Year: 1864

,


w. j. Yates, Esq: 1t is with feelings of pleasure
that attempt to give you a sketch Of a dinner
gwen to our Regiment by the ladies Of Union
county, ~ e., and Lancaster district, s. e., at
Jackson Academy" near Cureton's Store, and
midway bet~eea Waxhaw and Twelve Mile Creek,
and near the spot that gave birth to that soldier
and statesman, Gen Andrew jackson, whose noble
deeds we love to admire and whose precepts We
desire to follow. The ladies of this section learn
ing the day previous that the Regiment would
pass the day following, determined 10 give us
dinner and forthwith set to work with that spirit
which always insares success, and on the morning,
appointed NJ Z Heath, ESQ, to meet the Regiment
and tender to it the hospitaltes of this patriotic
people, which l assure you was accepted net only
by the Colonel but by the Regiment, with shout
of applause which tang from one end of the Regi-
ment to the other. AS we approached the Acade-
my the first object which met our glze was large
arch of cedar extending across the road decorated
with the choicest flowers; also, above it on large
square canvass, the motto "Welcome our Defend
ers, the letters Of which made of cedar leaves.
Beneath this We all passed and broke to the right
and left and secured horses to the saplings in
the grove, then marched by squadron and formed
In mass in front of the Academy. DIR II X Cure.
ton then addressed the Colonel aud regiment invi-
ting the officers and men to partake of the dinner
prepared for them by the ladies of North and
South Carolina, reminding them that they here
stood near the birthplace Of Gen Andrew Jack
son. He then introduced Miss Anne Cureton,
who stepped forward and presented the flag bearer
with wreath composed of cedar and flowers which
she attached to the flag, saying as she did so 81
in the name of the ladies of this viciaity, present
this wreath to the 4th Regiment S. G. Cavalry,
feeling assured that the flag to which now attach
it will ever wave victorious until the last foe is
driven from our soil or buried beneath Its sod"
TO which Col Stokes replied, $50 long as one man
survived, that flag should wave victories or be his
winding sheet-this much he would say for the, ,4th
Regiment" The color bearer then responded, re-
iteratiug the words of the Colonel, aud paying a
handsome compliment to the ladies. Three hear
ty cheers were then iven for the ladies of North
and South Carolina.


The regiment then marched in order to the ia
BILE which was heavily laden not only with the
substantials of life but with all the de!icacies
which, am told, Is ever gotten up by the ladies
of this section upon all such occasions, and as
sure you did ample justice to tho dinner, every
enjoying himself by saiiating the wants of the
inner man, whilst ever and anon our eyes would
wander and rest on the smiling faces of those
beautiful and patriotic ladies, and gaze there to
catch portion of that soul inspiring devotion
which actuated them not only upon this occasion
but upon all others in which they are engaged
In conclusion, l can but say that our stay was
but short, but will long be remembered and cher
ished as green spot in the garden Of our wants
through all the various scenes through which it is
the lot OF soldier to pass. Such exhibitions of
kindness nerve the arm and inspire the soldier
with redoubled vigor to press on and achieve that
independence which the brave and patriotic ouly
deserve to enjoy.


1 now bid you farewell Duty calls US to anoth-
er field. We hope again to enjoy your kind hoe
pitalities, but under different auspices, when the
last foe shall be driven from our soil and we again
don the garb of free citizen of an Independent
South Yours In haste nPEA T0MNn