Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-12
at gibertp's Shrine.
AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO YEARS.
ARMS AND L. T II E RS.
CELEBRATION OF Il B4TTLE-CELEBRA-
TION OF 4 SCHOOL.
THE STORY OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.

Last Saturday was the 102nd anniversary OF
the battle at Kings Mountain, and the 2Ith
anniversary of the establishment OF Kings
Mountain Military School in Yorkville. AL
most every year since the school was estaD
lished, it has been the practice OF the Pnncl
pal. at the recurrence Of each anniversary day
to take the cadets of the school to the battle
field and there 90 into encampment for fe"
days. as a means of pleasant and healthfu
recreation from the confinement OF student
life, and further to give practical ILLUSTRATION
of camp life in the school of the soldier. The
usual custom, however, was departed from
this year, and instead of spending week IN
camp on the rugged but picturesque grounds,
which, over century ago, reverberated with
the death-rattle of the Deckard rifle, and
where was gained the "brilliant victory that
rendered Yorktown possible it was decided
that on this occasion the celebration should be
held in Yorkville, and though not Immediate
ly on the ground consecrated to one OF the
brightest pages of our Nations history, yet II
was determined that in all respects the cele'
bration of the 9th anniversary OF Kings
Mountain Military School should also as fully
include proper commemoration OF the l02nd
anniversary of the battle at Kings Mountain
as though the exercises were conducted IN the
shadow of the monumental pile sacred to the
dust of heroes inundated on freedoms altar.
True. the Battle at Kings Mountain has be-
come sstbrice-.old tale" 1t has been related
in graphic words by Losing; Bancroft has
told the story in glowing rhetoric; Preston
has repeated it in words of impassioned ora
tory it has been written, in its most minute
details and with commendable palnstaklng,
particularly and accuracy ty Lathan; III
ssthoughts that breathe and words that Durn"
has Daniels depicted to ten thousand hearers
the brilliant achievement OF those ruody
mountaneers who ''fought and dled that
nation might he born;'' Caldwell and Hayne
have immortalized it in verse; and IN modest,
but no less instructive style, was the picture
drawn. only year ago, by Spenser Cnrrell.
Yet, so long as our people are imbued with the
love of liberty, and actuated by the spirit OF
freemen, will they delight in kindling anew
the fires of patriotism which it's recitation In
cites, and profting by the wisdom its lmpor-
tant lesson teaches. The selection OF the ora
tor for 1882 was happy choice, and, as his
address, which we print in full, clearly attests,
he has treated his subject with fine literary
skill, to which was lent an additional charm
in its oratorical rendition.
The anniversary occurred on Saturday, but
it being the last day of the week, ana Tor otn-
or obvious reasons, the date was anticipated
one day, and the exercises were conducted on
FRIDAY. At II O'Clock the procession was
formed in front of the Court House Square.
The corps of Cadets of Kings Mountain Mill
tary School under command Of Adjt M. &.
Willis. of the corps, was escorted to the
ground by detachment of the jenkins Nj
ties. Lieut.. Wardlaw, followed by citizens
and ladies and gentlemen on foot and in car
riaeps the procession under direction OF Ma
ior J. R. Gardner, Marshal, and Mr.. 5. Is.
Latham, Assistant, proceeding through Main
street to the rostrum erected in Major. ) r.
Hart's grove.
The stand was beautifully decorated with
everpreens and fowers-a tribute to the
occasion by fair daughters of Yorkvllle-
and displayed upon it were the banners OF the
School one a gift from the young ladies OF
the Yorkville Female College, presented on
the opening of the School, twenty-seven
wears ago and the other the State Flag OF
South Carolina, used at the Centennial in 1851,
and afterwards presented to the X. NJ. MILL
tary School by act of the State Legislature.
On the stand were Prof William Currell
and Lieut.. j. NJ. Jenkins, of the faculty; Revs.
r. r. English and r. Latham; the orator OF
the dav; Gen. f. NJ. Law, COL w. B. Will
son, DIR. A. I. Barron, Sheriff R. H. Glenn,
and the Marshal and Assistant Marshal.
Col. Coward, Principal of the School, after
4 few congratulatory remarks, introduced the
Rev. T. R. English, who opened the exercises
with PRAYER. after which the band played the
''Centennial Lyric.''
Hayne's sCentennial Ode," written for
the celebration at Kings Mountain, in 1880,
was then recited by Col. A. Coward.
After music-the "Marseillaise Hymn
Col. Coward felicitously introduced the ora
tor of the day, j. Stanyarne Wilson, Esq, a
graduate of the school, who delivered the
following
GRAFTON.
Young Gentlemen Of Kings Mountain Mi'itary
School, Ladies and Countrymen:
All honor to the memory of the brave and
noble yeomanry for the deed upon Kings
Mountain one hundred and two years ago,
done by them for their glory and immortality,
and for the undying freedom of the future OF
their country
This deed we are here to-day to celebrate
once more to proclaim our pride in its achieve
ment. and to summon from the trackless Past
memories which shall revive in us chivalrlc
veneraton for the stern resolve and hardy he
roism of revered ancestry, and which shall
relume in us the fires of patriotism Which upon
that day burned so brightly. The mute plain
of Marathon is instinct with eloquent voice
that animates the traveller with enthusiastic
arlor. as it tells him of the prowess and valol
that there rorted the Asian hosts the very
rocks speak Miltiades Little to be envied is
that son of the Carolinas, of Tennessee, OF
Virginia-yea, of the Union-whose patriot
ism does not gather energy as he hears OF the
story of Kings Mountain, and of the heroes
whose names will ever speak from it's rugged
summit.
This story has been told by tongues that
could speak with an eloquence that could crap,
pie with the grandest Of themes, and lend
beauty and grace by the touch. Some OF you
have listened with wondering ears to the CO.
pious accents, that soft as the tleeces of des
cending SHOWS, fell with easy art from the lips
of South Cardinals gifted son and with rapt
souls have felt your blood to fire at the burning
words that breathed his glowing pride in the
deeds of men led by his noble grandsire.
Many of you have still fresh in your memories
the enthusiastic diction and magnificent
flights of Virginia's Orator that made tine
u. 10 Of lIX