The Charleston Daily News

WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY—BIRTHDAY BULLETINS!

The Orator Elect Accepts the Appointment—The Coming 22d February Programme Develops, with High Aims—Letter from Hon. W. D. Porter.

CHARLESTON, November 11, 1872.

Hon. W. D. Porter, Senior ex-Captain Washington Light Infantry:

Dear Captain—I have the honor to communicate the following resolutions, passed unanimously at our last regular meeting, held on the 5th instant:

Resolved, That the coming anniversary, on February 22d, be celebrated in such manner as will be worthy of the day and its memories.

Resolved, That the Washington Light Infantry Charitable Association be cordially invited to unite with us in securing this result.

Resolved, That our ex-Captain, Hon. W. D. Porter, the senior surviving commander of the old corps, be fraternally invited to address the club on that day.

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements.

Resolved, That our honorary members be respectfully invited to assist us with counsel and presence.

These will convey to you the purposes of our organization in a worthy attempt to revive in Charleston the celebration of the birthday of the illustrious Washington; and in mingled pride and pleasure to your good self looking over our roll we turn with feelings of an entirely new veneration, who have grown up hearing the story of your brilliant administration as commander of the Washington Light Infantry from their fathers, knowing full well your lifelong fidelity to the interests of the old corps, and who ask that the path of public duty shall be pointed out by one whose well balanced mind and purity of motive command at once their confidence and that of the whole community.

The club, you will notice, has requested the Washington Light Infantry Charitable Association to unite with them in suitable arrangements for the coming 22d of February, and it is confidently hoped that the successful accomplishment of our intentions will culminate in the bringing together of all survivors, who at any time, marched under the silken folds of the "Washington flag," and who like yourself, are doubtless ready on call "to keep step to the music of the old and the new for Auld Lang Syne."

In the fervent hope that the inspiring influences of the day may weld all the scattered Washington Light Infantry brotherhood together in a harmonious group, and that you may be the medium of fashioning and moulding the future of our organization,

I am sir, with sentiments of great respect and esteem,

Your obedient servant,

C. O. TRUMBO, Secretary

W. L. I. Rifle Club.

CHARLESTON, November 26, 1872.

C. O. Trumbo, Esq., Secretary W. L. I. Rifle Club:

Dear Sir—I am in receipt of your letter of 11th November, enclosing resolutions of the club in relation to the celebration of the 22d February, 1873. Certainly it is a good step on your part to revive and restore to its pristine splendor the commemoration in this city of the birthday of the Father of his Country. I fear you have not done the best you could in selecting me as your spokesman—I have done. Still, I feel flattered by this compliment, and also by the very complimentary way in which you have announced it; and as the "senior surviving commander of the old corps," I confess myself still subject to occasional duty, and claim to be young enough to recognize the old bugle call, and to respond to its summons. Anything of great interest to the old corps touching its honor or its fame will stir the blood in my veins and makes me feel "a boy again." As long as I live I shall so feel, and nothing that I can do in its behalf will be refused or withheld.

I accept, therefore, your invitation to address my old comrades and my new comrades on the next 22d February.

It is something to be a link between two such generations, and to clasp hands with the representatives of both; at all events, I hope to stand in the midst of you on the day appointed, and to speak to you words of soberness and truth.

Sincerely yours,

W. D. PORTER.