Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-13
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
The anniversary celebration of Kings
Mountain Military School, was held on the
historic battlefield last Friday, the 7th in.
slant, which day was the one hundred and
first anniversary of the battle that proved the
turning point in the struggle for American
Independence.
Since the Kings Mountain Military School
was established in this place, in 1855, it has
been the practice of the principal, almost ev.
ery year, at this season, to take the cadets OF
the school to the battlefield, and on the pic
turesque grounds 60 into encampment for a
few days, including the anniversary of the bat
tie. At this season the weather isusually most
propitious for an occasion of this kind and
besides the practical illustration of camp life
thus afforded, it is pleasant and healthtul
recreation from the close confinement OF stu
dent life. On these annual excursions the
principal of the school invariably accompa'
nies the cadets, and while they are in camp,
the strict discipline of military encampment
is maintained
Previous to the organization of the Kings
Mountain Centennial Association and the
brilliant centenary celebration one year ago,
these yearly pilgrimages to this shrine of lib.
erty were conducted privately, without oSten-
tation or display. But since the Association
has, by purchase, acquired possession of the
ground on which the battle was fought, and
by the muni6cence of this State and her sister
Carolina monument has been erected to the
memory of the patriots who nobly fought
there one hundred years ago, with the view
of giving the public generally an opportunity
of participating in day of enjoyment on the
grounds, Col. Coward, principal of the school,
issued public and general invitation to all
feeling 50 disposed to meet with him and the
cadets of his school and join them in the ex'
ercises of their celebration. While there
were few in attendance from a distance, the
occasion met general approval, and in re-
sponse to special invitation to join in the
exercises of the celebration, Col. Coward
received gratifying and sympathetic letters
from Gen. Hunt, u S. A.; Governor Holli-
day, of Virginia; Mayor Courtenay, of
Charleston Judge Van Dyke, Of Tennessee;
Col. Thomas, of the Carolina Military Insti-
tute, Charlotte; Capt. Patrick, of Greenville
Military Institute; and other distinguished
gentlemen, besides from many ex- cadets and
others interested in the school.
The principal and his corps of Cadets, with
all the accessories necessary for "camping
out" marched to the grounds on Tuesday
of last week. Or Thursday afternoon they
we're joined by Capt. w. T. R. Bell, princi-
pal, and the cadets Of Kings Mountain IN.
CO. High School, who also went into camp
On Friday there was very large assem-
blage of people, estimated at about 500, in
Guiding many ladies, and representing the
States of North and South Carolina. The
day was pleasant, and the utmost good order
prevailed.
At 113O o'clock, the cadets of the two
schools Bells in front-marched from
camp, followed by the crowd, to the stand
occupied by the centennial speakers a year
ago.
The exercises we're opened with prayer by
Rev. Robert Latham, chairman of the COM
mittee on historical records and relics Of
Kings Mountain Centennial Association,
after which Col. Coward addressed the au.
dience, expressing the utmost qualification,
mingled with pride. in welcoming so many
persons as were resent on the occasion. He
alluded with feelings of pride to the efforts of
North and South Carolina, one year ago, in
commemorating, on that spot, the heroic deeds
of their ancestors, and deemed the present occa-
sion renewal Of that memento Of the glorl-
Gus history of Kings Mountain. The institu-
tion over which he presides had assumed the
name of Kings Mountain, and our sister State
also has now school bearing the same pame
the corps of which, with the principal, is pres
ent, and he was glad to welcome them to
participation in the exercises of the day, and
hoped that hereafter the two schools might
Jointly meet on these classic grounds on the
recurrence of each anniversary. He trusted
that this was but the inauguration Of a move
ment for the annual meeting of the people of
the two States to keep alive the patriotic fires
and commemorate the deed which has led to
such great results. He then announced as
the next in the order of the exercises, the sing
ing of the centennial lyric, composed by Mrs.
Clara Dargan Mclean, of South Carolina,