The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-01

and tie second by Corporal Mason DulrC.
The prize for the Offices was won by Lieu
One OF the pIcaSantest features Of the shoot
ing match was to see "Cncic Robert not only
enjoy the occu sion, but actually taking shot
himself.
THE PLUME DRILL.
In The evening the prize drill Gf the compa
ny took place In the Court House. The com
pany formed at their armOry and at s O'Clock
sharp, under the command OF Captain Nc
Gowan, marched into the Court House in col
unnS of twos, and at the command "twOs
left" wheeled into perfect line.
There were Two gold medals offered as
prizes. One for the best drilled "recruit,' and
one for the best drilled "vctcran."
TIE VICTORIOUS RECRUIT.
The recruits came first. They were marched
to the front and facing the iudgeS'and audi
cnce began the exciting contest with Captain
McCiUwan giving the commands. Their APP
pearance was fine, and five rounds had To br
drilled before the Judges cou decide. The
drilling Of the last four-the recruit quar-
teite-was specially good. viz: MesSrs Parker
J. w. Perrin, Jr, Sprucl and Calvert but after
Il long and hard bout the medal was awarded
to Private Calvert. The squad WIS drilled n
tcrnately by the Captain and the three ell.
eient LiCutcnants Mcssrs. Smith, LytlGoe and
T. Z. Perrin;
TIE VETERANS ENTER THE coSrEsT-FIEsT
ROUND:
Now came the "vctcrans," where Greek met
Grcek, and Il splendid CONTEST IL was. Tho
line extended entirely across the Court room
aud even To the keen and practiced military
eye presented Il solid, steady; Sodierlyappcar
ancc. The drilling WAS the finest ever seen in
Abbcville, and according to competent Judges
as good as the slate affords. Even, precise
and regular, it reflected credit alike upon
themselves and their officers.
The first drill OF the veterans. with every
man present, and each and all hopeful o1
final victory, presented tnbleau OF citizen
suldiery seldom eqnallcd, and never surpass'
cd. The drill was SO perfect, and every man
did so WELL that the Judges were unable tn
decide for or against any single one of them.
IT required still further opportunity ior even
their trained eyes to erabc them to make
judgment. They therefore, begged that the
drill be repeated, with the full company OF
veterans standing before them and the audi,
ence. With never a man missing rom the
ranks, the different commands In manual ol
arms were executed in the most correct man
npr and the judges were now compelled 10
seek the slightest defect as to time, manner,
or POSITION TO enable them to discharge the
delicate duty they had kindly undertaken.
TIE SECOND ROUND.
The second round was now entered upon
with increased interest, and at It's conclusion.
the following named members were excused
from further participation In the drill:
-
Corporal q. IL. Parks
Corporal J. l.. Mcmillan,
Private $. J. Link,
Private J. A. Hill,
Private l.. n. Seal,
Private w. ID. Wilson.
The sight of the company standing thus
with the places Of the unsuccessful members
still open, must have been suggestive. and
must have, sent an intNprcssible thril,
through the breasts of at least some OF the old
soldiers who had Witnessed the scenes of nc
tuul war, and who had stood beside the ia thers
of some of these very youths In the bloody
conflicts of The years that are gone. In actual
war many of the companies were thinned in
greater numbers 10y shot and shell, by glcam
ing bayonet and wasting disease, than was
this company in all the forms of peace anu
plpasantneSS. The feelings and emotions OF
these young gentlemen i'll their thou.htlcSS
and harmless drill perhaps had no realization
of the thrill that must come over the actual
soldier when hc Is ordered to close up anu
take the place OF fallen comrade. Inc sol.
d;er has few more impressive moments than
that when he and his comrades rc.i,Sscnble
AFTER the shock of battle to rcorganize, close
up, and fill the places made vacant by fallen
comrades i'm the conflict.
The drill in mock firing and loading, as
we'll rs the charge bayOnets, were on This Oc'
casion, nothing more nor less than harmless
sport, but there were present many men who
had passed through AL these orlcals when
the lOading was with powder and ball. and
when lead was fired ut their hearts from en-
emies who We're not much more distant than
the admiring friends Of the noble manhood
uron whom they looked with such pride and
pleasure. They hnd seen the time when tho
command to charge bayonets was serious
matter.
war, and its dreadful consequences. AS sol,
tlierS, returning To camp from The burial o
their dead. march to the most enlivcnin!
music. so let us pursue the drill with light
and happy hearts.