or the study of their history and 
 character when dead, have any tendency to 
 elevate and purify character, and to strengthen 
 principle — as we know they have — it cannot 
 fail to benefit us to recall to mind that such 
 as Washington have lived and died. 
 
 U|)on such occasions as the present, one 
 obvious duty is to review the history and 
 character of him whose birth we celebrate. In 
 the life of Washington we shall find a perfect 
 living epic. When we have conceived the 
 most perfectly successful life that man can 
 live below, that conception shall not be more 
 successful than was the life of Washington. 
 Shakespeare has written : 
 
 "All the world's a stage. 
 
 And all the men and women merely players : 
 
 They have their exits and their entrances; 
 
 And one man in his time plays many parts, 
 
 His acts being seven ages." 
 
 Upon whichsoever one of these seven phases 
 we tix our eyes, who more successfully- and 
 happily than he has passed it through ? And 
 first — the infant : He comes into the world 
 the offspring of a family which for centuries 
 can trace its line of ancestors, not always re- 
 markable for wealth, or rank, or power, but 
 always for sturdy vh-tue, and for steadfast 
 courage. He inherits from his fathers — if 
 there be inheritance in such things — that 
 quality, without which the highest i-ank 
 is a disgrace, and the largest wealth a curse, 
 namely, the priceless treasure of a manly, 
 truthful, brave and honest heart. What prouder 
 pedigree than a lengthened line of those 
 who, sometimes highland sometimes lowly, 
 have always done their duty in the sphere ot 
 life which they were called upon to till':' As 
 one of his historians has said, "Hereditary 
 rank may be an illusion, but hereditary virtue 
 gives a i)atent of innate nobleness, beyond all 
 the blazonry of the Herald's College." But 
 whatever difference of opinion there may be 
 upon this point, there can be none as to the 
 effect produced upon youthful character by 
 the example of an upright, conscientious 
 father, and the life-long impressions of a ten- 
 der, refined, devoted, faithful mother. Such 
 was the birthright of him of whom we speak. 
 Thus was his little bark auspiciously launched 
 for the voyage of life. Whatever the result 
 of that voyage might have been, certainly it 
 could have no brighter or more hopeful inau- 
 guration. 
 
 And then the school-boy. In some respects 
 
10 
 
 it is tlie most important period in life. School- 
 hovs have harder trials to endure, and harder 
 (luestions to decide, and harder dilliculties to 
 conquer, than ever again in life's varied 
 experience ihey will have to meet with. 
 Body mind and soul are then plastic 
 and ' growing; if there be neglect or 
 perversion in any of the three, we pay the 
 penalty till death. The bent and twisted sap- 
 ling will never make the straight and stately 
 tree. The colt mined in the breaking will 
 never make the racer nor the useful servant. 
 An error in the school-boy period is error for 
 a life-time. Washington's school-boy period 
 was not idly wasted. Then were acquired 
 those habits of industry, application, accuracy, 
 neatness and method, which lasted to the end 
 of life, and have set their stamp upon every 
 work to which he put his hand. They gave 
 him "a lawyer's skill in the drafting of docu- 
 ments, and a merchant's exactness in the 
 keeping of accounts," and have made his 
 financial records, whether public or private, to 
 be "monuments of his method and unwearied 
 accuracy." Opportunity was, indeed, denied to 
 him to rear the elegant superstructures of ad- 
 vanced mathematics, or classic tongues, or 
 literary accomplishments— but the sohd foun- 
 dation stones on which all abiding education 
 must rest— fidelity, method, accuracy, indus- 
 try, love of truth and love of knowledge- 
 were then laid deep and sure. 
 
 But body as well as mind is developing in 
 early youth. Who would depict his ideal of 
 a boy, as pale, diminutive, hollow-eyed, sunk 
 in the chest and shrinkine: from association 
 with his peers V We think of the perfect boy, 
 as full of health and spirits, and energy and 
 life He climbs, he swims, he rides, he runs, 
 he leaps. His cheeks are ruddy; his hands 
 are tough and brown; his shoulders are broad, 
 and he' grows as the corn grows after a rain. 
 And such was the physical boyhood of Wash- 
 ington. His delight is in athletic sports— 
 which develop the muscles. He is light of 
 foot, like Asahel; he is strong as a youthful 
 Samson; he can hurl a slone across ihe Kap- 
 pahannock; he rides with fearless confidence 
 the wildest steed; his place is by the side of 
 the staunch old hunter, Lord Fairfax, as bold 
 as he in the saddle, as impetuous in the 
 
 cbase. . -, ^ ^ *i ^ 
 
 And there is a moral side, too. to the de- 
 velopment of school-boy life. What more 
 can we desire than that one should be like 
 Washington, truthful and frank in character, 
 affectionate in disposition, a favorite with 
 teachers and companions, the leader of their 
 sports, the umpire of their disputes, and the 
 friend and protector of the helpless. 
 
 Thus auspiciously the second scene of life 
 has passed away. Next comes the phase 
 of earlv manhood. As boyhood is the season 
 of preparation, so this is the time for the 
 testing and proving of character. The full- 
 fiedged bird must spread his wings and show 
 whether he be one to seek the skies, or hop 
 from bough to bough and love the earth. 
 Manv a promishig youth has prospered to the 
 
 very end of his collegiate course, and then 
 began to fail as he encountered the rougher 
 waters of a practical life. 
 
 Application and industry are the cardinal 
 virtues of boyhood; but resolution. Judgment, 
 self-reliance are essential forthe workof man- 
 hood. The metal of Washington's character 
 is soon brought to the test. No princely for- 
 tune was, at this time, his; but the kind ne- 
 cessity was laid upon him to make his way in 
 life. He makes his debut at the age of six- 
 teen years, as the young surveyor of the Shen- 
 andoah Valley. It was an undertaking full 
 of labor. Trackless forests must be penetra- 
 ted; swollen, rushing rivers nmst be crossed; 
 by day the heat will parch him, and by night 
 the frost. It was anundertakii'g full of peril. 
 Wild beasts lurk in the thickeis, and wilder, 
 fiercer men roam the forests or dwell in the 
 little clearings. The young surveyor will dis- 
 turb them as he comes among them, the rep- 
 resentative of one who claims the land they 
 occupy — some by title immemorial, and some 
 by squatter right. As he runshis line, he will 
 often hold in his hands the thread of life 
 as well as the surve} or's chain. But that sur- 
 veying expedition, though he knew it not, 
 was the little acorn out of which developed 
 the mighty oak of his imperishable fame. It 
 won for him the favor of Lord Fairfax — that 
 favor lifted him to the post of public sur- 
 veyor — that post gave him thorough acquaint- 
 ance with Irontier men and places — that ac- 
 quaintance procurred him his commission 
 when French and Indian hostilities wei'e 
 threatening — that commission, and his emi- 
 nent services under it, laid the foundation of 
 his appointment to be Commander-in-Chief 
 of the American Army. 
 
 Behold him next, a soldier. Of his services 
 as subordinate, let it suffice to say, that they 
 proved his capacity to obey — and that froiii 
 the midst of great reverses and disasters, his 
 courage and judgment shown out the more 
 conspicuous. The defeat of Braddock was 
 only a laurel in his wreath — blood stained, it 
 is Uue, but a laurel still. 
 
 The outbreak of the Revolution gave him 
 for the first time a supreme command. Of 
 Washington's career as a general I can speak 
 in only general terms. If the greatness of a 
 commander is to be measured by the size of 
 the armies he commands, or the numbers of 
 the slain, or the parade and circumstance of 
 war, Washington has little claim to be con- 
 sidered one of the great military men of his- 
 tory. If brilliancy and rapidity of movement, 
 brief and decisive campaigns, pitched and 
 sanguinary battles, are essential unto great- 
 ness, his claims are slight. But if it begreat 
 to achieve success when failure was, humanly 
 speaking, certain, to wrest victory out of de- 
 feat, and put despair to flight — if greatness is 
 to be measured by the overcoming of obsta- 
 cles, the counterbalancing of grievous odds — 
 by courage, by resolution, by patience, by 
 hope in the midst of despair, then the soldier 
 phase of Washington's life was as conspicu- 
 ously successful fts any other. Nothing sue- 
 
II 
 
 ceeds like success — and Washington suc- 
 ceeded. Without money and without credit, 
 without a nav}', without established forts or 
 arsenals — sometimes without a day's rations 
 for liis army, and that army reduced to less 
 than four thousand men — from Bunker Hill to 
 hons Island, from Long Island to West Point, 
 from West Foint to the Delaware, from the 
 Delaware to Valley Forge, from Valley Forge 
 to Morristown, and finally to Yorktown, for 
 seven years the dubious and unequal conflict 
 raged, until on the 17th day of October, 1781, 
 he received the sword of Cornwallis, on the 
 soil of his Jative Stdte, and the war was 
 ended. The independence of America was 
 achieved. Were there ever greater odds in 
 war than when three thousand militia stood 
 opposed to forty thousand war-trained vete- 
 rans, at the close of the campaign of 1775 ? 
 Was there ever darker despair than when in 
 Valley Forge the unshod soldiers marked 
 their course with bloody footprints through 
 the snow and ice ? He is not the greatest 
 general who wields the largest armies, and 
 drawing from an inexhaustible reserve, and 
 reckless of life, hurls his full battalions 
 upon a weaker foe until that foe is crushed; 
 but he rather, who with his starving, deci- 
 mated, barefoot skeletons of regiments, 
 holds a mighty foe at bay for years, 
 even though, at last, he surrenders to the in- 
 evitable, the emaciated bodies, battered wea- 
 pons, and empty haversacks of his command. 
 But here was one who, out of such materials, 
 evolved success. His was a success not 
 made by opportunities and built upon abund- 
 ant means, but in spite of every obstacle, and 
 in the absence of all the material which has 
 made others great. And uext we see comes 
 the President upon the scene. The war is 
 ended: the army is disbanded; the curtain 
 rises on a scene of peace. Who holds the 
 helm of State "? It is he who was first in war, 
 and is nov/ the first in peace, because he was 
 first in the hearts of his countrymen. He has 
 laid aside the sword for the pen, the garb of 
 war for the apparel of the citizen. It is a 
 dangerous, experiment, for the school of war 
 does not develop the politician's art or the 
 statesman's foresight. Whether Washington 
 succeeded as a President, let the history of 
 the United States for the eight years of his 
 Presidency testify. At its inception what do 
 we see ? A debt of eighty millions presses 
 down the country, and not a cent is in the 
 treasury. The Indians threaten war from 
 Canada to Georgia. A foreign power claims 
 the navigation of the Mississippi — the treaty 
 relations with the Mother country are so un- 
 settled that another war seems more than 
 ])robable— plentiful dissatisfaction exists at 
 home — insurrection ready to break out in 
 North and South and East and West. It is a 
 gloomy outlook. But at its conclusion what 
 scene meets our eyes ? Stability in the gov- 
 ernment, prosperity through the length and 
 breadth of the land, peace abroad, content at 
 home, increasing revenues, universal plenty. 
 What stronger demonstration can tliere be 
 
 than this result that the helm of State had 
 been firmly held, and the Ship of State had 
 been wisely steered V It may well be 
 doubted whether Washington accomplished 
 for, and deserved from his country more, 
 when at the head of her armies or when 
 seated in her Presidential chair. 
 
 When the curtain falls at the conclusion of 
 this fifth scene in the drama of a Great Man's 
 Life, it seems to hide from our eyes one who 
 is already possessed of all that this world can 
 give hnn. Health and vigor possess 
 ills frame; immense Avealth fills his cotters: 
 his brows are twined with the laurel wreath of 
 military glory, and the palm of civic fame. 
 A grateful country calls him Father. While 
 we wait for that curtain to rise again, we 
 might well exclaim "there is nothing more fnr 
 him except to die." The curtain lises— and 
 lo ! a scene in some respects most wonderful 
 of all. From his lofty estate he has turned, 
 so soon as duty suffered him, with unfeigned 
 joy, and throwing off the burdensome trap- 
 pings of place and power, flies to Mount Ver- 
 non with something of a school-boy's ardor in 
 vacation. There in the labors of his vast es- 
 tates — in schemes of agricultural improve- 
 ment—in works of public benefit — in benevo- 
 lent distribution to the poor — in unceasing in- 
 dustry, he reaps the recompense of all his 
 labors, and asks for nothing more. 
 
 "Last scene of all, which ends this strange, 
 eventful history." The Messenger who comes 
 with equal foot to the hovels of the poor and 
 the palaces of kings, draws near to him. It 
 is the crowning scene. That life oidy is well 
 which ends well. Upon the parting scene I 
 drop the veil. On such an occasion it would 
 not be appropriate to dwell particularly on it. 
 Suffice it to say that in the comfort of a rea- 
 sonable, religious and holj' hope, supported 
 by a sense of Divine acceptance, in perfect 
 resignation, and in perfect charity with all the 
 world, he falls asleep. 
 
 Such is the rapid and imperfect sketch of 
 the life of Washington. I call it a grand and 
 living epic ? If this be not a great man, whei-e 
 shall we look for a great man of the earth V 
 Shall we grant the name to Alexatider, sunk 
 at last in debauchery, and weeping for more 
 world's to conquer? Shall we grant the title 
 to Caesar, dying under the knives of his own 
 countrymen in the zenith of his power '? Shall 
 we find a great man in the ocean prison of St. 
 Helena, where the hero of an hundred bat- 
 tle-fields ^^ore out his disappointed soul, as a 
 caged bird beats its wings airainst surround- 
 ing bars? And shall we refuse to call him 
 great who filled with distinguished honor every 
 place he occupied — realized all that this 
 world has to give — came to his end in his sea- 
 son, like a shock of corn fully ripe, and whose 
 lot it was 
 
 'The applause of lislening senates to cnmmanj , 
 The threats of pain and ruin to despise, 
 To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land. 
 And read his history in a nation's eyts."' 
 
12 
 
 "Where shall the wearied eye repose. 
 
 When gazing on the great, 
 Where neither guilt)' glory glows, 
 
 Nor despicable state ! 
 Yes— One the First, the Last, the Best, 
 The Cincinnatns of the West. 
 Bequeathed the name of Washington." 
 
 I have detainerl j'ou long; enou2;li, ard it is 
 time i should be drawing to a conclusion. 
 Let me have your attention a few minutes 
 longer. I shall not trespass much more upon 
 your patience. 
 
 Gentlemen of the Washington Light Infan- 
 try, and citizen -soldiers of South Carolina! 
 We ought vividly to realize what Washington 
 endured in the seven years war of the Revo- 
 lution. We know the meaning of Valley 
 Forge. We can see in Memory's mirror scenes 
 which illustrate his forced advances, his night 
 retreats, his empty commissariat, his stand 
 behind hasty entrenchments against over- 
 whelming odds, his sudden turus upon the 
 pursuer. Some of us, too, have seen soldiers 
 gathering berries by the wayside, and the 
 grains of corn which the horses had left upon 
 the ground. And some of us, too, have wit- 
 nessed a scene which Washington never 
 passed through — a scene which makes us 
 think of Yorktown, to be sorry for Cornwal- 
 lis. We can sympathize with brave men who 
 are unsuccessful. 
 
 Perhaps there are those elsewhere, if not 
 here, who may find it in their hearts to say: 
 What part have these in Washington ? What 
 portion in the Father of his Country ? What 
 right have they to bring their tribute to the 
 feet of him whose parting words were warn- 
 ings against separation ? To-day we wish to 
 stand, as it were, in his august presence, and 
 answer as to him asto what we have done in the 
 past and expect to do in the future. We 
 would make our appeal to him that he should 
 judge us. 
 
 Standing in the spirit-presence of Washing- 
 ton, shall we be ashamed of that which we 
 have done ? Shall we disown the past ? No ! 
 We would say to him. who with his com- 
 mission in his pocket and his baggage 
 on the man-of-war, yet heard his mother's 
 voice, and refused to leave her side — like 
 you, we too have heard the voice of our 
 Mother-State, calling to her sons in her 
 hour of need. Like you, we too have listened 
 to obey. When she lifted up her banner, we 
 stood beneath it. Where she bade us go, we 
 went. We have done our duty to her, as well 
 as we knew how, with all our hearts. Like 
 you, we have kept back nothing from her ser- 
 vice. We have poured forth our best blood 
 like water. We have exhausted at her call 
 the accumulated treasures of an hundred 
 years. We have robbed the cradle and the 
 grave to fill her ranks. Our land has been 
 marred and scarred with blackened ruins, 
 from the seaboard to the mountains. What- 
 ever the result has been — whatever the out- 
 side world may think of the cause, are we 
 now to be ashamed of the patience, and the 
 courage, and the fortitude, and the heroic 
 
 self-sacrifice of the past ? Shall we ever blush 
 to speak of those who have marched by our 
 side, and slept by our side, and fought by our 
 side, and whose life-blood has been sprinkled 
 on our hands? Never! Never! Never! 
 Let the cause be what it may, no man who 
 knows what love of country is can fail to 
 bare his brow, and bow his head, when he 
 stands by the graves of those who, at their 
 country's call, have suffered all that men can 
 suffer, and have died an hundred deaths. To 
 be ashamed of them, is to be ashamed of that 
 in which we ought to glory. It would only 
 demonstrate that we had lost our manhood, 
 our sense of gratitude, and our self-respect — a 
 thousand times unworthy to be called the 
 countrymen of Washington. 
 
 We turn from the past to look into the 
 future. The war is ended. The appeal to the 
 arbitrament of the sword has been decided. 
 Our Mother-State has taken her place in the 
 circle that she left, and we perceive that her 
 future is linked to the welfare of the entire 
 land. The voice which called us to the field, 
 now bids us heal the wounds of war. The 
 path of patriotic duty is open and plain before 
 us — to cast out the animosities which was 
 engendered, and to work together for the 
 honor, prosperity and welfare of the State and 
 nation. Does obedience to that call require 
 us to forget, repudiate or disown the past '? 
 Nay, it is to walk in the light of the same 
 principles which were then our guides. It is 
 unswerving fidelity to the great principles of 
 patriotism, '■'■Dalce et decorum est pro 2}at>'ia aid 
 vivere aid mori.''^ 
 
 The past is the pledge of our sincerity and 
 truth. By the battered walls of Sumter, by 
 the trampled sands of Moultrie, by the blood 
 of Carolina poured out on every battle-field 
 from the Potomac to the Mississippi, we may 
 be known to be men who mean the things we 
 say. If we ever blush for the past, if we ever 
 cease to honor the memory of those who suf- 
 fered and died in their country's service, and 
 in obedience to what they recognized as their 
 country's call, then place no confidence in our 
 promises, rely not on our allegiance. We 
 shall have forfeited our honor, we shall have 
 thrown away our self-respect. We stand upon 
 our record, and because our record is just 
 what it is, and nothing else, therefore there is 
 meaning in our words when we gather beneath 
 the crimson folds of the Eutaw banner, 
 illumined by the Stars and Stripes, and shout: 
 
 "Unfurl the glorious banner, 
 
 Which at Eutaw shone so bright, 
 An^, like a dazzling meteor, swept 
 
 Through tie Cowpens dead'y tight. 
 Sound, sound your lively bugle-J, 
 
 Let them pour their loudest blast, 
 While we pledge both life and honor 
 
 To stand by it to the last. 
 
 Capt. Courtenay then announced that Gen. 
 Lee would be introduced to the audience by 
 Governor Wade Hampton. [Tremendous 
 cheering, the audience rising and waving 
 handkerchiefs and caps in the air. J 
 
i'3 
 
 Governor Hampton said that it had been 
 made his duty, in behalf of the ladies, to in- 
 troduce to the audience the distinguished 
 citizen who was to present their flae;. He 
 need not to say how asrreeable that duty was. 
 It was especially so, because it gave him an 
 opportunity, in the name of the Washington 
 Lignt Infantry, in the name of the women of 
 Chai-leston, and in the name of the men 
 of Charleston — and not only in their names, 
 but in the names of the people throughout 
 the length and breadth of South Carolina — 
 to bid him thrice welcome to their hearts and 
 homes. No audience could be found in 
 South Carolina that would require an introduc- 
 tion of him. The name he bore vvas a pass- 
 word to their veneration and love, foi that 
 name was Lee. [Cheers] It seemed espe- 
 cially appropriate that he should have been 
 selected to present this Memorial Flag. In the 
 (lays of him whose memory they were then 
 honoring, when Marion and Pickens fought 
 together, there came a young cavalier from 
 Virginia to ride with the Carolina heroes, and 
 his name had been handed down in history as 
 Lighthorse Harry Lee. [Cheers.] And in 
 later days, when the great heart of the 
 South quivered in the agony of the death 
 struggle, all eyes were turned to one man, 
 and all minds looked to him for help in their 
 bitter need. That man was Robert E. Lee, 
 whose son stood before them. [Long con- 
 tinued cheering.] He presented him then to 
 the audience as a descendant of Light Horse 
 Harry Lee and a son of Robert E. Le", who 
 was not unworthy of their great name and 
 glorious fame. [Round after round of 
 cheers.] 
 
 Gen. Lee came forward, accompanied by 
 Surgeon T. Grange Simons of the staff of the 
 First Regiment of Rifles, who represented the 
 ladies, and delivered the Memorial Flag into 
 Gen. Lee's hands, who, expressing the pleasure 
 he felt at being introduced "by Governor 
 Hampton, who, he said, was as much be- 
 loved and admired in Virginia as in Carolina, 
 spoke as follows: 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: The occasion which 
 draws us together here to-night is one of un 
 usual interest, for we do honor to the heroes 
 of two revolutions — one crowned with victory, 
 the other with defeat. Yet who can say that 
 the Lost Cause v/as not equally as glorions as 
 the one upon which success was enthroned. 
 
 Ah, me ! as I glance around this assemblage 
 to-night, and see many friends of the camp 
 and bivouac, I feel mingled sentiments of 
 sorrow and joy. When I grasp the hands of 
 comrades which have been stained with the 
 grime of battle, I feel a throb of pleasure 
 which no other occasion has ever been able to 
 excite within my bosom. And yet I would 
 not, if I could, shut out from my heart that 
 shadow of sadness which comes athwart it 
 when I think of our glorious dead ! Their 
 graves lie upon the fair bosom of our sunny 
 land, alone and congregated together. Who 
 can look upon these sacred mounds, which 
 annually receive the tribute of woman's loving 
 
 care, without nerving himself anew to the 
 determination to cling forever to their memo- 
 lies and the sacrifices they made for the cau.'^e 
 of liberty, as they conceived and illustra- 
 ted it? 
 
 When reflecting thus who can believe that 
 these died in vain ! In commemorating the 
 deeds of the heroes of '76, we must not forget, 
 ray friends, the valor of those who for long 
 and wearying years conducted a defensive 
 warfare unparalleled in history until over- 
 whelmed by superior numbers and resources, 
 and who only furled their banners when 
 further resistance ceased to be possible. 
 Ours was a lesson often taught in the world's 
 history. Riofht may succumb to might, but 
 this need not work dishonor. (Jur lands were 
 laid waste, our houses were burned, and our 
 sufferings were great; and yet, moved by the 
 ennobling ambition to preserve our honor 
 untarnished, we live to-day in the good esteem 
 of all fair-minded people, and our deeds 
 will descend in history and burn to our imper- 
 ishable ciedit on its pages. If the fame of 
 the ancient heroes has come down to our day 
 undimmed by ages, so will our fame go to 
 the future. Go to Marathon ! It is a desert. 
 Shepherds drive their flocks over its historic 
 plains, where once was heard the clash of 
 arms and the shouts of victory. No memorial 
 remains to commemorate the deeds, but the 
 mind reverts to the past, and the soul warms 
 when the fame of Miltiades is recalled. See 
 Sparta ! Tourists contend as to where was 
 the Eratus, where the famous field, its pala- 
 ces, temples andtomlis, not a vestige of which 
 remains; but the virtues of the heroes remain, 
 which defy the ravages of time. And who 
 can view the bleak and barren hills of La- 
 conia; who Thermopylae, thy rugged pass, 
 which only sent back one mesenger of 
 death, and not do homage to the olden oast; 
 when victorious Greece loved freedom,' and 
 freedom gloried in Leonidas. Over the ruins 
 of Carthage the Moor now wanders indolent 
 and wretched, yet it was Carthage which pro- 
 duced a Hannibal to thunder at the gates of 
 Rome. It was Carthage that ruled the Em 
 pire of the Sea and extended the commerce of 
 the world. Yet when we contemplate its rise, 
 progress and decay, we remember Zama and 
 the age of the Scipios. And Rome, once 
 mistress of the world, the seat of arts, of arms 
 and of the brightest honor too, we can but 
 exclaim indeed, "How are the mighty fallen!" 
 As we survey its gray ruins, and behold the 
 remains of the Colliseum, the Forum and the 
 Capitol, we think of the time when assembled 
 thousands listened to the soul-breathing elo- 
 quence of Tulley until we fancy that those 
 mouldering walls respond to the magic of his 
 tongue. How pleasant to dwell upon the 
 virtues of Cato, disdaining to survive the 
 liberties of his country. Then upon Cassius, 
 glorying in being the last of the Romans ! 
 Ages have passed since these great exem- 
 plars lived, but their virtues survive. If we 
 would have this great republic live for ages, 
 the repository of genius, art, energy and en- 
 
u 
 
 terprise, we must take wisdom from the past, 
 and avoid all those influences which destroyed 
 ^rand empires and men who emblazoned 
 tiieir escutchens with heroic deeds. J^et not 
 our common country be impaired by luxury, 
 effeminacy, or it will sink inf.o decay. Rather 
 let us rise to a higher appreciation of citizen- 
 shij), always remembering those who gave 
 us this broad domain, and the spirit which 
 inspired the heroes, whom we honor to-day, 
 whose memories will always flourish with us 
 in immortal youth, unhurt by the wreck of 
 Empires, or fall of States ! 
 
 I well remember in the rush of Southern 
 men to the lines of the Potomac that the sons 
 of the Palmetto State proved themselves 
 worthy of their gallant sires. The sentiment 
 which inspired them was, that as they had 
 been foremost in bringing on the war they 
 desired to be in the forefront of battle; and 
 they made good with their lives the senti- 
 ment and the promises they had given to the 
 cause. Their bones lie on every field, and 
 they have left in almost every glen and on 
 almost every hill of Old Virginia their humble 
 mounds, which speak more eloquently than 
 a memorial of stone or brass. On every side 
 to-day I catch a friendly glance and feel the 
 jiressure of a warm hand, which tills my heart 
 with joy. Bound together not only by a 
 proud and glorious history, but by the indis- 
 soluble ties of a woman's sympathy, Vir- 
 ginia and Carolina will honor and cherish 
 each other as the successive generations rise 
 and pass away. The children of these 
 Commonwealths \^ill always feel as 
 brothers, and work and act together. And 
 now, my young comrades, for such I niunt 
 call you, I have a duty to perform, involving 
 more pleasure than 1 can adequately express, 
 for I obey the mandate of fair ones, whose 
 love and smypathy softened and sweetened 
 war's rough way, and always bade us hope. 
 That duty is to present you with this beauti- 
 ful flag, prepared bj' their own hands in 
 honor of the dead of the first and second Rev- 
 olutions. You will remember that the Latins 
 said that "Wherever they beheld the images 
 of their ancestors t'jey felt their minds vehe- 
 mently exercised to virtue." It could not be 
 the wax or the marble which possessed this 
 power, but the recollection of their great 
 actions which kindled a flame in their breasts 
 n(,t to be quenched until they, by virtue, had 
 acquired equal fame and glory. 
 
 So be it with you, and when you look upon 
 these folds strive to emulate the deeds of those 
 whose achievements in peace and war it 
 records and transmits to posterity, reflect 
 upon the victories and heroic deeds of our 
 ancestors, who risked all for what they 
 thought right, and dispel from your minds 
 the modern idea that success justifies the 
 means or ennobles a cause. Such an idea 
 is demoralizing to a people who struck for 
 what they believed right, and diedfor it. 
 
 Comrades, in presenting to you this beauti- 
 ful flag, I do so with sentiments suggested 
 by- the name and fame of Washington, and 
 
 the burning wish that you will cherish it as 
 the symbol of virtue and honor. May you 
 bear it, if needs be, as its precursor was 
 borne, in the thickest of the fight, and regard 
 it in times of peace as a sacred and holy talis- 
 man. If ever pressed by adversity or tempted 
 to forsake your principles or forget the record 
 of your glorious past, do as did the followers 
 of Bruce, with his heart — look upon it, recall 
 the past, and then, with manly resolve, say : 
 "Pass on — I will follow thee or die !" 
 
 Such was Gen. Lee's speeeh on presenting 
 the flag. It is imperfectly reported, it being 
 impossible to catch many eloquent passages 
 amid the enthusiasm and applause which per- 
 vaded the scene of its delivery. 
 
 Capt. Courteuay said that a private A. B. 
 Capers, of the Washington Light Infantry, 
 had been selected to receive the flag in behalf 
 of the corps. Amid much applause, which 
 was frequently repeated during the course of 
 his remarks, private Capers advanced from 
 the ranks and spoke as follows : 
 
 General: The Washington Light Infantry 
 receive their banner with delight. We have 
 heard with pi'ide your eloquent tribute to the 
 military services of our corps iii other days, 
 and would thank you for it rightly, if we 
 could. To be praised by a man himself com- 
 mended beyond our praise, ''tain Marte qnaiii. 
 Minerva pnvdaro.'''' this indeed is praise. 
 
 Ladies of the W^ashington Light Infantry, 
 we tender you the homage of grateful hearts 
 for this priceless mark of your "favor and con- 
 fidence — the gilt of beauty — and the hand of 
 valor presented it. 
 
 Men survive and are here — who, more than 
 fifty years ago, rec* ived in sacred guardian- 
 ship the flag of a Washington, scarred wiih 
 mementoes of many fields. That flag was 
 presented by a daughter of Carolina. To- 
 night we receive from the hand of a Virginian, 
 not less heroic than the hero of Cowpens and 
 Eutaw, not less the defender and protector of 
 his people, a spotless banner, given by the 
 daughters of Carolina. We hail the omen, 
 and accept the obligation it conveys. Hearted 
 with hope we will place our flag of the future 
 by the side of that treasured guidon of the 
 past. In such companionship, surrounded by 
 chaplets from later fields, it shall sj mbolize per- 
 petually this memorable occasion — memorable 
 to you, Veterans of the Washington Light In- 
 fantry ! who have seen these gallant leaders, 
 whose presence to-night does so much honor, 
 when their swords led the van of victory or 
 followed late in defeat; memorable to all of 
 us as the first unfettered anniversary in thir- 
 teen years; celebrated not by disfranchised 
 citizens in the quasi secret sesssion of a dis- 
 banded club, but by volunteers organized and 
 equipped according to ancient law and usage, 
 celebiated in the free air of a redeemed 
 State, her authority maintained, her counsels 
 guided, her people represented by her own 
 sons, and her power supported by the strong 
 aiiu of that "noblest Roman of them all," who 
 made his way to her side through the myrmi- 
 dons of despotic power that beset her, and 
 
15 
 
 liftins^ her banner from the dust of infamy in 
 which they had trailed it, planted it ouce 
 more on the dome of her Capitol. 
 
 •'And thro' the ceuturies let a people's voice 
 
 la full acclaim, 
 
 A people's voice 
 
 The proof and echo of all human fame, 
 
 A people's voice when they rejoice 
 
 At civic revel and pomp and game. 
 
 Attest thy great commander's claim." 
 
 Welcome the hour which a,-athers around him 
 these iron-crowned Paladins, a.s if to illustrate 
 in living characters the soul of Washington. 
 Thrice weli^ome the banner tliat comes to us 
 on such a day, in a presence so august, from a 
 hand so honored and from hearts so true. We 
 will bear it on, it may be, to the future of the 
 great Georgian's hopes, to whom God gave 
 that ''one hour more" denied to the great 
 Carolinian. Into its misty morning we will 
 bear the records which true, loyal, devoted 
 woman has embroidered here, with hearts 
 alive to all the prestige of the glorious past, 
 and keenly sensitive to the thrilling inspira- 
 tions of the present. 
 
 Capt. Courtenay then aimounced that the 
 exercises would conclude with the benedic- 
 tion by the Rev. A. Toomer Purler. The 
 crowd then moved tlowly out, many of its 
 
 components passing around the stage to ob- 
 tain a near view of the beautiful flag which 
 was displayed by a member of the company. 
 Among the audience were the pupils of the 
 Holy Communion Church Institute, who 
 marched in in a body, attracting much atten- 
 tion by their handsome appearance and 
 perfect drill. 
 
 W. li. I. Reunion. 
 
 The Washington Light Infantry had a re- 
 union at iheir hall at 9 P. M., which was 
 largely attended by the members. The even- 
 ing was very pleasantly spent in recalling 
 reminiscences and interchanging sentiment. 
 In the course of the evening several de- 
 lightful glees were sung by an impromptu 
 choir. The members separated after midnight, 
 impressed with pleasant recollections of the 
 event. 
 
 A delicate compliment was Daid by several 
 ladies of the Washington Light Infantry in 
 the decoration of the three large gothic chairs 
 in the armory; on the summit of each the 
 names of Hampton, Lee, Trimble, were woven 
 in violets, and the chairs were then removed 
 to Military Hall, and occupied by these dis- 
 tinguished soldier guests at the oration and 
 flag presentation. 
 
THE .NEW AlLMOliV OF THE WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY-A HAND- 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF A NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 [From The News and. Courier, March 2, 1878.] 
 
 The new Armory of the Washington Lieht | 
 Infantry is attracting attention outside of the | 
 State. In the last issue of Frank Leslie's Illus- | 
 trated Magazine there is an exterior view of 
 the Masonic Temple, and an interior view of 
 the W. L. I. headquarters, with the following 
 editorial comment: 
 
 In the selection for a rendezvous for a mili- 
 tarv corps two objects are usually considered, 
 a location convenient for the members, and 
 useful in a military point of view. If it was 
 intended to fix the point nearest the centre of 
 the City of Charleston, the lines from 
 north to south and from east to west 
 would intersect near the headquarters 
 of the Fourth Brigade— the stately Mili- 
 tary Hall on Wentwoith street, with its grand 
 drill-room 80x100 feet, and its suites of 
 rooms for the convenience of the city com- 
 panies. One door west of this building is the 
 Masonic Temple, at the corner of King and 
 Wentworth streets. A recent change in the inte- 
 rior arrangements of this building afforded an 
 opportunity, which has been accepted by this 
 historic corps, to secure a permanent home, 
 combining all the advantages of convenience 
 in location, desirableness in appointments, 
 and with unexceptionable surroundings. The 
 new headquarters are on King street, the 
 favorite promenade of the ladies of Charles- 
 ton. The armory is located on the second 
 floor of the Masonic Temple, and consists of a 
 drawing-room and ordinary. Ascending from 
 the street, the eye is arrested in the upper cor- 
 ridor by an elaborate plate-glass panel over a 
 wide portal, on which, in crystal letters, is dis- 
 played — 
 
 "WASHiNciTON Light lNFA>fTRY, 1807." 
 Entrance is had to an elegantly apiioiuted 
 apartment, 20 by 44, with a lieight of I83.2 
 feet. Four large windows on Wentworth 
 street throw a flood of soft light into the 
 
 room, the walls and ceiling of which are fin- 
 ished in hard wood of a beautiful cream color. 
 The ceiling is panelled with deep mouldings, 
 tinted in carmine, orange and brown, present- 
 ing a rich effect. On the south wall is a rifle- 
 stand, 18 feet long and 12 feet high, of wal- 
 nut, with plate-glass doors and elaborate cor- 
 nices and ornamentation, in which are stacked 
 120 Springfield breech-loaders. In the cup- 
 board below are kept the fatigue suits, equip- 
 ments, ordnance and quartermaster's stores. 
 The chairs, sofas and tables are all in walnut, 
 the floor is stained of the same color, and the 
 impression left on a visitor is that of a chaste, 
 simple and complete military headquarters. 
 Passing through a large folding-door, the vis- 
 itor finds himself in a carpeted drawing-room, 
 20 by 22, with stately chairs in crimson rep 
 furnishings, escretoire, tables, &c., in rich 
 walnut. A portrait of Washington, presented 
 by citizens of France, and of woven silk, is 
 displayed to good advantage, while on either 
 side are portraits of Gen. R. E. Lee and Gov- 
 ernor Wade Hampton. On the walls are like- 
 nesses also of ex-commanders, chaplains and 
 orators connected with the corps. 
 
 These complete saloons were presented by 
 the senior members to the young men of this 
 active company on the 5th December last, in 
 the presence of a large membership. Among 
 the invited guests were Gen. Siegling and staff. 
 Fourth Brigade South Carolina Volunteers; 
 Gen. Rutledge and staff. First Mounted Brig- 
 ade South Carolina Volunteers; Gen. Hunt and 
 staff. United States Army; the Most Worship- 
 ful Grand Master DeSaussure and the officers 
 of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina. This 
 command is known to tne whole country for 
 its eftpnt da corps, having visited Bunker Hill 
 in 1875, and was the color company in tlie 
 I parade of the Centennial Legion at Philadel- 
 phia on the Fourth of July, 1876 — a corps 
 j representing the ''Old Thirteen." Its friends 
 I throughout the Union will be glad to hear of 
 ; its continued prosperity. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Lee. 
 
 {From The News and Conner.^ 
 
 The cor''espondence published below speaks 
 for itself. In inviting Gen. W. H. F. Lee to 
 Charleston at this time the Washington Light 
 Infantry have but expressed, in a singularly 
 appropriate and felicitous way, the universal 
 sense of our people. It will add even greater 
 enthusiasm to the occasion to have his pres- 
 ence as one of the illustrious gathering who 
 will make the coming anniversary a most 
 memorable one for our city. Gen. Lee, both 
 for himself and the memories that cluster 
 around his name, will be the honored guest, 
 not only of the Washington Light Infantry, 
 but of the City and State — a guest whom our 
 people will deem it high privilege to welcome, 
 and rejoice to greet on the soil of Carolina. 
 The arrangements for the reception and en- 
 tertainment of so distinguished a visitor may 
 well be left to that Company who, from the 
 time of its reception of Lafayette down to its 
 recent welcome to the tirst Governor of Caro- 
 lina in our new era, has always done the 
 honors of such occasions most acceptably to 
 the community: 
 
 Charleston, January 8, 1878. 
 To Gen. Wm. If. F. Lee, Michmond, Va. : 
 
 General — I have the honor to enclose to 
 you a letter from the lady friends of the 
 Washington Light Infantry, soliciting your 
 presence iu Charleston on the 23d February, 
 1878, and your friendly co-operation in their 
 flag presentation. I am authorized. General, 
 to announce to you that his Excellency (iov- 
 ernor Wade Hampton, our most illustrious 
 member, will be with our command on Wash- 
 ington's Birthday to welcome you to South 
 Carolina. 
 
 Let me add. General, that your visit to 
 Charleston on our coming anniversary will be 
 most highly appreciated by our command, 
 and be as well a gratification to the entire 
 community, recalling the joys and sorrows of 
 the men and women of Virginia and South 
 Carolina, mutually shared, through more than 
 a century of time. 
 
 This command will esteem it a privilege to 
 entertain you as their guest on the coming 
 anniversary. 
 
 With sentiments of the highest esteem and 
 regard, I am. General, your most obedient ser- 
 vant, Wm. a. Courtenay, Captain. 
 Charleston, S. C, January 8, 1878. 
 To Gen. Vi'm. H. F. Lee, Richmond, Va : 
 
 General — The ladies closely associated 
 with the Washington Light Infantry have 
 made for the corps a flag that commemorates 
 
 its history in peace and in war — a symbol 
 of memories dear to them as the lite and 
 honor of the company — from the day of its 
 founding, by William Lowndes, through the 
 long years of civic renown and the dark days 
 of desolating war. Among its sacred memo- 
 ries this flag would recall and perpetuate the 
 valor and devotion of the one hundred and 
 thirteen dead — "Fariter pietate vel armis in- 
 signis" — whom the company — one in peace 
 and three in war— gave the State and the 
 South in a cause where a brave people in 
 honest conviction shed their best blood fcr 
 their thought and feeling. 
 
 Many of those dead fell fighting on the 
 fields of Virginia, and for many of them her 
 bosom is a last resting place. 
 
 Those long years of battling sojourned on 
 your soil, the sacred bond that those graves 
 are, linking our hearts to your people, the 
 unity of heart and purpose of Virginia and 
 Carolina in the past and in the present, make 
 us turn instinctively to a son of Virginia to do 
 us the kind office of presenting our flag. And 
 as in the hour of the sorest need we would 
 have gone to the great chieftain and hero, 
 your father, so in time of our rejoicing, in his 
 name and in memory of the past, we gladly 
 come to you and ask you to do us the honor 
 of presenting to our loved corps this banner, 
 which we have endeavored to make a treasure- 
 house of memory. 
 
 We have chosen as the day of presentation 
 the 23d of February, the natal day of him 
 whose mind and heart — the common blessing 
 of the modern world — we invoke as the inspi- 
 ration of the future life of the Washintgon 
 Light Infantry of Charleston. 
 
 (Signed by a number of lady friends of the 
 corps.) 
 
 Richmond, Va., January 17, 1878. 
 Capt. W. A. Courtenay, Washington Light Ln- 
 fantry, Charleston, S. C: 
 
 Captain — Your letter of the 8th instant, 
 with enclosure from the lady friends of the 
 Washington Light Infantry, was duly received 
 through the courtesy of Gen. T. M. Logan. 
 I have expressed to the ladies my acceptance 
 of their invitation in a letter which I enclose 
 to you, and shall feel obliged if you will pres- 
 ent it to them. It will be very pleasing to me 
 to accept the invitation of the company which 
 you command, and to be their guest during 
 my stay in Charleston on their approaching 
 anniversary, and I shall most cheerfully place 
 myself at your disposal on that occasion. 
 
 Flease present to each member of your com- 
 pany my most cordial thanks for the compli- 
 
i; 
 
 ment conveyed by their Invitation, and allow 
 me to subscribe myself, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, VV. H. F. Lee. 
 Richmond, Va., January 18, 1878. 
 To the Lady Frietids of the WanhiiKjlon Light 
 Iitfantrxj, Charleston, S. C: 
 
 Ladies — 1 have the pleasure and honor to 
 acknowledge your very flattering invitation 
 to be present with you in your contemplated 
 ceremonies on the 23d of February, and pre- 
 sent, on your behalf, a flag prepared by your 
 hands in remembrance of the heroes of 1776 
 and 1861 to the company which bears the 
 name of him who illustrated in his character 
 the motto inscribed upon j'our banner. In 
 accepting your invitation, please be assured 
 of my graceful appreciation of the kind sen- 
 timents expressed therein for one whose 
 highest ambition was to serve his country in 
 her time of need, and whose heart in the 
 days of her humiliation and sorrow had no 
 throb not in sympathy with his suffering 
 countrymen. 
 
 I shall look forward with great pleasure to 
 ray visit to your battle-scarred city, being cer- 
 tain of a hearty welcome, as among your citi- 
 zens I shall meet many comrades, who fol- 
 lowed Jackson and rode with Hampton in the 
 memorable campaigns in Virginia. 
 
 With sentiments of highest esteem, I remain 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 W. H. F. Lee. 
 Governor Hampton. 
 
 The following is the letter of invitation to 
 visit Charleston on the S2d February, ad- 
 dressed by the Washington Light Infantry to 
 Governor Hampton : 
 
 Washington Light Infantry Armory, ) 
 Charleston, February 14, 1878. f 
 To his Efcelkxrij Wade Jfanipton, Governor of 
 South Carolina, ('olii)nbia, S. C. : 
 
 Governor— The Washington Light Infan- 
 try will celebrate, as usual, the Birthday of 
 Washington. We remember, with heartfelt 
 gratitude and delight, your presence among 
 us last year, at the close of that period so 
 fraught with danger to the State, and from 
 which, in the Providence of God, we had just 
 been vouchsafed a glad deliverance. We recall 
 the inspiration of your words and the good 
 cheer and moral sti'eugth your visit gave our 
 people. 
 
 We rejoice that through those high instru- 
 mentalities of your wisdom, your supreme 
 patience and devotion to Carolina, there has 
 been wrought ©ut a still further redemption 
 in the counsels of her leadership. That the 
 same spirit of wisdom and moderation, justice 
 and liberality, which made your struggle for 
 the State a great moral triumph in this land, 
 in this same spirit you have maintained and 
 are now maintaining those broad and great 
 principles enunciated as the basis of your 
 labor for new Carolina, and on which alone as 
 a foundation we believe her future welfare 
 rests. 
 
 With these memories of the recent past and 
 in the.full sunlight of a new era, rejoicing the 
 
 heart and inspiring: the mind with its beneficent 
 rays, shedding the warmth of life and the 
 light of hope, we gladly come to you and ask 
 you to do us the honor of being with us on 
 ihe birthday of Washington. 
 
 We beg to inform you that on that day, at 
 5)4 P. M., the Washington Light Infantry 
 will extend a reception to "Hampton and 
 Lee," at the Armory, where you will meet 
 your fellow-countrymen, companions and 
 compatriots in war and in peace, and where, 
 in the name of Carolina, for whom we shall 
 ask you to respond on that occasion, we bee 
 that you speak to the young men who cluster 
 fondly about the knees of our Old Mother, 
 and who will always listen eagerly to catch 
 the words of him who once again, in this her 
 civic story, has made the path of duty the 
 pathway of her glory. 
 
 You will also meet, and we beg that you in- 
 troduce to our fellow-citizens, Gen. W. H. F. 
 Lee, of Virginia, the distinguished son of the 
 great hero and chieftain, the honored guest of 
 the Washington Light Infantry, and a most 
 welcome guest of Carolina, who has kindly 
 consented to be present on that day and pre- 
 sent a flag — a symbol of the company's mar- 
 tial and civic life and a storehouse of its mem- 
 ories — to the corps on behalf of the ladies. 
 
 Trusting that you will be able to accede to 
 the wishes of those who will await most en- 
 thusiastically your coming and gladly greet 
 you once more in our midst. 
 
 In behalf of the company we are. Governor, 
 your very obedient servants, 
 
 W. A. Courtenay, Capt. 
 Geo. D. Bryan, First Lieut. 
 Alex. W. Marshall, Sec. Lieut. 
 W. Lucas Simons, Third Lieut. 
 Geo. B. Edwards, Lt. and Q'rm'r. 
 
 The following letter in reply was received 
 from Governor Hampton : 
 
 Executive Chamber, ) 
 Columbia, February 19, 1878. \ 
 
 My Dear Sir — The kind and flattering invi- 
 tation extended to me by my friends of the 
 Washington Light Infantry has been received, 
 and 1 accept it with great pleasure. I beg you 
 to convey to the company my appreciation of 
 their action in this matter, and of the compli- 
 mentary terms in which they have been 
 pleased to notify me of the honor done me. 
 
 With my earnest good wishes for the pros- 
 perity of your time-honored company, I am, 
 very truly, yours. Wade Hampton. 
 
 Capt. Wm. A. Courtenay, W. L. I. 
 
 A Relic from Fort Sumter. 
 
 The following correspondence will be read 
 with interest by brave men everywhere. It 
 covers a gift to the Washington Light Infan- 
 try of one of the two flags in use during the 
 seven months of Maj. Huguenin's command 
 of the gate to Charleston. 
 
 Charleston, S. C, February 19, 1878. 
 To Capt. Wm. A. Courtenay, the Officers and 
 Members of the Washington Ligfit Lifantry: 
 
 Gentlemen — I send you by our mutual 
 
19 
 
 friend, Mr. Tovey, a relic of the late civil war, 
 which is priceless in value for Its historic as- 
 sociations. It is the last flag that waved over 
 tbe ruins of Fort Sumter, and was removed 
 from the staff thirteen years ago to-day, when 
 the evacuation of Charleston necessitated the 
 abandonment of Fort Sumter. 
 
 This flag, and another like it, braved the 
 battle and the breeze during the seven months 
 when Maj. T. A. Huguenin commanded the 
 fort, and was torn, as you now see it, in the 
 terrific sixty day and night bombardment, the 
 severest and most continuous attack ever 
 made upoa a single garrison during the late 
 war between the States, and is sanctified by 
 the life-blood of many brave spirits. 
 
 For gallantry and devotion in Fort Sumter, 
 Maj. Huguenin gave this flag at the close of 
 the war to Lieut. Thomas P. Mikell, first lieu- 
 tenant South Carolina Regular Infantry, by 
 whom it was given to me. Since that gloomy 
 nisht in 1865, thirteen years ago. South Car- 
 olina has emerged into a new life. The issues 
 which this battle-scarred flag once represented 
 have now been finally settled, and the time 
 has come when North and South can look 
 upon this piece of faded bunting with tender 
 memories and without bitterness of feeling. 
 
 It has been my intention for many years to 
 place this relic in the custody of the Washing- 
 ton Light Infantry, partly for the reason that 
 my military service was in its ranks, but 
 chiefly because of their costly sacrifices in 
 Fort Sumter during its bombardment. It was 
 the fortune of Companies A and B, 25th S. C. 
 v., to serve several times in the garrison of 
 Sumter, a duty so severe as to necessitate fre- 
 quent reliefs. On one occasion these com- 
 mands stood at their post of duty for six con- 
 secutive weeks, and the explosion of a single 
 shell killed eleven members of Capt. Carson's 
 company, 25th S. C. V. With this feeling I 
 wish to commit to the care of those who 
 stood in Sumter during days of peril, and 
 their successors, this tattered flag in apprecia- 
 tion of the honorable record of the W. L. I. in 
 peace and war, and with the certainty that it 
 will be preserved to posterity, a constant re- 
 minder to those who come after of the self- 
 sacrificing devotion of their predecessors of 
 1861-65. 
 
 With the assurance of my deep interest in 
 all that relates to the honor and welfare of 
 my old corps, I am yours very truly, 
 
 W. George Gibbs. 
 
 Mount Pleasant, S. C.,Feb. 19, 1878. 
 Capt. W. A. Courtenay : 
 
 Dear Captain — It gives me great pleasure 
 to confirm the historical account of the flag 
 presented to the W. L. I. by Mr. W. George 
 Gibbs. 
 
 When the orders were received in February, 
 1865, to prepare for the evacuation of Fort 
 Sumter, they were of such a nature that be- 
 sides what was especially ordered to be left in 
 the Fort it would be absolutely necessary for 
 the majority of the officers' baggage, with 
 extra garrison supplies, to be destroyed, un- 
 
 less some private means could be obtained for 
 their removal. This was impossible, except 
 to a very limited extent. I was desirous to 
 secure my private effects, and therefore sent 
 my servant off the night before the evacuation 
 with my extra clothing, watch, &c. Not 
 knowing what would be the chances of war, 
 and appreciating the value of the flags which 
 had floated over our ramparts, I determined to 
 send them with my private baggage to Sumter, 
 S. C, as inthisprivate way I rightly conceived 
 they would run less risk. Accordingly the 
 day preceding by one the night of the evacua- 
 tion I cut off the two tattered battle flags 
 that had triumphantly waved from their 
 staffs, and packing them with my clothing 
 sent them to Sumter, S. C, to Mrs. Mikell, 
 the wife of Lt. Thos. P. Mikell, 1st S. C. 
 Regular Infantry, who had for six months 
 served gallantly in the Fort in various 
 capacities. Next morning I mounted a new 
 battle flag, which was hauled down at sunset 
 without having a shot fired at it. That night 
 we evacuated the Fort, and as soon as I joined 
 my brigade at Strawberry Ferry I turned the 
 flag over to the brigade commander. What 
 ever became of it is a matter of no historical 
 consequence, as it waved over the Fort but a 
 single day, was never fired upon, and no drop 
 of blood was spilt to consecrate its folds. 
 
 When the war was over I received a letter 
 from Lieut. Mikell, before mentioned, in- 
 forming me that Mrs. Mikell had carefully 
 guarded the two flags, and that they were at 
 my disposal. In appreciation of Mrs. Mikell's 
 care and attention and the gallantry of her 
 husband, Lieut. Mikell, while under my com- 
 mand, I wrote to him to send me one of the 
 flags and to keep one for himself. The flag 
 sent to me is now in the care of the Sumter 
 Guards. The flag in possession of the W. L. 
 I. is its mate. 
 
 These two flags were used at Fort Sumter 
 during my entire command of seven months, 
 during which occurred the sixty day and 
 night bombardment — the longest the fort was 
 ever subjected to — and are sanctified not only 
 by the roar of battle, but by the life-blood of 
 many noble and gallant soldiers. Very re- 
 spectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 T. A. Huguenin. 
 
 A meeting of this corps was held at their 
 armory on 5th March, Capt. Wm. A. Courte- 
 nay presiding. After disposing of consider- 
 able company business, the following preamble 
 and resolutions were then offered by Corpl. 
 J. Ancrum Simmons: 
 
 The Washington Light Infantry have been 
 greatly honored by being made the custodi- 
 ans of the battle-flag which waved over Fort 
 Sumter during the last days of its heroic de- 
 fence. The eloquent and touching letter of 
 Mr. W. George Gibbs, covering the gift of 
 this battle-scarred and tattered relic, recalls 
 memories which are softened by time, but 
 which can never be forgotten; memories too 
 sacred for utterance, best expressed in silence, 
 for who will attempt to describe the fortitude, 
 
LIBRRRY OF CUNUKt:>:> 
 
 nil mil Hill Hill iiPi I'll! mm '~ " 
 
 20 
 
 the endurance and the sacrifice, on that 
 bare acre of stony soil at the entrance of our 
 harbor? A recent writer, describing a visit to 
 the site of the ancient Mission of the Alamo 
 on our Southwestern border, tells of represen- 
 tatives of both the late contestants in its 
 tragic story, standing with uncovered 
 heads, while they read on the shaft 
 erected to its heroic defenders the 
 legend whose eloquence causes the 
 heart to pause in its pulsations. 
 "Thermopylii? had its messenger of defeat, the 
 Alamo had none," so too of Sumter; after the 
 bitterness of feeling, and the animosities of 
 the civil war shall have passed away, the men 
 of the North and the South, standing on this 
 water-bound fortress, can with uncovered 
 heads pay the homage of generous hearts to 
 the brave men who, in the discharge of their 
 duty, "held the fort" to the end. Its heroic his- 
 tory, like that of Thermopyhe and the Alamo, 
 will survive through generations yet unborn; 
 and this Hag, which we now receive, with a 
 full sense of the obligations which follows its 
 possession, will symbolize to those who come 
 after us the highest type of the martial vir- 
 tues. It may be, in the future life of the 
 Republic, that Sumter may again be the scene 
 of conflict, when the men of the North and 
 the South, of the East and the West, will com- 
 pose its garrison, with responsibilities as mo- 
 mentous as those borne by the men of 1861-65. 
 In such an emergency the past record of Sumter 
 which this flag typifies will be the standard 
 of their duty; for what American soldier in the 
 future would dare do less on this historic site 
 than those of the past, and thus this historic 
 standard which has braved the battle and the 
 breeze, the symbol of a duty faithfully dis- 
 charged, of an honor unblemished in the 
 sorest need, will be the inspiration and im- 
 pulse to other heroic actions. In this spirit 
 ■we accept this relic, and will transmit it with 
 affectionate care to posterity. Be it there- 
 fore 
 
 Resolved, That the Washington Light Infan- 
 try accept with reverent hands and hearts the 
 flag of Fort Sumter. That they tender to the 
 donor, W. George Gibbs, Esq., their sincere 
 acknowledgments for the honor done them 
 by placing this flag in their custody, and that 
 he be elected an honorary member of the 
 corps. 
 
 Hesoh'cd, That Maj. T. A. Huguenin, who so 
 gallantly defended Fort Sumter as Comman- 
 der under this banner, be also elected an 
 honorary member of the corps. 
 
 The Flag of tlie Palmetto Kegiment, S. C. 
 v., carried in tlie Mexican AVar, 1846-47. 
 
 The following letter was then read: 
 Charleston, S. C, February 22d, 1878. 
 Capt. Wni. A. Courienay, Was/miglon Lkjlit 
 Infantry : 
 Dear Captain — Appreciating the interest 
 that you and the members of yonr corps take 
 in the collection of mementoes of the past, for 
 their careful preservation, and having one in 
 my possession which came to me through a 
 
 011 711 577 ft ' 
 
 member of your corps, and which, though but 
 a fragment in itself, I know you will value 
 for the associations connected with it, I have 
 determined to commit it to your keeping. 
 It is a fragment of the Regimental Flag of the 
 Palmetto Regiment, which was carried by 
 that Regiment in every engagement in which 
 they participated in the war with Mexico ; 
 and which I am proud to know, was the first 
 fiag of any Regiment, either volunteers or reg- 
 ulars, which floated within the city of Mexico, 
 and which was the last to leave it. 
 
 I prize it highly, and only part with it to 
 commit it to the safe keeping of your corps; 
 at the same time wishing them as bright a 
 future as their past has been honorable. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Lewis F. Robertson, 
 Late 2d Lieut. Co. F., Palmetto Reg't, S.C. V. 
 
 Lieut. Alex. W. Marshall submitted the fol- 
 lowing preamble and resolutions: 
 
 The Washington Light Infantry desires to 
 place on record their sense of obligation to 
 Ex-Lieut. Lewis F. Robertson, Company F., 
 Palmetto Regiment, S. C. V., for the great 
 honor done them in the presentation of a 
 fragment of the State Colors, borne by that 
 distinguished command from Vera Cruz to the 
 city of Mexico in the brilliant campaign of 
 1846-47, under Gen. Winfield Scott. This 
 fragment of blue silk, with its faded fringe, 
 carries us in memory to Contreras, Cherubus- 
 co, Chapultepec and the Garita de Belin, and 
 recalls the historic fact of the flag of the Pal- 
 metto Regiment being the first to wave in vic- 
 tory at the capital of Mexico. Charleston was 
 represented in that Regiment by "Company 
 F," otticered by Blanding, Manigault, Robert- 
 son and Bell. Thirty years have passed away 
 since the remnant of that command was wel- 
 comed home, and the highest honors of the 
 State and country bestowed upon them. Dur- 
 ing this long period this little relic has been 
 carefully preserved by the gallant and public 
 spirited donor, and it now comes into our cus- 
 tody that it may be preserved to posterity. 
 We give it a worthy place in our armory, in 
 close association with the full roll of the 
 officers and men of that Regiment now adorn- 
 ing our head-quarters. It will be valued with 
 the Eutaw Standard and the Fort Sumter Flag, 
 as tokens of South Carolina's historic past, 
 and will ever repeat to each and all of us the 
 injunction: "Sons be worthy of your sires." 
 Be it, therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That the Washington Light Infan- 
 try accept with proper pride this little souve- 
 nir of South Carolina's historic past; that it 
 will be carefully preserved, not only for its 
 military associations, but as well in testimony 
 of the gallant donor's record in that chival- 
 rous Regiment. 
 
 Resolved, That Lieut. Robertson be enrolled 
 as an honorary member of our corps; and a 
 copy of these proceedings, duly attested, be 
 forwarded to him by the Secretary. 
 
 Both preambles and resolutions were unani- 
 mously adopted.