University of South Carolina Libraries
V : IFi-'-V-"-? Vol. I? ORANGIJBURG, S. C.; FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1879. No. 29. SHERIDAN & SIMS, Proprietor. SUBSOItll'TION. One Year....$1.50 }?!x Months.i.O? Ministers of the Gospel.1.00 Advhutisemkntb. .First Instertlon.31.00 Each Subsequent Insertion.GO Liberal contructs mado for 3 month and over. I JOB OFFICE IS i*KEPABEI> TO DO ALL H-IKPSO? *Tol> Printing THE ED18T0 RIFLES. ?o? A BISTOBT of this gallant coups fjrom its organization. The fpb\&?lfg $fj?t|$rt?'al sl^lch tff thoEdisto Rifles from the organization of the Company down to the present time was read by Gen. Jas. F. Izlar at the late pic-nic of the Compay : FiUiLwos and Fellow Soldieus :? That ancient historian, Charles Hol lin, sayo: "History has with reason been called the evidence of time, the Jight of truth, the school of virtuc,the depository of events, and, if the ex pression may bo allowed, the faithful messenger of antiquity." And ngain, ."Tho first duty of an author, who in tends to compose a history, and to transmit the knowledge and remem brance pfnast|a?tiodi |b posterity as, %o make choice bi a subject, greift no blo and affecting, which by the va riety and importance of facts, may render the render attcntivo, and keep him always in a kind of busy suspense; and lastly engross and please him by the nature itself of the events, and the good success that ter minates them." Your request thai I should give you a sketch of the his tory of the "Edisto Rifles" from its earliest organization down to the pres ent time, has furnished me with a sub ject "great, noble and affecting." A subject "which by tlie variety and importance" ot the facts conneotod and interwoven with it, is calculated to arrest your attention, engross your .mind, and enlist your sympathies and finally to entertain and please, by a recital of the stirring events, thrilling incidents, and wonderful achievmenls of that grand arm}' of which your gallant company formed a part. But wbi|e'yo^r-,k|pdnos8,has lurnished the true1 subject, I shall not arrogate to myself the title of histo rian of the "Edisto Rifles" of wliose history you are so justly'proud, but leave that pleasant and agreeable duly to some abler and more eloquent pen. I shall endeavor ouly to give a brief, faithful and accurate account of the organization of the Company, the names of the olllceiJ and men, who from timo to lime composed, and commanded it, and the engagements during the recent \yar in which it took part. , ? Tlie "Edisto Rifles" were organized in the year 1851. It was a volunteer corps, and was attached to the Four teenth Regiment, South Carolina Mi litia. The first Captain was John.. J. Salley, a native of Orangeburg Coun ty, who bad received a military train ing and education at West Point. His commission as Captain of the Edisto Rifles was issued by Governor Means, aud bears date the 1-Uh day of October, 1851. His rank dated from 17th July, 185V. < John J. Snl Jey still lives?a man honored and respcoted in bis community, -as a good citizen, a faithful friend, and a Christian gentleman. May, the life history of the first Captain of the Ed iato Rifles, teach useful and valua ble lessons to un the survivors, the present members, and to those whoj bnd|ie. furore sbajLcompose the rank ana die of our worthy*ana not undistinguished corps. The ofllcera with Capt. John i J. Salley were First'lAeutenanl, John V. Glover, SecbUd Lieutenant, .-, and Third Lieutenant,-. About the -day of-, 18?, Captain Salley resigned, when First Lieutenant John V. Glover was pro moted to the Captaincy of 'the com pany, and continued in tlj.u position until lie was promoted to the otlloe pf Major of tho Fourteenth Regiment Sonth Carolina Militia. First Lieu tenant William L. Ehney was then promoted ^o the Captaincy, cf the company and so remained until the pompany volunteered for active ser vice.. The ordinanpq of secession was passed on tho 20th of t)cccmbcy, I860. This action of South Carolina is one of the greatest political cvenls in her history. It is connected with a civil war, which in its magnitude and importance, in its bitterness and hate, in its crushing and direful re sults, stand? unequaled in tho history of any age, and of any people. The very mention of your name carries us back to those days, and leads the contemplative mind to review the causes which led to the secession of South Carolina from tho Amdrtc&n Union?the progress of tho g^g?aptic revolution which followed ; the char acter of the brave und gallant men who topk part therein ; and the re suits which followed the surrender o tho grand old Army of Northern Vir ginia. Each of these rellections fur nishes (.n subject fraught w|th. many valuable und useful ^Iesstuf?, *?rfd which as survivors and descendants of those brave and noble men who took part therein, should carefully and reverently contemplate aud study. For no ono should be wholly ignorant of the history of this mighty struggle for freedom from oppression and wrong, by the people of the South. Secession, in the language of Dr. Dabney, in his life of Stonewall Jack son, "was uo dishonest after-thought, suggested by a growing sectional am bition, but the ancient, righteous remedy, td whdplJrthe lofttherul States Were reluctantly.-. dr|vf>Q by <& l?ng course of treachery and oppression." Tho secession of South Carolina, says an honest historian, "was had without discussion, and with pin feet I unanimity ; the pcoplo of the State J were convinced that tho Bcason for discussion had passed and the season for action had arrived." "Oh. land of heroes! Spartan State! In numbers few, in daring great, Thus to affront the the frowns of fate." South Carolina immediately set about preparing to defend that inde pendence which she had by tho ordi nance of secession resumed, ' and which her people, educated as States Rights Democrats of the "most straightcst sect," felt and believed they had a right to resume, from the nature and spirit of the covenant en tered into by tho States in their sov crign capacity. In the first twelve months' Regiment raised for this pa triotic purpose the Edisto Rifies, with full rs^swb/age.- hear Island au es prit deTofp^wWch-^eri^d the com mendation of all ollicers and men with whom they came in contact, mustered for service?aud by their prowess and deeds of daring upon many hotly contested fields, won for themselves laurels which will never fade, while the names of Wagner and Sumter are remembered among men, or while the heroic deeds of the Army of Northern Virginia adorn the pages of the faithful historian. The history of the Army of North ern Virginia, with which was connec ted the immortal Lee, the intrepid Jackson, and our own gallant Hauip toe und fearless Hngood, is destined to live forever. Tho cause for which it fought and suffered, is lost, but its splendid achievements will ever be remembered by a brave and patriotic: people ; win encomiums from those who opposed it, and excite the ad mi raliou of tho world, long after the last survivor of that grand army ia "oil'duty forever." The able and .candid historian of the Army of the Potomac, in epeqk ing of its achievements, adds theso words, which, says Miss Mason, in her life Of Gen. Lee, may be accepted as a not unworthy epitaph from a generous enemy: "Nor cau there . fail to , arise the image of that other :arniy;t?au Ws the adversary of the Army of the Po tomac, and which?wjio can ever for get that once looked upon it??that array of "tattered uniforms and bright muskets ;" that body ofineoin parable infantry, the. Army of North eru Virginia, which for years carried the revolt on its bayonets, opposing a constant liout to the mighty con centration pf power brought against it, which'r^cCi<Ting ter'rible'blows did not fail to give the like, and which, yital in all its parts, died only with its annihilation." In that array of "tattered uniforms and bright muskets" were the Edisto Rifles. They formed a part of that "incomparable ipfaptry," When volunteers were called for the Edisto Rifles, with but a single { exception, marched to the front, ea ger and ready to go "where pnmpr Grcs light Ihc.rcddencd sod." Num bers of the bravest and best blood of the county, moved by tlm some im pulse, ftrcd hy the same zeal, and urged by the same pariotic motive flocked to our standard. It was deemed proper that the company should re-Organize, each member look ing to what he concoived to bo the true interest of tho organization, and tho impending issues. An election was had when the following olHeors were chosen : Captain, Thomus J. Glover; First Lieutenant, John V? Glover; Second' Lieutenant. John H. Felder; Third Lieutenant, Jas. F. Iz lar. j Shortly thereafter a regiment of ten compnnjes was formed, composed of five companies from Qrangeburg District and five companies from Barnwell District. The Edisto Kifies was one of the coirpauies composing this rogiment. This was tbo first regiment South Carolina Volunteers for twelve months service. Johnson llagood, afterwards Brig General llagood, was elected Colo nel, Thomas J. Glover, Captalu of tho Edisto Rifles, was elected Lieut Colonel, and Walsou A. O'Cain was elected major. In consequence of the election of Thomas J. Glover to the ofllco of Lieut-Colonel of tho First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, First Lieutenant John V. Glover was pro moted to the Captaincy of tho Edisto Rifles, a position which he had held once before. Second Lieut J. H. Feld er was promoted to the office of First Lieut, and Third Lieut. Ja?. F. Iz lar to tho office of Second Lieutenant, and S. N. Kcnuerley, then a sergeant iu the company, was elected Third Lieutenant. . . ?. With these officers, and a company numbering about 115 or 120 men rank and file, tho Edisto Rifles enter ed the service. The First Regiment South Caroli na Volunteers wns on James Island during tho bombardment of Fort Sumter 12th April, 18G1. The regb mcnt left for Charleston on 10th April, 18G1 ; was at tho Race Course on the 11th April, 18Glrnnd on the morn lug of the 12th April, 18G1, crossed over to James Island, and ou the night of the 12th April 18G1, was teansferrcd to Morris Island. The regiment remained on Morris Island in active service until 18G1, when it was ordered to Or angeburg, S. C. Shortly after going into camp at Orangeburg the regi ment was relieved from dutyvi. ? ? A number of tho Edisto Rifles, fir ed with patriotic zeal, and panting for more exciting scenes, left for the seat of war in Virginia. Among whom were First Lieutenant John II. Feld er, Orderly Sergeant Samuel Dibble, D. J. Rowe, W. C. Meredith, Theo dore Kohn, E. J. Felder, These gallant sons of South Caro Una connected themselves with the Palmetto Guards, a company then connected with tho Second Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina Volun teers commanded by Col. J. B. Ker 8haw, and took part in the memora ble battle of tho first Mananasas, on Sunday, the 21st day of July, 1861. From the exposure and fatiguing marches incident'i to this great battle uud great victory Lieut. J. II. Feldci novCr recovered. He returned home sick and exhausted; He died on the j -of-, 1861, ami was buried I with military honors by a detachment j of the Edislo Rifles. He was a kind friend, (J good citizen, a brave sol dier, and c, noble gentleman. His death produoed profound grief in the hearts of all who hud the good for tune to know him, and especially was this grief seen und felt by tho mem bers of Iiis own company, where his merits were best known, and his loss most keenly felt. Shortly after the first battle of Muuassas the First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (llagood's) was again called out. The Edisto Rifles, nothing daunted, obeyed orders as good s?ldiers' arc wont to do, and again took their place in line. The regiment (Fiist S. C. V.) rendez voused at Summervillc, at Which i place it remained for a short time, doing ordinary camp duty and drill ing, when it' was ordered to Coles' Island. ,on the sea coast of South Carolina. At this placo tho Edislo Rifles remained on duly, until the re organization in 18G2. The oiliccrs of the company during the lime of its service on Coles' Island were: John V. Glover, Captain ; James P. Izlar, First Lieutenant; SamuelN. Kenner' ly, Scooiul Lieutonunt; Samuel Dib ble, Third Lieutenant. Samuel Dib ble having been elected to fill tho va cancy caused by the promotion of Lieutenants Izlar and Jvcnnerly after the death of Lieutenant Felder. While on Coles' Island the term of enlistment of tho Edisto Rifles expir ed. The officers and a majority of the members immediately re-cnlisted ! for tho wnr, thus preserving their compaiiy organization in tact. Those of tho members (or most of them) who did not re-onlist in tho Edislo Rifles, sought other companies and arms of the service, where they serv ed their country faithfully and with honor and orcdit to themselves. The Kdisto Rifles and St. Mat thews' Rifles, after reorganizing and enlisting for the war, oonncctpd them selves with the Eutawbattalion, and tiius formed the basis of |>)ip Twenty fifth Regiment Soutli Carolina Vol unteers. Six other companies hav ing joined the Eutaw Battalion, the Twenty-fith Regiment South Carolina Voluteers was orgauized with Chas. H. Simqnlon as Colonol, Johu G. Presslcy as Lieutenant-Colonel, and John V. Glover as Major. The pro motion of Captain John V? G/lover again caused a change in tho officers of the the Edisto Rifles. First-Lieut. James F. Izlar x;i\s made Capiaip, | Second Lieutenant Samuel N. lyen. nerly was made First Lieutenant. Third Lieut. Samuel Dibble was made Second Lieutenant, and Ser geant Geo. II. Elliott was elected Third Lieutenant. In 1862 and 18G3 the Twenty-fifth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers did duty on James Island and Morris Island, atFoit Sumter,,and in North Carolina. The first man wounded in the company was Luther Meyers, in a skirmish at Legare's on James Island, July 17, 182:3. S. P. Hall was wounded in the same engage ment. Tho first man k'.Ued in the company was Moses A. Rawlinson, at Battery Wagner, September 4th, 18G3. Evan Myers wounded same day. The Edisto Rifles were a part of the garrison of Battery Wagner, the last four days pieceeding its evacua-> tion, and were among tli'o last troops that left the island. In July, 18G3, Lieutenant Samuel Dibble was captured on Long Island, whilo on special duty under orders from the General commanding. lie was kept a prisoner at Johnson's Is land until -, 1864, when he was exchanged and returned to duty with his company. * During the yenr lSf^J3ol. John son Hugopd, of the First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, was com missioned Brig-General, and Lieut Colonel Thos. J. Glover was promot ed to the Colonelcy of the regiment. This gallant and brave olllcer lost his life ut the head of his regiment at the Second Battle of Manasus. This be loved citizen, this noble soldier, this .true patriot, this peerless christiao gentleman was a member of the Edi sto Rifles, and was proud of your name, and of your beming as men and as soldiers. His life and charac ter are woithy of your study and imi tation. He wus mortally wounded ?Olu August, 1862, and died the fol lowing day. In 18G4 the Twenty-fifth South Carolina Volunteers Wero ordered to Virginia, and composed a part of I la good's Brigade. The regiment arriv ed at Petersburg on ihc morning of the Gib of May, 1864. I copy from a report of cssiudties in the Entflw Regiment, Twenty-fifth South Caro lina Volunteers, in the engagements of tho Gib and 7th May, 18G4, at Port Walthal Junction, published at that time,the following items: "On the evening of the Gth compa nies G., II. and I., commanded re spectively by Captains' Izlar, Ham mond and Brown, under command of Maj. John V. (5lover, engaged the enemy, when the following casualties occurred : Company G.? Capt. J. F. Izlar, commanding j wounded, private S. R. Hall, severely in leg." "On the 7th the entire regiment was engaged throughout the day, un der command of Lieut-Col. John G. Presslcy. The following is a list of the casualties on Hint day : Company G., Capt. J. F. Izlar commanding; killed, sergeant d. E. Rust and pri vate L. W. Jenkins; wounded, pri vates E. E. Innbinet, severely in leg, J. M. O. Molimin, slightly in side, E. Ott, slightly in head." On tho 10th May, 1864, tho Edisto Hilles were in the engagement at Swift Creek, near Petersburg. No casualties. On the 16th Muy, 1801, tho whole regiment was engaged in the battle of Dairy's Blulf. Casual ties: Company G., Capt. J. F. Izlar, commanding; killed, Lieutenant G. II. Elliott, Corporal J. R. Kcunerlcy, Privates M. L. Austin, G. W. B. Fairy, F. S. Inabinet; wounded, Or dcrly Sergeant Benj. P. Izlur, severe ly, Sergeant J. H. Hook, severely, Corporal T. Mohn, severely, Privates John Ashc, severely, J. II. Avant, slightly, E. II. Irick, severely, A. J. Smoak, severely, O. J. Syphrctt, slightly, B. IT. Sanders, severely, Murray RobjnsQu, slightly, Henry Brown. May 18, 1804, severo skirmish at Burmudu Hundred, lasting all day. No casualties in Edisto Rifles. On the 3d of June, 1804, the whole regiment was again engaged in the second battle of Cold Harbor. In this battle the Edisto Rifles seile ml no loss. Mr. (Jooke, iu his life of General Lee, speaking of this en gagement, says : "On the morning of the 3d of June, soon after daylight, General Grant threw his whole army straight forward against Lee's front, all along his line. The conflict which followed was one of those bloody grapples, rather I ban battles, which, discarding all manoeuvring or brain* work; in tho Commanders, depend for thp result upon the brute strength of tho forces engaged. The action did not last half an hour, and iu that time the Federal loss was thirteen thousand men." A few days aftor this battle the Edisto Rifles lost Private Louis F. Rush, a faithful and brt\vc soldier. Major John V. Glover wns also wounded at Cold Harbor on tho ? day of June, 1864, and died at How ard Grove Hospital on the lGth day of June, 1804. This was one of the severest blows that could have befal len the Twenty-fifth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. Major Glover had hut few equals as a regimental commander. Intelligent, cool, brave and fearless, he never was known to falter in his duty, and uuder the most trying circumstances always displayed the genuis of a consum mate commander. John V. Glover and Gco. II. Elliott received the first j lessons, which so eminently fitted them for the positions they occupied, iu the Edisto Ritles. We cannot for get these brave, noble spirits, and the gallant men whom they led. ??They wero slain for us, Ami their blood flowed out in vain for us, lied, rich and pure, on the plain for us; And years may co, but our tears shaUl (low O'er the dead who have died Ul vain for us." After the battle of Cold Harbor the Twenty-fifth South Carolina Vol unteers did duty in the trenches at Petersburg. Theie Sylvanus P. Hall, a good soldier and true, was killed. On the 2l3t day of August, 1804, the whole Regiment was engaged in the battle of the Weldon Railroad. This has always bsen considered the severest engagement iu which the Edislo Rifles took part. In this en gagement the company was com manded by First Lieutenant Samuel N. Kennerly. Hagood's Brigade went jinto this battle with about seven hun dred men. Alter the tight the whole number fit for duty was about two bundled. The Edisto Rifles suffered severely. Killed: Lieut. SamuelN. Kennerly; Privates?G. B. Crider, Jacob Culler, F. J. Frcize, W. W. Taylor. Wounded: Orderly Scrg'i Benj. P. Izlar, Ccrp'i Wus. Panning; Privates, J. P. Bruce, Joseph Graves, J. D. Ott. The following lines written by J. Blytiie Allston, an olliccr iu Hngood's Brigade immediately after the charge at the battle of the Weldon Railroad, are so gruphic and truthful that I cannot forbear quoting them, notwith standing their length : Scarce seven hundred men they s and, In tattered, rude array, A remnant of that gallant hand,' Who erstwhile held the sea-girt strand Of Morris' Isle with iron hand 'Gainst Yankees' hated sway. Seeessionville their banner chum?, Ami Sil inter, held 'mid the flumes, And the dark battle on the streams Of Pocotalligo; And Waithars Junction's hard-earned tight. And Drury's BlufTfl embattled height, Whence, at the gray dawn of light, They rushed upon the foe. Tattered and torn I hose banners now, Rut not les< proud each lofty brow Untaught uk yet to yield; With mien unblenched. unfaltering eye, Forward, when bombshells shrieking fly Flecking with smoke the azure sky? On Wcldou's fated field. Sweeps from the woods the hold array. Not theirs to falter in the fray. No men more sternly trained than they To meet their deadly doom; While from a hundred throats agape. A hundred sulphurous flames escape. Round shot and cannin'er and grape Tho thundering cannons boom! Swift on their flank with fearful crash Schrapuel and hall a mingling dash, And bursting shells, with lurid flash, Their dazzled sight confound: Trembles the earth beneath their feet, Along their front a rattling fheet Of leaden hail concentric meet. And numbers strew the ground. On, o'er the dying and the dead. O'er mangled limb ami gory head, With martial look, with martial tread, March llngood's men to bloody bed, Honor their solo reward: Himself doth lead their battle line, Himself their banners guard. ? They win t'?e height, those gallant few A lieroer struggle to renew, Ilesolved ns gallant men to do Or sink in glory's shroud ; But scarcely gain its stubborn crest, Ere'from tho ensign's murdered breast An impious foe has dared to wrest That banner proud. Upon him, Hagood, in their might! Flash on ihy soul the Immortal light Of those brave deeds that biazon bright Our Southern cross, lie dies; unfurl its folds again. Let It. wave proudly o'er the plain, Tho dying shall forget their pain, Count not their loss. Then, rallying to your chieftain's call. Ploughed through by cannon shot aud ball. Hemmed in as by a living wall, Cleave back your way. Those bannered deeds their souls in spire. Borne amid sheets of forked lire, By tho Two Hundred who retire, 01 that array. Afc, Carolina] well the tear May dew thy cheek; thy clasped hands rear In passion, o'er their towerlcss bier, Thy fallen chivalry! Maloncy. minor of rhu brave. And Sellers lie in glorious grave j No prouder fate than theirs who gave Their lives to liberty. In December 18G4, Hagood's Bri gade was stationed on the Darby Town Road near Richmond, Va. While here Joseph Graves was elect ed Second Lieut, to fill the vacan cy caused by the death of Lieilts. El liott aud Kenncrly. In an attack on tbo lines priv:\te Jeff. Stokes, of the Edis to Rides was wounded. In the latter part of December, 1864, Hagood's Brigude was transferred to Wilming ton, N. C. On the 14th day of Jan uary, 1865, Hagood's Brigade was ordered to Fort Fisher. A portion of the Brigade, including a portion of the Edisto Rifles* reached the Fort on the 15th day of January, 1865. This was accomplished under the tire of 583 guns from tho Federal fleet, under command of Admiral Porter. The Edisto Rifles were stationed on the sea face of the Fort. In the af ternoon of the 15th the Fort was as saulted by the land forces under com mand of Gen. Terry. In this assault the marines also took part. The lat ter were handsomely repulsod by the Edisto Rifles and other troops of Ha good's Brigade. The forces of Gen. ferry, however, succeeded in carry ing the Fort by assault, aud at nine o'clock that night the Fort was in the I possession of the enemy, and the gar rison were prisoners. In this engagement, Peter Wolfe, a youthful soldier ofjthe Editto Rifles, lost his life, while gallantly fighting with his company. He was a nqblc boy. May bo rest in peace. The following were tho captured of the Edisto Rifles i Capt. Jas. F. Izlar, Lieut. Joseph Graves, Orderly Serg't Benj. P. Izlar ; Privates, H, L. Bailey, W. E. Craw ford, Charles Bailey, D. W. Dautzlcr, J. A. Ilolstine, S. P. Hook, A. M. Izlar, D. P. Murphy, M. F. Antley, I. T. Shoemaker, B. 11. Sander?, J. L. Scott, W. C. Rives, L. A. Irick, J. II. Arant, D. T. Bo/ard, C. G. In abinet, A. J. In?hmet, Fred Myers, Jesse S.mdford, Elmore Ott, Elias Ott, Luther Myers. Of these the fol lowing died at Elniirn, N. Y., while in prison : II. L. Bailey, March 13, 18G5 ; C. Bailey, April IS, 18G5 ; W. E. CVawford, March 8, 18C5 ; D. W. Dantzler, April 1, 18G5 ; J. A. Ilol stine, March 7, 18G5 ; S. F. Hook, March 8, 18G5 ; Jesse Sandford, -, -. David F. Murphy died bison way home after his release frcm prison. Capt. Jas. F. Izlar and Lieut. Jo seph Graves were taken to Fort Co lumbus, where they remained prison ers until paroled. .< Captured at Fort Anderson private Henry Brown imprisoned., at Point Lookopt. The remaining portion of the com pany was in the engagement at Town Creek, North Carolina, Lieut. Sam uel Dibble commanding. In this en gagement the following were captur ed : Lieut. Samuel Dibble, Serg't W. V. Izlar, Serg't L. II. Culler; Privates L. T. Izlar, J. C. B:zard, David Brown, Marion D. Brunsun, E. D. Irick. Of these David Brown died in prisou. These pi isoners with the exception of Lieut. Samuel Dibble, were taken to tho Federal prison at Point Look out. Lieut. Samuel Dibble was taken to Fort Delaware. This was tho last engagement in which the Edisto Rifles took part. On tho 9th of April, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia was sur rendered by Gen. Robert E. Lee, and thus passed out of existence this grand army. The Edisto Rifles took part in the following engagements: Seccssion yille. Fort Sumter, Battery Wagner, Walthal Junction, Drury'a Bluff, Wei* dou Railroad, Swift Creek, Fort Fish er, and Town Creek, besides numei ous skirmishes and rcconnoissances. From 1861 to |8?? thero were con nected with the Edisto Rifles, two ' hundred and eight men?brave, gal lant, true men. - Socioty of Friends. Editor Orangtburg Democrat; Societies of every name and order are so numerous, all over our land, that you can scarcely meet an indi vidual who docs not belong to some organization. Yet there is great room for another, i. e., the Society of Friends. The rich and intelligent, the poor and illiterate all ha"e need of true friends. Not such as tbo world gives, that will seek to injure you and then meet you with a smile, but a fcendship that is based on a true and ennobliug principle. Every community ought to form one, if not two societies, and meet every month and report; each guilty member bo reproved and required to make resti tution for said olfence. The head of each household should keep a buok, and once every week inquire of each member of the (amily if any have been 4,lying or tale bearing" lo tbo injury of others. And thu3 early im press upon every one how wrong it is to bear tales, to repeat stories to the damage of any one even though they may be true. It is a sin of no small degtee to detract from the just repu tatiou of a neighbor or friend. Thia is a very fruitful subject, Mr. Editor,.., and wc can only touch upon a few points, from which we view it. It is, a proper subject for the fireside; for it is there children leam to respect the reputation of others, or acquiro the degrading habit of tale bearing.. No better way can this habit grow with a child's growth than.on every occasion when it returns from a visit lo a neighbor or friend, for a member of the family lo commence asking a thousand and one questions, of what it saw and heard, consequently, if they see or hear nothing worthy of notice, they will tell what they did not see or hear. Never question . children unless you wish to iuslil iu them the low principle of tale bear ing. Why, if you take a man's prop erly from him und leave his good, name, he can get credit upon it with which to accumu.ale more proper ty ; you destroy his reputation, how. difficult it is for him ever to regain, it. You say, perhaps, "1 did not start, the evil story?I only repeated what was iu everybody's mouth." Ahl there's just where j our guilt- lies,-a tale bearer who seeks and takes a malicious pleasure in fabricating a scnudul to destroy the reputation of others. Even respectable people re peat reports and fail lo give, their au thor, which soon passing from mouth to mouth on the wings of gossip, a victim is made and a reputation is destroyed. ?Joforl???leiy inie hear ing is not confined to children ; wo heard a man say, not long since, that he never saw, in all his life, a worso set of people than the furmcra, their wives und daughters, for backbiting, slandering and trying generally to pick, each other to pieces. We know . it is not confined to the farmers, their wives and daughters, and he ought to havo known it, for he bus tried to far in, practice law,' and frequently stands behind the sacred desk, and'; counter, and wc do hope he is not gultty'iu that he has accused others, lie also can tell whut the wisest man said is more to be desired thun great riches. We. have never, lived in a town, village or city, ami cannot say how greatly the Society of Frieuda nre needed there. Perhaps Ihu gen tleman, though country born ami bred, has visited these places to his* satisfaction and know whereof ho 8peaketh. Now, Mr. Kditor, if wo bad a Society of Friends formed, it would correct this evil and prove a blessing in elevating the society of our country. The goldon rule ha-i never been learned bv many, and ti wore better for aomo hail not learned it at all. Perhaps when the silverv light of intellectual power.* shall burst forth from the great effort that is being made by the Teachers' Institute, and shed its gen ial rays over our land, then we will havo a society that is pure, dignified and elevating. Till then we may ex pect to hear all the evils that tho ignoramuses can create. Let us then as parents, early impress upon our children tho great duty of lespecling tho reputation of others, for wo can hardly do a neighbor or friend a greater wrong than lo injure his hon est reputation. Muslin.