The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-07-11

held, was drawn from the following
counties: Greenyille, Laurens, An.
derson, Abbevlle, Edgefield, Charles
ton, Darlington and Chesterfield. Its
commander was Col. Hugh X. Aiken,
OF Charleston, who was killed Just after
the surrender by a raiding party in the
eastern section of the State. Lieut..
Col. L.. +. Miller. of Nowberry, was
present, and represented the COM
mand.
The military companies that were
present in uniform were as follows
Capers Light Infantry, Edgefield, Capt.
j. III. Tillman Maxwell Guards, Green
wood, Capt. Evans; Abbeville Rifles,
Abbeville, Capt. Perrin; Electric CITY
Cadets, Augusta, Capt. Bryson.
The battle flags Of the Sixth, Sew
enth and Twenty-Fourth Regiments
were carried In the procession.
| The stand where the speaking took
place was in beautiful grove near the
hotel and in the business portion of the
town. The decorations were exceed
1ngly simple. The posts of the stand
were bedecked with cedar and palme,.
to. On the rear end of the stand were
| handsome steel engravings of Gen.
Stonewall jackson, Jefferson Davis and
his Cabinet, with Lee, the Farewell
Address Of Gen. Lee to his army, Gen.
Lee on military parade, and the Stars
and Bars Of the COnfederacy.
Among the prominent citizens and
old soldiers present were Gen. John b.
Gordon, of Georgia. Gen. Nj. G. Butler,
of South Carolina, Col. M. P. Carroll,
OF Augusta, Col. James Armstrong of
Charleston, Col. J. A. Hoyt of Green
vile, Gen. r. r. Hemphill of Abbe-
vile, Col. M. l.. Donaldson of Green
vile, Col. VIM. Wallace of Columbia,
Col. r.. w. McMaster of Columbia, Gen.
II. D. Capers of Charleston, Represen-
tatives Frank Gary and d. H. Magill
of Abbeville, Col. v. e. McBee of Co
sentative Yeldell of Edgefeld, Col. l..
p. Miller of Newberry, DR.. w. nj.
Grier of Due West, ex-Lieutenant Gov
ernor Mauldin, ex-Congressman john
stone, Capt. j. d. Browne, Col. r. G.
Lamar, Capt. John Guignard and Col.
A. d. Goodwin of Columbia, j. M.
Hough of Chesterfield, U. r. Brooks
of Columbia, Capt. A. P. Brown of Co
lumbia, w. II. Wallace of Newberry,
DR.. S. S. Knight Of Fountain Inn, Cal
Caughman of Lexington, Capt. j. j.
At noon the procession was formed
and marched to the stand, where the
committee and distinguished guests
awaited their arrival. Chairman Riley
opened the meeting by saying that it
was with intense pleasure that ho
greeted such an assemblage upon the
celebration of the Fourth, day which
ought to have inspiration for every
American. 1t was a happy day for
Caaolinians that they could now live
Tor one great country. He thought
that it was significant and encouraging
to see such an array of ex-Confederate
chieftains here to celebrate the glori-
Gus Fourth.
The proceedings began with fer
vent prayer by Rev. w. M. Grier, d.
D., of Erskine College.
Gen. M. G. Butler was introduced as
the master of ceremonies, and he was
greeted with rousing cheers from the
multitude. He was compelled to mount
chair in order to be seen and heard, as
did the other speakers. The cheering
lasted several minutes, and Gen. Butler
could not proceed with his remarks.
have been commissioned, said he,
to express to you the profound thanks
and gratitude which that old regiment,
the 9th South Carolina Cavalry, enter
tain for this hospitable, generous and
kind welcome on the part of the people
of Greenwood. Most of us have passed
the meridian which divides the line
between youth and old age, and the de.
scent to the grave now will be accelera-
ted by time, and in q very few years
more none will be left to represent that
noble band of soldiers, and feel au-
thOrized to state that this incident is
the most gratifying of our civic life,
and our hearts go out to you, my
| friends, with gratitude and thanks and
we wish to invoke upon you in return
| for this kindness and liberality and
generosity Gods choicest blessings.
1t has been commissioned to me also
to introduce to you that distinguished
soldier and statesman who is to deliver
the first address. We are happy and
grateful for having with us as the first
spokesman one of the most brilliant of
the leaders of Lee's grand, immortal
legion. Applause.] No less renowned
and pursuits than he was renowned as
the gallant, dashing, brilliant leader
of division in the Army OF Northern
Virginia. tApplause.]
Gen. Butler spoke in eloquent Ian
guage of the cavalry, and humorously
added that they were not altogether
buttermilk rangers. I commend, said
he, to my friend as gallant band OF
soldiers as ever fired q carbine or drew
q sabre. 1t was my distinguished
honor to command it, and l can say
that truer, more devoted, patriotic and
gallant soldiers never went into any
war.
He concluded by calling for three
good old Confederate yells for Gen
Gordon, and with one accord thousands
of throats that had not for years giver
that yell sent up such cry as has sell
dom before been heard in Carolina II
was q tremendous yell, and was giver
with vim.
GEN. GoRDoN's GREAT SPEECH.
When Gen. Gordon came to the from
and faced the audience, his brigh
eyes were bedimmed with tears O
gratitude. Gen. Gordon, naturally {
brilliant orator, has never spoken tt
better advantage than on this occasion
He had the inspiration and threw won
derful force into everything he said
1t was splendid speech, full of mean
! ing, full of sense and full of genuine
feeling.
Gen. Gordon began by expressing hi
thanks and appreciation OF the recep
tion accorded by his Confederate com
rades and. Confederate sisters of South
Carolina. He said he had NJ
prepared speech specific subject
He was here at South Carolina
bidding to greet his old comrade
and on this birthday of peoples in
dependence to counsel with them ii
the interest of that peoples welfare
and liberties. Here to recall certain