The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-11
Edisto Rifles Pio.nio.

on q livelier appearance than that O
lOrangeburg on Friday morning last
The sun had scarcely reached the
horizon before the rapid movements
of horses, wagons andspldiers in uni,
form indicated that a day of more
than ordinary interest had been usll.
cred in upon our quiet community.
At seven o'clock the fife and drums
began thes cal ,and scarcely q hall
hour passed be fore The Court House
Square was full of soldiers 1 yeter-
ans Of the Edisto Rifles awaiting the
order TO fall in. The members of
the present Edisto Rifles, having
formed and under the command of
their gallant Captain, Samuel Dibble,
escorted the veteran Edistos .comr
manded by Gen. Jas. +. Izlar, to the
picnic ground near the river. Soon
the road was throngcd with wagons,
buggies, carriages, horsemen and pc
destrians, all hastening TO the grounds
to take part fp the festivities;of our
national day and in the moving
crowd were to be seen many of our
county citizens and even strangers
from the adjoining counties who had
come many miles to mite with Or
angeburg's favorite command in its
annual celebration. '.'
All having arrived and .comforta-
bly, adjusted themselves in various
sections Of the grounds, the pro-
gramme Of amusements was opened
5y bag races for the little boys, the
winners in which were presented with
sticks of candy sufficiently large to
keep them happy the rest Of the day.
A target, provided with a bulls
eye, was prepared for the little gills
and grown ladies who felt disposed
to engage in such amusement. Blind
folded and armed with convenient
weapon they made some most laugh
able charges upon the target and
thrusts at the bulls eye 10 the great
diversion Of the by.standers. These
games were INDUCED until the hour
arrived for the meeting Of the war
survivors Of the Edslos before whom
Gen. Izlar gave q most interesting
historical sketch of the command
from the day Of its first organizations
near thirty years ago down to the
present time. We will not attempt
to give any part of this address at
the present time, but will publish the
whole, corrected and completed, in
a future issue Of the DEMOCRAT, for
the benefit Of our readers. Suffice it
to say at this time, that the address
was forcibly written and at times clo-
quently delivered in Gen. Izlar's hap
piost style. a pleasing feature of
this meeting was the presence, as the
presiding officer, Of the venerable
Maj. John J. Salley. who was the
first commanding officer Of the Ed
istos, having been elected their Cap
tain at the organization near Thirty
years ago. Maj. Salley is q gentle
man Of a liberal education, having
been two years at West Point in his
early life, and is highly esteemed by
the entire community and greatly be-
loved by all who enjoy the good for
tune of his acquaintance. May he
live to preside'at many such annual
celebrations Of the survivors of his
old command. i
Captain Dibble heing called on for
speech gave perhaps the only &C
ceptable excuse for not obeying the
call by announcing dinner and invi-
ting the Edistos, both present men,
bers and survivors, with their guests
to parsake of the hospitality provided
by the friends OF mis- gallant COM
mand. The citizens of Orangeburg,
both county and town, are somewhat
noted for their generous hospitality
on occasions Of this kind and it seems
always that the last is the most gen.
erous provision 80 Of this, it appear
ed the best we had ever enjoyed and
the wonder is that single Edis.o
survived it.
After dinner the target shooting
of one hundred yards took place and
the following riacmen were awarded
prizes in the order named: Lieut.
Geo. w. Brunson in three shots made