Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-08-27
ORR'S RIFLES AT DUE WEST.
A Reunion OF the Survivors OF a GalIan
Regiment hospitality OF Duo West.

kegiment-H0spitaIty OF Duo West.
Due West, August 15.-Although
the two fine and flourishing colleges
at Due West have been closed for
the summer, that pleasant and pic.
turesque town presented lively and
an animated appearance Tuesday and
Wednesday, the occasion being the
annual reunion of the gallant sur
vivors of Orr's Rifles, one of the
most famous regiments that gave
imperishable renown to the grand
old Army of Northern Virginia.
The meeting was held in the large
and handsome auditorium of Erskine
College, one of the best educational
institutions in the South, where
many distinguished men were
trained and taught. The veterans
occupied seats on the stage and in
front of them sat large number of
sweet, fair ladies, whose grace and
gentleness charmed the hearts
of the men who fought under
the Southern Cross in the legions
commanded by the illustrious and
incompatible Robert E. Lee. On
the stage to the right of the Veterans
was a bevy of beautiful daugh-
ters of the South, who delightfully."-
sang number of stirring and
pathetic Confederate songs. Their
voices musically blended and were as
fresh and sweet as the twittering of
birds. The touching and familiar
airs were those which had cheered
the soldiers in camp, on the march
and in the bisoac. The Due West
Brass Band, talented musicians,
enlivened the day with many dearly
remembered, choice selections and
awakened ardor and enthusiasm.
The meeting opened with prayer by
the Rev. DR.. +. Y. PRESLEY, the
scholarly and beloved President of
Erskine, whose invocation was highly
impressive. DR.. PRESLEY had been
requested to deliver the welcoming
address; that he did in a graceful
and felicitous manner, which glad
dened the hearts of the Veterans.
Major B. f. Crayton, of Anderson,
a true type of a cultivated and
obivalrous Carolinian, and one of the
officers of Orr's Rifles, at the organi-
zation, made the response, which
was worthy of the day and the
cause it commemorated. He gave
a graphic and an interesting account
of the formation of the regiment at
Sandy Springs. A letter was read
from Col. J. N. Brown, of Anderson,
who had heroically commanded the
fearless 18th regiment of South Car
olina Volunteers, and who was
beloved by everyone in the brigade,
regretting his inability to be present,
and eloquently expressing his admir-
alton of Orr's Rifles, and how faith
fully and gallantly it fought through
out the war. A committee was
appointed to prepare tribute to the
members of the Association who
died during the past year.
Gen. Hemphill made brief, but
charming and comprehensive address
in which he gave the history of the
two historic flags, which were on the
stage. He mentioned how daring
and devoted his comrades had been
and how true the survivors had
remained to the followed principles
of the past. The valor of the men,
how grandly so many of them died,
the moral heroism, faith and fidelity
of the women of the war, were
recalled and recounted by Gen.
Hemphill. He thanked the ladies
who sang and the band. Miss Grer,
daughter of the late Rev. DR.. w.
M. Grier, so affectionately remem-
bered by the Veterans, recited with
feeling and fervor Father Ryan's
conquered Banner" This inoved
to tenderness and to tears the gray
haired defenders of the South and
many others in the large audience.
Miss Grier is an accomplished elocu-
ZIONIST.
Next in order came the reading of
an able article by its gifted auth or
Miss Charles, of Greenville, whose
father had served with courage and
distinction as an officer in Orr's
Rifles, and by his winning amiability
OF manner, generous nature and
devotion to duty won his way to the