The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-05
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
CELEBRATING THE DAY IN CHARLES.
TON.
The Militia Turnout-PIaying Soldier
In the Sun-Scene on the Battery-Tho
Afternoon Procession speeches at
White Point Garden-Windin8 up tho
Show, Sc.


Afternoon Procession - Speeches at
White Point Garden-Winding up the
Show, 60.
The ninety-siZth II anniversary of the Declara-
tlon of Independence was celebrated yester-
day in Charleston, according to programme,
and with, perhaps, just the slightest de-
crease of enthusiasm and increase OF
physical comfort than as compared With
the year before. The arrival OF the militia
companies on Friday evening, the reverbera-
ting drums aud screaming ffes, arsused the
enthusiasm of the small boys, and bid them to
extravagant investments in fre.crackers, but
the older birds could not be caught with chaf,
and preferred to await the developments Of
the day itself before committing themselves.
The ''old maupas" reviewed the approach
ing troops by sections, and with an eye to
business recognized the lank turpentiue hand,
the gaunt sea island feld-worker, and the
bfead-mouthed hoer of the sprouting rice.
Forthwith they repaired to their homes, and
i3every direction, and at unearthly hours Of
the night, unsteady, bare-legged urchlns stag
gered along the sidewalk OF Meeting street to-
wards the Battery, bearing broad wooden
tables, the Inverted legsOf which threatened
the branches of the shade trees. The number
of the pieces of furniture was astounding, and
showed how correctly the ''peanut maumas"
could estimate the appetites Of the rustic
militia.
By brilliant piece of foresight, the military
was called out at four o'clock A. NJ, and at
that hour the long lines of holiday soldiers
began to gather at the Military Hall. This
was the rendezvous of the
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT,
commanded by Colonel E. W. NJ. Mackey, and
composed of eight country companies from
James, Wadmalaw and Johns Islands, st.
Thomas and ST. Dennis, and the rest of the
parishes. They numbered between five and
six hundred men, and fell In fronting the
Military Hall In Wentworth street, with the
right resting on King. The regiment had
been formed bur lately, and, considering the
few opportunities they have. had of being TO-.
gether for parade, performed admirably. They
shouldered arms with precision, but carried
their guns too much like hoes. They marched
wcis WIN PSSuAASf' 3"Ah6t ~ -
they were getting over cotton beds, and fol-
lowed their file leader with almost as little
difficulty as they would have walked In the
trail of plough. the regiment, on the whole,
went through their evolutions with credit, and
were handled with considerable adroitness and
skill by their magnificent colonel, E. W. NJ.
Mackey, assisted by Lieutenant Williams, Of
the Carolina Light Infantry, who acted as bis
aajutant during the day. Preceded by band
Of music the regiment fled into King street,
and marched down to Broad street, where
they were saluted and received by the
FIRST REGIMENT,
Colonel W. N. Taft, commanding. This regi-
~ment is composed of the ten colored con-
panies of the city, and was drawn up In Broad
street, with the right resting on King. The
companies are all we'll uniformed, and seem to
be well drilled and efficient body of men,
when compared with the general run OF mill
tia. After the military honors had been paid
In form, Colonel TAFT took command OF the
brigade, assisted by Captain W. j. McKinlay,
who acted as adjntant. The responsibility OF
commanding the First Regiment thereupon
deyolved upon Lieutenant Colonel W. 81. W.
Gray, with whom rode the lrrepressible Major
Samuel DlckersOn The sable hero, blazing will
allthe pomp and circumstance OF glorious war,
bestrode ioaming bay, and as he drove his
star-shaped rowels into the heaVing TANKS
of his steed and dashed adown the gllsten-
ing line, the words OF command rose spontane-
ously to his lips like. the dlscordant groanings
from the unlubrlcated wheels of an OK cart.
Headed by the Grant Cavalry, under Major
Claussen, the brigade nov moved forward In
column, the march being enlivened by unllm-
tied drums and the strains of two brass bands.
The column moved up king to Hasel, aud
through to Meeting, down Meeting to Broad,
sasd through to East Bay, and around East
Bay and Battery to the South Battery. Along
the march q heterogeneous mass Of children,
boys and women kept abreast of the military,
raising clouds of dust and almost drowning
the noise Of the drums. In this way the crowd
swept along and settled down behind as the
brigade was drawn up in line along the
Shell Battery and fronting the distant
homes Of The "Possum Hunters Cartridges
were distributed, and a continuous fire was
kept up for some time, each volley being
hailed with cheers of delight by crowds Of
women and children In the rear. This was
little after six O'Clock. The soldiers were
soon, but the small-beer women were sooner.
Beneath every tree on White Point Garden
was spread out the tempting stores Of the
smiling vendors, and from every quarter the
clatter of an hundred whirling Ice cream churns
fell like sweet music upon the ears OF the
reeking mellsh. From hundreds of stande
he soft allurements OF cold lemonade, sweet
cakes, watermelons, &c., attracted the faintly
resisting victim in uniform, and for while
trade was brisk. Alter short rest, however,
the brigade again get under way, and march
ed up Meeting street. The First regiment and
cavalry were then dismissed, and the Fifteenth
regiment repaired to Military Hall, where re-
freshments had been prepared for them by
Co&nel Mackey. After discussing these, the
regiment was dismissed until three o'clock,
when it was summoned out to hear the
speech.maklng on the Battery.
Throughout the day the swarms OF colored
women and children upon the Battery and In
White Point Gardens never diminished, and
all seemed waiting for lie afternoon show. 1t
was regular Fourth of July weather, and the