Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-08-29
Re.Union Of 0rr's Rifles.
Abbcvillc Medium, August 23d.

hopcSuIS DlcOlulnb august Z3Q,
Tho annual meeting Of tho Survivors
Association of Orr's Regiment Of Rifles
met In Seneca las. week.
This regiment was the first one en-
listed in our State 'for three years or
the war;" and it was named after Ja.nes
L. Orr, its first commander. The regi-
mopts organized when the war began
werc sworn in for only twelve months.
When Orr's Regiment was raised tho
romance of the war had disappeared and
all who enlisted then know that there
was bloody work in store for thom.
Going to tho war was no frolc Mt that
timo. A majority who enlisted wore
settled and serious minded mon. Sandy
Springs, in Anderson county, was tho
first camp of instruction. Tho annual
meetings havc been hold at that place
for twenty-five years. The change to
Seneca was made last year because of
tho dilapidated condition of tho old
tonts on the grounds.
Tho Association was formed at Ander.
son in 1878, whom a large number of sur
vivors assembled to attond tho funeral of
Col. James l.. Orr, who died in st. Petors.
burg, Russia. The body was brought
homo and many of the regiment attended
tho funeral as mark of respect to tho
memory of their first commander. Tho
next meeting was in Walhalla July 21st.
1915, and after that tho annual meetings
were held at tho old campground. Next
year tho meeting will DO at Sandy
Springs. Although the hospitality of
the people of Seneca was unbounded
and thoir welcome most hearty, there
seemed to be something lacking among
the old soldiers and they did not feel OK
actly ut home. So. on motion of r. Y.
III. l.owcry, the resolution adopted last
year to meet at Seneca, Anderson and
Abbcvllc, was reconsidcrcd and the old
plan of meeting at Sandy Springs rovivod
and adopted. This action was inspircd
by a desire to got back to The old camp
around which so many fond memories
cluster.
The custom at these annual meetings
has been to camp ont tho first night and
there was no departure from this last
week. The meeting was hold in tho old
lalr grounds, about a milo from tho
business part of tho town. A number of
buildings are on tho ground,
They were cleaned and swept out. Loads
IF fresh straw were hauled in and tho
ground floor of tho sleeping apartment
covered so rs to make comfortable and
'asy beds The veterans began to como
II by four o'clock on the afternoon of
August llth, and went out to tho camp
ground. When night came on at least
'cvcnty-tivc veterans were present, sit
ing around tho camp-frcs, recalling tho
)ast and lighting over the battles of the
war again. 1t was evident that tho old
soldiers still know how to make coffee,
or delightful aroma hung over tho
camp.
The Association was called to order at
en- a. NJ, August 18th, by the President,
tobcrt r. lIcmphill, and the proceedings
we're opened with prayer by Rev. D. w.
liott. The minutes of the last meeting
we're read by the Secretary, j. w. Thomp-
on, and confirmed. Tho President cx
pressed pleasure at seeing so many sur
'ivors present and in such fine physical
condition. The election Of officers for
he year then came on. On motion of
". U. McGi!l, Robert r. Hcmphill was
'c-o.cctcd and he thanked the Association
or the honor conferred.
The Association then unanimously
elected the following A. NJ. Guyton,
irst Vice President; II. Y. IL. Lowcry.
econd Vice President; w. ~. McGill,
hird Vice President; j. w. Thompson,
and Rev. j. Il. McBrydc, d.
D., Chaplain.
The President then read letter from
Maj. w. S. Duhlop, of Little Rock, Ark,
he gallant commander of McGowan's
'harpshootcrs, in which he spoke in the
highest terms of the patriotism and
'ravcry of George and Andy Bell, two
If the most honorcd mcmbe,B of tho
association
H. \. ii. l.owcry moved that the Asso-
i2tion reconsider its action at the last
l,ctting whereby it was determined to
discontinue meeting at Sandy Springs
md TO meet at Seneca, Anderson and Alb.
'cvillc by turns. The motion was unani-
nonsly adopted and the next meeting
will be at Sandy Springs.
The President appointed the following
committee to make all necessary ar
angcmcnts for the next meeting John
!skcw, j. y. Nandivcr, j. II. Burns, II.
|. Gray and j. w. Thompson.
The President appointed Mcssrs. w. II.
'lcGill j. NJ Phillips and D. w. Thomp-
on, committee to prepare proper rcso-
utions of respect to the memory of com
adcs resident in South Carolina who died
incc the last meeting.
The President, after brief sketch of
lac life of DR.. William Mcneil Whistler,
PRESENTED the following resolutions,
lhlch were unanimously adopted
Resolved, That this Association has
icard with great sorrow Of the death of
Dr. William Mcneil Whistler, once AS
iStant Surgeon of Orr's Regiment of
iIiIrS, McGo" ans Brigade, Army of
'orthcrn Virginia which occurred i'm |
.ondon, England, February eth, 1900.
Resolved, That wc shall ever rcmcm-
'cr his gallant conduct while serving
With MS, his skill as Il surgeon and his |
uSt and conSidcratc treatment of officers |
nd men under all circumstances.
Resolved, That wc have heard with |
ride of the honorable and distinguished
arccr of Dr. Whistler in England since
raving America.