Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-01-12
'0UR, SECOND REGIMENT.

SSrSs-SSISl ltse-SStUte-snaS
1t is Now In Cuba and Is a Credit to
tho State. IA 5s5
The record made in camp by the
I'd South Carolina regiment is q
source of much qualification to the
people of this State. 1t will be re-.
membered that this regiment was
built around the independent bat.
TALON that was organized, with Major
Henry Thompson as it's commander,
on the Presidents first call for
troops. This battalion was the first
complete military organization which
this State furnished to tho Hispano-
American war. II was completed
long before the list regiment secured
its twelve companies, and finally the
battalion had to be broken to get the
larger organization into service.
When the second call for troops
was issued by the President South
Carolina's quota was designated as
two battalions, which were to be ad.
ded to the independent battalion and
from the I'd South Carolina regiment.
The battles Of Manila, Santiago,
San Juan and Ell Caney had been
fought and tho protocol signed be-
fore this regiment was mustered into
the service, but owing to the excel
lent discipline of tho command and
the martial ambitions of officers and
men this regiment was ordered kept
in the service. This splendid organi-
cation is now in Cuba, which is the
best field of operations that could be
offered it since peace has been de-
clared. g
The I'd South Carolina regiment
is the most favored in the volunteer
army in point of presents by the
Administration. 1t bears the unique
distinction of being the only volun-
teer regiment in the service that was
presented, at national expense, with
a silk regimental banner and a full
set of instruments for its band.
These were the gifts of the War
Department, secured by Lieut.. Col.
Thompson during trip to Wash
ington. The only other regiment in
the service to secure present from
the Administration was, strange to
say, Col. Wm.J. Bryan's Sd Nebraska,
which was given set of band instru-
ments.
Col. Willie Jones was appointed to
command the I'd South Carolina and
it was due mainly to his untiring
efforts that the organization was
completed. The fact that the decis-
i've battles had been fought damp
ened the enthusiasm of the people
who had thought of enlisting, and it
took hard work to fill out the last
few companies. In both the Jack
sonville and Savannah camps Col.
Jones has been appointed to act as a
brigadier general, in feet ho always
commanded the brigade during the
absence of Gen. Wheaton from
camp. He sustained himself 80 we'll
az brigade commander that there
was much talk at one time of his
promotion to brigade generalship.
Lieut.. Col. Henry Thompson is
considered by soldiers to be one of
the best drill masters in the army.
TO such degree of excellence had
he trained tho 1st battalion of the
I'd regiment that by urgent request
he frequently gave exhibition drills
in Savannah One of these drills
was at the order of Gen. Lee, who
had heard of the great discipline and
knowledge Of tactics Of this COM.
mand. When this particular exhi-
bition had been finished both Gen.
Lee and Gen. Keiffer personally con-
gratuiated Col. Thompson, and stated
that it was the best drill they had
seen in the army.
The majors of this regiment are
both well up in military matters, and
Major Wagner, of Charleston, had
a splendid compliment paid to his
business qualifications by being
appointed in charge of the entire
hospital force of the 7th corps. 1t is
matter of record that he evolved
order from confusion that one time
seriously crippled the care of the
the sick.
The I'd regiment is what might bo
called newspaper regiment, and all
chat is needed to get out q good
daily journal is q mechanical outfit.
Among tho officers there are: Edi-
tors Thompson, Gonzales, Bristow
and Parrott, while among the enlisted
men there are any number of printers
and few linotype operators.