The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-08-17
A Call From Butler.
He Wants the Second South Carolina
Regiment in His Command.

He Wants the Second South Carolina
Regiment in His Command.
The following letter from Gen. NJ.
c. Butler, the gallant South Carolin-
ian, who is in the field as a major
general, was received by the colonel
of the second regiment Tuesday. 1t
is very much to the point.
Headquarters First division, Sec
ond Army Corps, Camp Alger, Va :,
August s.b, ls9s.-Col. Willie Jones,
Columbia, S. G, My Dear Sir: Re-
plying to your recent letter, I beg to
say camp next to the Third Vir-
ginia and first Connecticut is await
ing your regiment, which will COM
plete the brigade. I trust it will not
be occupied by another regiment, or
that other orders may not be issued
before yours reaches this camp.
What is the matter that your regi-
ment is not recruited to its full
quota!
Heretofore South Carolina has al
ways responded promptly ia calls
made upon her troops, and it is
rather Notifying to those who feel
a pride in her past history to find
her a laggard when almost every
other State has come forward with
alacrity. There must be something
wrong somewhere. In after years
it will not sound we'll to have this
State, with such a splendid fighting
record, put down among those who
failed to furnish her share OF troops
in obedience to call made by the
properly constituted authorities. Her
people cannot vindicate themselves
by claiming that there is no occasion
for their services. Congress must
have had good grounds for authoriz-
ing the enlistment and organization
of an army; and it is not for us to
question its wisdom or propriety.
Our duty is to supply our proportion
of men ''for the common defence and
general welfare" as enioined by the
constitution. Nor will it excuse US
by saying "the fighting is over" and
there is no longer need for our ser
vices. None of us can foresee how
many troops will be required to gar
rison for time at least the territory
acquired by right of conquest, and
indemnity for expenditures and sacri-
fees made for national purposes.
South Carolina's full quota may
not be needed, but she is not judge
in this instance.
have no greater interest in the
honor and character of the Staae, no
greater reason to cherish laudable
State pride than any other OF her
citizens but it is not pleasant to have
people of other States Offering to
make up our quota. 1t is reHec-
ton upon our patriotism and good
faith. 1t does not comport with the
pride we have always justly felt in
the pluck and patriotism of our peo-
ple to have them fail now in the full
measure OF their duty.
trust you will yet complete your
enlistments and report with your
regiment at sn early day, and relieve
the fair escutcheon of the State from
the stigma which is beng placed
upon it. The regiment ought to be
promptly filled to the maximum if it
serves but one month.
If it should be my fortune to be
ordered to Cuba with the army Of oc-
cupation, it would be very gratifying
to have at least one regiment from
my own State to accompany the
grand body of soldiers now constitu-
ting my division from the States OF
Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, New
Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut and Virginia. 1 have been
devoting myself to their discipline
equipment and organization, and
have no fears as to their conduct but
you can readily understand why l
would feel pride in having a body
of South Carolinians near me to
share whatever may await US.
Let me hear fully from you.