Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/496

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 495

Believing that, should the war continue, it would be better to give the men who had so promptly tendered their services the opportunity to reorganize with a view to a longer term of service, the Convention, on the 5th of April, 1861, passed a resolution expressing the sense of that body to be, " that the sudden call which was gallantly answered by the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers now in the service, and the valuable services which that regiment has rendered, give it a just claim to an honorable discharge, as soon as the press- ing exigencies of State affairs will, in the judgment of the Governor, permit," &c.

After the capture and occupation of Sumter, the Governor, deem- ing the time arrived for the exercise of the power given him by the Convention, sent his orders, mustering out of service so much of the regiment as remained on Morris Island. The following order was sent to the Captain, and a similar one to each of the other Captains, except as to place:

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Charleston, S. C., April 26, 1861.

SIR, You are hereby ordered to conduct the company under your command to Kingston, and there be honorably discharged from the service of the State of South Carolina, as volunteers in the First regiment, under the command of Colonel M. Gregg.

The Quartermaster General is herewith directed to furnish you the necessary transportation for the execution of this order. By order of the Commander-in-Chief.

S. R. GIST, Adjutant- General of South Carolina.

In obedience to this order, the company returned to Kingston on the afternoon of the 26th of April, 1861. They were warmly received by their fellow citizens, and were commended for all that they had done. The appreciative gratitude of the people found expression in a public dinner given them a few weeks after their return. The tables were spread under the trees at the old Patterson House, opposite the Melho- dist Church. Congratulations were extended and thanks returned around the generous board.

The first term of service of the Wee Nee volunteers was now ended. The most of them returned to their homes, not with the in- tention of remaining, but only to put their business in order for a more prolonged term of service in the great war for State's right*,