The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-07-23

The Reunion OF the Palmetto Rifemen.
Last Tuesday being the day appointed
for the reunion of the above named Conn
pany, at an early hour the Survivors and
invited guests began vending. their way
in the direction of the beautiful spring Of
Mr.. j. C. Keys, two miles West Of Ander-
son: On arriving at their destination,
they found that the Committee of Ar
|rangements had cleaned off the ground
nicely, had erected platform for the ora
tor of the day, and provided comfortable
seats for the audience.
By II o'clock the most Of the Survivors
and their friends had assembled, and after
greeting each other as only old soldiers
can who have met after years Of separa-
ton, spent short time in recalling Incl
dents almost forgotten, and fighting their
battles over again.
After music by the Young America
Cornet Band, which contributed much to
the enjoyment Of the occasion, Mayor
G. f. Tolly, in appropriate language, in
troduced Col. James A. Hoyt, distin-
guished officer of the Company, as the
selected orator of the dry.
Col. Hoyt's address was condensed
history Of the Company from its organi.
zation down to the surrender Of General
Lee at Appomatto1, and brought tears to
the eyes Of many Of the survivors as in
cidents of the terrible battles through
which they had passed were recalled to
made to Capt. Benson, Lieutenants FELTON,,
Gleason and Poe, and p. A. Keys, who,
together with the other dead, still live in
the hearts Of their old comrades, though
years have gone since they ''passed over
the river" In speaking Of the first bat
tleo Manassas, Col. Hoyt said that in
his opinion the Fourth: South Carolina
Regiment, to which the Palmetto Rifle
men were attached, had never received
due credit,fo the part acted by it in that
battle, and that to 1t, as much as to any
other command, was due the result Of
that battle. He paid fitting tribute to-
the memory of the dead of the Company
who gave up their lives fighting for what
they believed to be just cause, and now
sleep beneath the soil Of Virginia and
Tennessee We cannot in this article, and
in the limited time we have before going
to press, follow Col. Hoyt through tho
campaigns in Virginia, Tennessee and
Maryland. Suffice 1t to say that as a his
tory Of the Palmetto Rihemen, and as a
valuable contribution to the history OF
the war, Col. Hoyt sustained his reputa-
ton as writer and speaker. We hope
to be able to print the address in full at
an early day, as we have no; doubt it will
prove as interesting to our readers as it
was to the survivors.
After the address and more music, the
next thing on the programme was dinner.
A long table had been prepared. and un-
der the, skillful direction Of the ladies
was soon covered with everything that
4, - Il ,scE Na 10 t,o
tion, and leave it to those present to bear
us out, that it was the grandest spread for
q pic mic dinner that has been seen in An
derson for a long time, if it was eyer
;equalled. In tho preparation of the dish
es and in the quantity the ladies surpass-
Led themselves. Everybody had enough,
all had room at the table, and all were
waited on with dignity and politeness.
The Palmetto Rifemen owe debt Of
gratitude to the ladies for the interest
manifested in the reunion, which will
not soon be forgotten.
ilAfter dinner.Was oyer the old command
was called together to take into conside-
ration the propriety of forming Survi-
yors' Association. Gen. Humphreys was
called to the chair. After some discussion
it was unanimously resolved to form the
organization, which was effected by elect
ing the following officers:
President-Gen. W. w. Humphreys.
First Vice.P Presidcnt-Col. ]. A. Hoyt.
Second Ncc- Prcsidcnt-Lt. N. A. McCul-
Seuetary-R. e. Sloan.
Treasurer. T.. Keys.
Tho object Of the Association will be ! to
keep alive the memories of.our dead COM
rades, and, ito help and cheer the living.
It is tho intention Of the Association to
meet once year, or whenever they think
advisable, and pass day in social pleas
ure.
Thus ended one Of the most pleasant
occasions it has ever been our good for
tune to attend. The order wss good, not
a harsh word was uttered, and every one
went to his or her home the happier for
having snatched one day, ut least, from
the busy cares Of the world.
~ NOTES OF THE REUNION.
We neglected to state In the proper
place that the Survivors Association will
have 500 copies of the roll of the Palmetto
Rifemen, together with Col. HoyCs ad-
dress, printed for the use of the Associa..