Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-04-14
THE HOUSE OURS. AT
LAST.
How the Troops were Withdrawn
Graphic Pen Picture Of Scene that
Will he Historic

VIII nc HlSt0FlC.
COLUMBIA, Tuesday, April 10
The removal Of the troops from tile
Statc-lIousc to-day vas accomplished
50 quietly and quickly as to deprive
the 'ccnsion Of much Of its
purely dramatic interest. In all save
the one essential particular that they
were going out never to return, the
evacuation differed very little from
the usual supcrccssion Of the guard
which might have been witnessed
any time during these four months.
Governor llampton's published re-
quest, in iurlhcrancc Of his promise to
Hayes, that 40 Democrat should 20
near the State House unless author
lied By him to do so, was carried ont
to The letter. Not one was pres mt ut
the ceremony, and saw none on the
Capitol grounds, either before or after
the performance. Twenty minutes
before - o'clock, your correspondent,
with two other members orlhc press,
presented themselves ut tho front
door, and entered nncha'lengcd, al
though Il score Of inc colDrcd special
cons:ab!cs we're hanging ahn"t the
criraucc watching cur movcmcn,
With snlirn, un''ricn,liy glunves
Within doors WAS Il confused crowd
Of perhaps one hun'irc'l iiiiy.pcr-,n< !,
mostly negroes, who were moving
about ninlles-!y, .: >tAn,liag il .r,nps
Of thrccs and inurS engaged ia !rw aud
liSpi ri.c,l conversation. Here Az!
there were to be scGu ui.r nr two
smaller group; Of white Republicans
OF the better sort similarly o.clp;cl.
and all looking badly de n"ra!izel, or
TO use y homcly phrase, Je;ileIly
down in the mouth"
The guard on duty to day WAS a
detachment oftwcnty men Of Comp
any B, Second Rcgimert, under com
mand of-Licut. HAYNES. All ncccss-
ary preparations for the evacuation
had been completed before our arri-
val OH the scene, AMI the men fully
accoutrcd were resting in two rauks
and with guns stacked before the door
Of the comptrollcr-gcncral's Office,
which has been used rs offices quar-
ters during the siege. \ solitary
sentry laced up and down OH his old
heat before the Executive Office. Col.
Blacke and Adjt. Potter ,tood under
an arch, Il Few PAGES distant trc-
qncntly referring to their watches.
Gen. kugcr's aide had arrived with
the order during the morning. AMI
Col. Black was ncrvously intent upon
complying with its precise instruc-
tions rs to the hour Of departure, 10
wit; precisely twelve. His nervous
ness affected his subordinate officers,
from these itspread to the crowd, and
no second was permitted to pass al
together unobscrvc,l III its light. AT
ten minutes before II Lieut.. Harris
suddenly sounded tho order, Sat
tcnlion y which was generally OBJ
served by the crowd throughout the
building, rs well rs by the handful
Of men TO whom it was particularly
addressed. Then came in rapid sue
ccssion, Take arms" "uniix bayo-
nets" Garry arms" count fours,'
"twos right" "march !" The last
order brought the squad sharply
do"n OH the crowd, which gavc way
to allow n free passage t. the door.
But the time was not yet up, and a
sudden halt was made us the lending
file reached the south entrance. The
sentry on duty before the Executive
office, now relieved for The last time
resumed his place in the ranks, and
the command, Order arms beinr
given, the men stood ut case in their
places, The few remaining minutes
Of the ten seemed to loitcr rs they
passed. Presently tho sergeant, who
had timed his watch with tho City