Saint Mary's beacon., 1889-02-14
ssoRaIaG or 7HE ARSENAL.


On the morning Of the 9th Novem-
bar, 1860. WAS informed BY Corporal
Hnley. of the Washington Light To-
fantry. in which command had been
gpanimously elected a private. that |
Vas detailed as one Of twenty picked
men 10 capture the Charleston Arse
nal that night.
Now. this was startling compile
ment that ! did not fully appreciate.
since at that time ras courting de-
ssruction on another iisld than that Of
Mars. So I tried 20 explain 70 the
corporal that ] was asked ont TO tea
that evening to meet some young Ia
dies; that it would be great disap-
pointment to them az well as myself
to break the engagement. and alec
begged him to ask the captain to pick
over. But my argument was useless.
your country calls You to do or diel''
says the corporal. and I did.
Rushing to my friends informed
them OF the compliment paid 10 my
desperate courage and soldierly quail
titles, and asked their assistance in the
way Of an armament. Right nobly
did they respond to my patriotic ap-
peal. Weapons of all sorts were free
ly offered. An old fashioned revol-
yer remember, that my friend told
me would have been worn by his ia
ther in the Mexican war, if he had
gone to that war. Another offered
me a sword that be said one of his an
cestors had bought from one Of Mar.
ions men. but as the Washington
Light Infantry had abolished the wear.
ing of swords (by the privase) as be-
ing too inconvenient at the anuiver-
sary dinners. was forced to decline
the sword. By the fair hand of wo-
man / was presented With beautiful
scarf-a tribute from virtue to valor,
as well as to keep off sorethroat; and
by my aunt with an umbrella in case oi
rain, for the night looked threatening.
Then, bidding farewell to my numer-
ous relatives, friends and acquaintan-
ces, who were by no means 80 much
distressed as / thought they should be
under the circumstances. I buckled on
my armor, consisting of two revolvers,
glass pocket pistol, bowie-knife. State
rife and bayonet, over the msgnifi-
cent uniform of the Washington Light
Infantry.
/ thought of the Leopard and CAes.
apeake. of the winter at Valley Forge.
repeated Freedoms battle once be.
gun," "The Soldiers Grave" "Dulce
ct decor1m est pro patria," (as those
who never tried it say.) "What perils
do environ him who trifles with cold
iron. and Home. sweet, sweet home. .
Thus dressed to kill I repaired to the
appointed rendezvous. the Church Of
the Holy Communion. in Ashley street,
stopping on the way two or three
times to realize chat drinking is the
soldiers pleasure," and TO say last
words to admiring friends. Arrived
at the church ! was impressed with
the solemnity of the scene; it was un.
like the last time I wore uniform al
night (the 22nd of February before)
when I answered to the 18th regular
toast-"Woman." No music. no toast.
ing. only q church and place for a
graveyard, (perhaps for nsD nothing
but the suppressed breathing of the
twenty picked men to be heard as they
sat on the church door steps waiting
for the order to "Fsll in"-which was
soon given by the Lieutenant-"ac-
cording to height" Now. as tins
amendment put me uncomfortably
near the right file. I moved that we
90 in "left in 'front.'"
This motion was duly seconded,
with q few appropriate remarks by the
tallest man, but the short onee were
too many for US. and we stood as We
were, thinking of home and the vacant
chair, and / was thinking Of her and
I wondered if she was thinking of me.
aud if she would like to be soldier
and take my place; and so / was
thinking when the Lieutenant, step
ping TO the front and centre, said /:
Soldiers of the Washington Light
Infantry: In obedience to the call Of
our country. our Captain and our
duty, We meet 90 vindicate the an
ciens renown of South Carolina, and
to keep unsullied the star that repre-
senis her on the National Banner; or
if need be. to pluck it from the starry
fold and run it on IFS own individual
hook on another role. Startling re-
ports of armed men seen nightly with
heavy guns upon their backs. going
into the Arsenal Barracks. have reach
ed headquarters. Relying upon our