The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-30
Reunion Of the 81 s. C. Rife Regi,
ment.
SsNECA CRY, Aug. 22d, 1883.

SsNECA CiTS, Aug. 22d, 1858.
The rennion Of the 2d s. &. Rife Rrgi>
ment convened TO day under cali OF Col.
Bowen, heretofore announced through the
papers.
At half past IL o'clock A. M the sur
Vlvors formed in front Of one of the hotels.
headed by Col. Bowen md Major Dendy,
md marched 10 the MinerHi Spring, about
TX hundred yards. THEY were joined by
lumber OF citizens of'h he town and surround
ng countr. Soon after their arrival MANY
of the fair tadies honored them with their
presence. taking their seats on the second
hoor of the stand At the springs.
The meeting was called to order by Col
Bowen, who explained briefly the objects
OF the meeting, which was to perfect os
Near az possible, nll the rolls OF the various
Companies for preservation rs State re-
cords in nccordnnce with the Act of IN,
General Assembly Of january 3ls, 1882
lie spoke OF thu glorious record of the I'd
South Carolina Rcgimcnt; that he felt proud
o! H. ana he felt assured TINT every sur
vivor Of the Regiment were equally so.
lie then read brief history of its organ u.
| 'Sailon, its battles, ,skirmishes, marches, &c.
TO the surrender at Appomattox of the
Army of Northern Virginia by Gen. r. Il.
Lee, April 9th, lSG5-giving in detail the
deaths, rcsignutions, promotions of the field
officers, sc.
Mnjor Dendy was called for. who respon-
ded TO the call in IN earnest specoh-he
spoke at length Of the glorious record of
the I'll South Carolina Rife Regiment We
| regret we are not able 20 give his spcech
| in full.
Lieut.. Lee, of Company A, was loudly
| called for, who came upon the stand and
delivered one Of the most beautiful and
touching speeches we ever listened to, as
follows:
Brother SO dicrs, Surrirors Of the 2nd S. c..
R!ReS, LddieS ana Gentlemen:
1t is with feeling Of mingled pleasure and
rnin That am present to take part in the
ceremonies OF this re>union-of pleasure
that wcnre nble TO greet once more comrades
on mnny II well fought field; comrncs on
| many weary tramp; survivors of the camp
the h!vouac aud the hospital; pnrtakcrs O.
| equal pcrls and common privations though
| all the clanging scenes and varied fortunes
| Of four cycnlful years, when wcstood shout.
der TO shoulder, bearing nloft ''ihc stars and
bars" and seeking, il pcrchnncc we might.
| to build up and establish Sou,hcrn Con-
| icd"racy. D't% after risum. Providence
alas dccrccd othcrwis,-iL seemed other,
wise best TO tho Powers above. And
whilst We think upon what might have
| been: upon the toll and blood and treasure
that were expended in the contest; upon
the bright hopes that were cxiiaguished in
HE fall of II state y right, when we lock unon
our Scared hnl battered bnttnlions; upon
The roll ca | Of names whose echoes com.
only from the grave: when we call to mind
the bright inccS nnl forms who enlisted So
gladly into the strugg G. and whose memorie
are outlinod so clearly on the curtain of the
past, but whose bones rests under the sol
Of every battle field from the South Carolina
Coast to the Potomac; when we think of The
sad cclips"nt APP 'matoX: Of the Sou!h bcrctt
Of her ch lircn. dispoled Of her property.
and for eight long years the prey OF n rob 'er
band, that vandal horde of lcgalizrd free
hooters; cnn we see no bright lining to the
cloud of your destiny no recompcnse for
what we have spent, endured and sutfcrcd;
no rich Legacy of faith, sclfrclnucc and
scltsncrihcr no bu!'ing Of nobcr man
hood and ota purcr pnIriolism; M increns
cd 'ovc for thc'and for which we have snc
riiicrd 80 much; no increased admiration
tor the achievements OF II heroic past; no
higher promp'inEs and brighton hops from
The retrospect Of what has been ,nlrcl
and what has been achieved!
No my fricnls, we would not. if we
could blot out the bright rrcorL Of