Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-29
O r. Z G Z N a T.
FOR TIE KEowEE COURIER.
Soldiers Meeting at Walhalla.

the Courier. a very largo number of tn,
soldiers of the late Confederate Army, assem-
bed i'll the beautiful and hospitable town o
Walhalla, at All early hour in the morning o
/ Saturday tho 22d instant The meeting o
many of those who had served together, an,
shared the dangers of the camp for scvcra
years, was Of an exceedingly cordial and friend
| y nature, and several hours were spent in th
interchange of greetings
In accordance with previous invitation t.
address the soldicrss Gen. WADE HAMrTo,
arrived in town and took lodgings at BIZ
MANN S fine Hotel. Large numbers of ladies
embodying much of the beauty and grace o
tho District, we're present and lent their smile
to the occasion, 80 that nothing was wantin.
to complete thi} assembly Of fair women an'
brave men.
At about eIe*cn o'clock, tho General bcin.
informed hyaScommistcc that his friends, nd
mirers, and fellow soldiers, to largo number
had assembled in front of the hotel, and woul,
be pleased to see him, appeared upon the pi
azza, and was enthusiastically received by all
| The General then addressed the assembly fo
about an hour in characteristic and clouucn
manner, which requires no comment at ou
hands III this place. The speech will arpea
in full next week.
When Gen. HAMPTON had finished spcal,
ing, Maj. j. NJ. ADAMS, of Pickcns G. II.
advanced upon the piazza and offered the fol
lowing resolution. complimentary to the Cen
cral, which met tho feelings of all, and wa
unanimously and cordially adopted:
Rcsoiuctl, That it is with unfcigncd pleas
urc and pride thnt we welcome in our mds
our distinguished late fellow soldier and con,
mander, Gen. WADE HAMPTON and that 70
such len...,. of time as he may find it agree
able to rcnain,$the hosptalitcs of the tow
of Walhalla are cordially extended to him a
the expense of this meeting.
On motion to TINT effect, the soldiers the
adjourned to the Lutheran Church to arrang
the business of tho day. On motion of Mai
S. p DENDX tho meeting was organized b
calling Col. RoB'r. A. THOMPSON to the cllai,
and requesting Capt. w II. HoLcoMnE to ac
as Secretary Col, THOMPSON, on taking tn
chair, said ss
Comraes I: Not anticipating that slou
be called on to-day, to take an active part i
this meeting, / am almost wholly unprcparc
to discharge the duties dcvolving on the Chai
at tho present timc
The object of the meeting, rs t undcrstan
it, is to form an organization, to be stylc
"Thc Soldiers Association" The object O
this Association is to gather within it's fold
all the Confederate soldiers in the District :
not to foster and keep alive that spirit and dc
termination which induced the late unfortu
nate strugglc-but rather to repair The vast
that has been prccip!tatcd on us by the war
1t will, beside, be a source Of real pleasure, il
after years, for the survivors of the late hcroi
struggle, to meet under moro benign nAucn
ces-whcn the country has been rcgcncratcd
and rescued from its present lamcmtablc con
diton by the arts of peace and the energy O
its citizens and
| "Figit their battles o'cr again.
1t will also be higher and nobcr privilcg
to extend the hand of charity to tho wdos
of our fallen comrades, and by the educatio,
of his orphan children, fill that niche in hi
drsolatc home now so much needed, and s.
urgently demanded by the best interests O
| the country.
Comrades: When the late war closed,
accepted "the situation" without reservation
of any kind whatsoever I believed then, ant
| | am now still more strongly confirmed in tha
belief, that q radical change has, by the event
of the past five years, taken place in the con
stitution and government of the United States
| believe that these changes arc irrcvocable
[ believe, moreover, that it is our duty to nc
quiesce cheerfully in these events of history
and earnestly prepare for the discharge of til,
duties of citizenship consequent thereon.
Since the foundation Of the Federal govern
ment, tho warm-hearted and chiyalrous son.
of the land, labored to retain free and indc
pendent govcrnmcnt-ono which fostcred the
cherished institutions of the country. ant