The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-17


citizens of Charleston yesterday afternoon, and
that purpose was the paying of a tribute TO the
memory of the dead heroes of the Washington
Light Infantry by being present and partici
pating in the ceremonies connected with the
unveiling of the monument erected to thell
memory in Magnoliao Cemetery by their com
rades.
Several special trains on the South Caroline
and Northeastern Railroads were chartered by
the Washington Light Infantry, and about
o'clock left for the grounds laden with ladies
and gentlemen and children. Among the or
ganized bodies which went up on the trains tc
participate in the ceremonies we're: Washing
ton, Landmark, st. Andrews, Union kilwin
ming, Tyre, Delta, Strict Observance, Orange
La Candeur, Solomon's, Franklin, Walhallf
and Howard Lodges; Carolina Chapter, Soutl
Carolina Commandery, Survivors Association
Carolina Rifle Club, South Carolina Ranger:
Association, the German Friendly, Cincinnati
ST. Andrews. Union Light Infantry Charitable
WashingtoReArtillery Friendly, Hibernian ano
New England Societies; the visiant, Pioneer
Phefnx, Stonewall, Washington, Hook and
Ladder, No. l, Steam Fire Company of Axmen
Etna, Hook and Ladder, No. 2, Palmetto
Eagle and Hope Fire Companies.
These, with the Washington Light Infantry
Charitable Association, and ladies, children
and gentlemen disconnected with the organi'
cations, swelled the number present to be-
tween eight and ten thousand persons. But
for the forbidding appearance OF the weather,
which deferred many from going, there would
have been most probably about fifteen thous
and persons present. The stores in the city
were generally closed, and the streets wore
almost Sunday appearance.
The w. L.. I.
Before proceeding further, it would not be
amiss to give brief history Of the Washing.
ton Light Infantry. The company was organ,
lied many years before the war, and was the
first to volunteer its services toahe State. The
first war duty of the company was the guard
ing OF the Charleston Arsenal; and with Others
of the Rifle Regiment, Of which it formed q
part, took possession of and garrisoned Castle
Pinckney, in December, 1850. detachment
of the company at the same time was sent te
Fort Moultrie. The company did duty at Fort
Moultrie and about the harbor before, during
and after the bombardment of Fort Sumter
Soon after the fall of this fort, a company
was organized, chiefly from the Wash
ington Light Infantry, for the purpose OF
joining the Hampton Legion, and under the
command ofCaptain James Connor, went will
the Legion to Virginia. and shared all of the
dangers and glories Of the grand old Army
of Northern Virginia. Two of Its captains,
Connor aud Logan, became brigadier-gener-
ais, and General Johnston PettigreT went out
as private in its ranks.
The remainder Of the company remained on
duty about Charleston with the Rifle ReSi-
ment, and in February, 1852, entered into the
provisional army OF the Confederate States.
BY this time the company had increased tc such
an extent that two compa lies were organized,
known respectively rs Companies A and u,
Washington Light Infantry, and formed the
nucleuS of the famous Eutaw Battalion, which
afterward became the Twenty-ffth Regiment
South Carolina Volunteers. In this regiment
the company did duty on this coast until 1864,
seeing service at Savannah, SecessionTille, Po-
cotalgo, Battery Wagner and Fort Sumter,
and did arduous duty in picketing the sea Is
lands in the front of the enemy, during the
siege of Charleston. During this time the
regiment was incorporated in General john
son Hagood's brigade, and in 1864 was order
ed to Petersburg, and participated in the early
battles in that vicinity, for gallant conduct, In
which Hagood and his brigade won the enco-
miums of the entire army of Northern
Virginia During the long and weary siege
of,getersburg, these two companies did their
duty faithfully and well. General Hagood and
his brigade were sent 10 Wilmington, n. C.,
in 1865 During the siege OF Fort Fisher, two
of his regiments, one of which' was the 25tii,
was sent to increase the garrison of that hard
pressed fertilization, and when it fell were cap
tured with it. During the war one hundred
and siXteen' members Of the Washington
Light Infantry were killed or died from disease
or wounds:
WI. I. Charitable Association.
at the close of the war the surviving men,
bers of the two companies organized them
selves under the name Of the Washington
Light Infantry Charitable Association, not only
for the purpose of keeping alive an organlza-
ton which had fiourishsd for more than half of
century, but to minister to the wants of their
crippled comrades and afford suceor to the
widows and orphans of those of the companies
who were numbered among the slain.
Many of the dead slept in the various church
yards of the city and in Magnolia Cemetery,
while not few lay where they fell, on the
battlefield. Upon those of the graves Of the
dead which were within the reach Of the
former comrades and friends of the deceased,
betimes might be seen fresh wreath of flow-
ers placed there BY some loving hand. but in
most cases there was no other memorial to
record affection fQS him who lay beneath.
Knowing this, their heroic comrades, who
fought side by side with them, determined
that such should he the case no longer, but
that monument should be erected which
would do honor to othe memory of tine dead,
and bear everlasting evidence of the admira-
ton and love in which they were held. The
result of this determination Is noble monu-
ment, standing on grass grown knoll, near
the centre of Magnolia Cemetery, surrounded
by monumental slabs and sculptured memorial
marble, which mark the last resting places of
so many of Charleston's dead, and near which