The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-21
WL, L-BIRrHDaY BULLETINS I!
Letters from Captain James nj. oars"h
and from Rev. a. Toomer For''r'
Chaplain.

Chaplain
CHARLESTON, s. c., January s, 1878.
c. O. Irunabo, Esq, Secretary Wash'ngto"
Light Infdntry Rlfs Club:
NV DEAR SIR-No one will be more "ready
and willing" than myself to seek ITO link IN
treasured heritage the priced memoilals Vi
olden times" or to endeavor to perfetua'e
the spirit and influence Of the old washington
Light Infantry.
10 me your Invitation to accept honorary
relations with your club is truly hatterlng i0r
II ia an assurance afer all the trlals anu aim.
cultIes We have passed through togetnel Ilas
T still retsin the esteem OF my comrades IN
the late war. II there be time when friend
ship is tested and its golden links can be
broken, the hardships of four years war
have accorded that occasion to us, and II lhere
be q position In which one is liable to incur
the disapprcbatlon of his comrades more
surely than another, that held by me dqrins
this time afforded the opportanaIy. y,,donoa am
grateful to my companions lor LIB e'iuenoe
of continued confidence.
II was INV fortune to be one OF the captains
of the Washington Light Infantry from 1867 10
The close OF the war, u time the most eVeullui
10 the history of The long period Oh our COLL
pany's existence, end lime Wnen lhe coutase
and manhood of the company was put 10 ls
severest test.
Ter Secessionvie and Battery Wagner,
Drury's Bluff and Fort Sumter, Petersburg and
Fort Fisher bear witness to the "Valor oi ouI
brave comrades who have fallen, and leI
| memory ever cherish and hold dear 10 us tneir
''vlrtuee." a.. o,,,
viying members of our companies formed
charitable association. II has been instrument
| Ial in doing much good. The memory ol our
dead was sacred to us, and how could we pet
| ter show our love for them than Dy e6Ieuuins
| the hand of charity to their WldoWs agu VI
phans? Your club orlginatea Ia ,bo sau ab;scI
| formed from the ''assoctation," ana lhe ooJeo'
ron now have in view Is q commemorate QUE; QUE;
Tho t.old company" was charitable as well
ooe military ore eaniza alton. Gather together,
then. all who have ever been In any way con-
nected with us; unite the association ana lhe
club; let them be but one oana o! oiotneLe,
bearing one name, and that Inc historic name
bf the Washington Light Infantry.
Very truly, you're, c.,.o,,
CHARLESTON, January 8, 1878.
nr. 9sS: 6 6: 7'3"''' Secretary w. L. L A''s
DEAR SIR-Your communication as aec'
retary was sent to me during my prolonged
absence from the State. l beg in reply 10
tender to the Washington Light Infantry
Club, through you, my acceptancs OF the posi-
lion of honorary member, which their Kind
ness has assigned me. remember win
pleasure my former relations as chaplain OF
that distinguished corps. When eiecleo;
deemed il an honor to succeed such estlmaoie
gentlemen as the Rev. James Dewar Slmons,
the Right Rev. John England, D. D., ane the
Rev. Samuel Gilman, D. D., who were my pre-
6ecessors In office from the year 1897. believe
The position was never vacant, a. it was
nleasIng feature of that honorable orsanlZa-
lion that they never neglected to oil the once
Of chaplain. ,.,u, Tho.
Won had returned to the old date, the 22d OF
February, and to know that you propose 10
commemorate the coming anniversary, ooth
at1ipg observances. You have the proud sat-
istaciion Of feeling that, In war as 10 peace,
your record Is without stain, ana tnat "nea
your State demanded your services your duty
was performed at every cost, and, painful as
IL is to miss them from our ranks, we reJ0lce
70 know that these gallant men who fell gave
mn their lives as not TOO much, IN order mat
thew might discharge those obligations which
every patriot owes to his country.
God has given to our generation land 70
disenthrall and dlsorganized society 10 re-
model and re-establish. 1t is unbeooming 10
men 10 waste their energies in unaValllng re-
grets, or TO neglect the duties ofthe hour mere
| ~ i'm praIsing the virtues OF the heroes OF Inc
past. They were made heroes by the difficulties
thew surmounted, and the order oil the goodly
temple, which they builded out Of the chaotic
materials they had 10 shape, has given to them
a glowing place 10 history, and entitled them
to the lasting gratitude OF their descendants.
To US is now afforded the opportunity OF 30
redeemlng the present from the evils which
characterize 1t, and out Of the confusion and
disorder OF the circumstances which surround
us to create new and better building. that
fnture generations, who shall Inherit the
structure we shall erect, may look back TO US
as sons not unworthy OF our stree, Whlcn ls
10 be done, not by Withdrawing from the con-
test. or benoasing difficulties or lamentlne
over dsappointments. but 0y grasplny win
facts as tney are. There Ia wisdom and virtue
and resolution and nerve sufficient among us
10 cope with tho situation; so that, from our
unpropilious present, we can make past ior
the future to which our children may look
back, with the same proud esteem lor US mat
we have for those who have gone before u.s.
Feeling that this spirit prevails 10 an eminent
degree among yeu, and that you are as pre-
pared 10 do yeur duty 10 the demands OF the
lines as YOU have ever been, and that there
Is still an honorable field In which you may
display your ability, / am, with the oest
wishes. and the highest esteem.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. TooMEE PORTER,
E1-Chaplain Washington Light Infantry.