Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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By E. B. MURRAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 18, 1882. VOLUME XVTT.-WO AA ^???TlAST FIA? OF '(BUCE. | cut off, of which Geo. Hill'.-. -" OD the IUtreat to Appomattox. tiaiarB. 31- Sim?, ?? Charleston Weekly Anet. It is not surprising that I should ad mire and esteem Gea. Longstreet to a fault I served for fou? years in one ??ty or another under his command ?nd never saw nor heard ft thins disre putable tc him ; his character was the hiebest as a biave and unselfish soldier. The hardest, sturdiest blows that were made by tho Array of Northern Virginia were Riven by Longstreet's corps, and rberever tho danger was greatest the old General was there in person. During the winter of 1864-5 I was on i :3 pereonal staff aa inspector of his com ffiitnd ostensibly tho First Corps, but in foci the Confederate line from Swift Ciock (about half way between Peters burst and the James River) to the Chick? ?hominy, including the artillery at Drury's Bluff and tho Howlet Houce, and a brigade of cavalry on the extreme left. We were quartered in a ?mall whitt house in rear of Kerabaw's ?ivision and between the Osborne turnpike and thc Char'"" City Road? During the month ot March. I bad made an inspection ol the artillery and means of transportation Tbeanimals were in better conditio.: than I expected to noe them. I remem ber distinctly the fine condition of thc horses of Major Johnston's battalion o: artillery. On Saturday, tbe 1st day of April, ] rode to tho extreme left of our line to in ?peet seme dams that wer? , being con atructed for defence between the Will jamsburg and Nine Mile Roads. It WAI a pleasant, cool, sonny, clear day. I re turned to quarter? late in tho afternoon very much fatigued, to find that Gran was preparing Tor a general attack ant was attacking the whole line on thi south side of the James, that be wa threatening the extreme right of th? army with a heavy force of cavalry ant infantry and that the result would be ou removal to Petersburg that night. Th< orders soon came-we were saddled by ( o'clock, but did not leave our quarter until about ll. We crossed the river oi tho pontoon bridge jUBt abovo Drury', Bluff, and rode dowry along a good ror.< in rear of tbe 'linea of defence from tb' James to Petersburg. There was con tinuous firing of small arma all alonj the Hoe during . the. night, indicating ? general movement of tho enemy. Gen. Lee's headquarters were about : mile beyond Petersburg. AB we reachei the house in which bo was quartered tb faintest grey streaks could be observed i the east indicating .tho approach of day We hitched our horses, uueaddled an spread our saddle blankets on the law for a little rest until day should com and Gen; Lee and bia military Yamil, should awake. I don't think we foun any guard or a solitary person awake r his quarters. I was tho only one of tb party who knew where the headquartei were, and I directed tho party to thci and arrived thero first or among the firs I do not think that there waa a sing! person awake on the hill. Not feeling like sleeping, Col. Mat niog of the staff and I oskea Gen. Lour, street to let us go out and scout. Th General replied he bad no objection, b never stopped a man from fighting in h life when he waa anxious for a fight. We rode out of the yard, which wt on the north Bide of a road ninnie parallel with and not a great distant from the Appomattox River, crossed tl road and Btruck out across a large ol field. We took different direction Manning going to the right and I to ? left, but each intending to strike ot line of defence about three-quarters of mile in our front. We both discovert that OUU LINKS WERE BROKEN and that not a Confederate soldier xv, to be seen. We rode up nhd down oi lines for a considerable distance withoi seeing a roldier. I finally came near a party which appeared to be a pick bivouacked in advance of our hne i breastworks, and as they were about bu way between the two linea (our own ai thc enemy's) I could not tell to whit party they belonged. I sat on my hor watching them for a minute, and th? watching me. Their arms were stack? and they were standing around a fire pr paring, I think, to make a pot of coffe After looking at me for some time th? lushed to the stack of guns and ? mov< OK They fired at U?ff without nile at a very close range, not exceeding o\ hundred and fifty yards. I rode back and oa tay woy met Ma ping about the same .place I bad lt mm. returning too to report the sac condition of things that I had observe Of course we aroused Gen. Lee and b staff and they packed up and had tht effects moved off in tho quickest tic possible. Aa soon aa we reported the facts to Gen. Longstreet we returm rapidly to make a further survey of tl situation in front of- us. A Bhort distan after crossing the road and entering t: field opposite Gen. Lee'e headquarte wo passed a Confed?rate officer ai thirteen men marching up the count hi a line almost pantiled with the riv? .they said that they belonged to O Cowan's regiment-I don't think th told us where they wrre going, and ri impression is that they were cut off some way from the rest of their coi gund and were seeking their comradi withtly Gfter P^1"8 cm w0 camo ' .nVO YANKEE BC0TJT3. They separated and Manning and I i iscted our man and pursued bim. T ?coute were on foot and were well arm with repeating rifles. I ran my m until he got out of breath, he then turn upon mo and commenced firing so rr.pl A ftt * baited for a moment to consirJ and to look and see how Manning a his man were getting on. I saw Ma ning abeu? a quarter of n mile off precisely ray situation, at bay. Withe any concert we erich struck spurs a charged our men, and fortunately for t sa vatlon of our Uvea they put off i 8Pee^ &DA crossed our line of aba ?oned defence? beforo we could overta them. We bad nothing but asabre ea and the Yankee- bad repeating riflea a plslolB-their aim was exceedingly gc and accurate for the distance and t nnitement of their running, but neiti ?f os was hit. The/ were doubtless members ol P*rty of scout? that had goue across t road aa far as tho river and were retui nK with tho ioformation, whilst tb 'en, tho greater numbc of their party * ?mall wood just abovo Gen. Le neadquarters. The day had now brok< and as we rodo back a second time wen. Lee's headquarters the sun waa j T?K DEATH OS" A. P. H1XL. p A* wo rodo on Gen. Lee and Gen. were-standing together in cl ?na earnest conference in the yard ?rout pf the house. Gen. Loe, I imagi **? giving Gen. Hill Instructions to j ?ne part of the army cut off above, or TL charge of it aud to reunite with ,j? ?'V ?>de r-f the river if possible, t ? not to move up the river on the soi posed tho grenier par?, joined^? YfTw march to' A***'Up t?e T" T our maren to Appomattox. After a short SSS wBT wittGe?. Lee Gen. Hill mounted ant. rode off withhfa non commlMioned staff. In l?? 7l,n? toj minutes he wa? killed by a ^rtv of Ya?kee scouts in a wood bJrde&be road along which he had to pass. 8 if u'I118aw ?bern and with his staff charged them The scouts wie beb Sd c2 Dd/m firiD8 into tho P*"" ??for Conners had been sont back to hurry up Fields's division which was following us from ibo north side (Richmond) du ring the night Thing? looked extreme ly gloomy. Not a Confederate soldier waa between Gen. Lee's quarters and the enemy The nearest organized force was in a redoubt on a bill a little to the left and nearly in front of us. Soon the enemy learned our situation and prepared to advanco in heavy columns. Wo had only to watch them and ap pear as if we were not at all afraid very soon we got up some light artillery and moved right up to tho enemy and opened fire. This checked them until they could evel our defences and brine forward their artillery. Tho enemy made two direct altacka or movement?. Une wf A to throw a heavy force across too road and reaching with their left to the river to prevent the junction ot tho two parts oi the army here dissevered and to cut off the retreat by this road on the south side of tho Appomattox. This waa the force with whioh we had to con tend. The other movement, which was the first necessity for the enemy to accom plish, was the capture of tho fort on; tho hill. The fort mado a very gallant resis tance, but waa forced by overwhelming numbers to surrender. Tho winter cab ins in the neighborhood of the fort were burnt and the smoke doubtless added very much to the annoyance of our men and aa a protection to the enemy. This fort captured, a. very large forco was brought against our party in tho road in front of the headquarters of Gen. Lee. Our force for a long time consisted of Gen. Longstreet's staff and a company of artillery. About 9 o'clock, I thiuk, tho first brigade, Gen. Benning'a, of Fields'? division, came up. This brigade bad not over four hundred men, I think, in ranks. But with this little brigado and a few pieces of artillery we kept a very largo force, I should think 5,000 men, AT BAY FOR TWO HOURS. Fighting in a plain open old field, too, without any obstruction even to vision. The enemy fired ve?j inaccurately-we were often within-two hundred yardB ol their line. The only casualty among us was the wounding of Manning's horse by a shell. At one time Gen. Long street's horse became BO frightened by the shower of minie bullets that he star ted to run, restrained immediately against his will, he reared and came so nearly fulling back that he tottered and had to catch a step backward to gain his balance. As additional brigades of Ficlds's di vision came up they were put in line on n good position in rear of Town Creek, to which we slowly fell back. I think that this was one of the most singularly unequal engagements as to numbers on each Bide that I ever witnessed. Just as Bratton's brigade were getting into po sition on the right of the line the enemy made a sudden' and desperate dash to cross tho canal and capture a pontoon bridge across the river. A few moments before we bad no troops there to protect it, and doubtless this fact gave both con fidence and celerity to their movements, but before they got there our people-bad just reached their position and a very sharp and bloody fight occurred, in which the enemy lost heavily. I think we lost none. About 1 o'clock our lines were firmly established and the fighting, ex cepting artillery and sharp shooting, ceased in our front. That night we evacusted Petersburg and took up the memorable march which ended a week later at Appomattox Courthouse with THE SURRENDER OF THE ARMY. I don't remember to have eaten any thing during the whole day, nor in fact until Monday morniug, about sunrise, I arranged for a breakfast for the Gener al and etaff at a country farm house and for a bundle of fodder for my horse. I bad been in the saddle for two days and two night;} almost continuously. I shall never lorget the kind treatment received tho following day at the hands of that most estimable lady, Miss Kate Cox, now Mrs. T. M. Logan. Learning that wo would pass near by Mr. Cox's resi dence I rode forward to learn tho condi tion of the ladies of the family, If they were at home, and what they intended to do in view ol the retreat of our army. They were sorely distressed to know of the misfortunes of our army and seemed moro interested in it than in their own satety. I met with the war mest greeting and the most genuine hospitality. I was asked to rido back to the main road and bring Gens. Leo and Longstreet and tho staff down. ThlB was tho last good meal that wo bad an opportunity of eating until we arrived at Major Jack Alexan der's, at Campbell Courthouse, the day after leaving Appomattox. A few days before the ormy broke up my good wife had sent me a box of hams, a small barrel of molasses and five bush els of cow-peas. Hud it not been for thia supply I don't know how we would have lived on tho march. This march wa9 a Bad and an extreme ly wearisome ono. At Amelia Court house we ?xpected rations, but were dis appointed. With the exception of a little tiff at Rice's Stntion and at Farm vllle our part of the army had but little fighting, and the day before we reached Appomattox we were singularly free from annoyance from the enemy. We expected to get through at Appomattox, I think Gen. Lee had but lillie hope, but the army did not expect a ourrendei BO soon at least. .-. , Col. Haskell's account of the last day at Appomattox and Gen. Custer coming into our lines without an escort recalh my knowledge of some of the facts con nected with tho same events. At daylight Gen. Longstreet and his staff bad taken a position near the main road on a hill a half milo in rear of Ap pomattox Courthouse, waiting to heai of Gen. Gordon's- progress, who was ir front, (and beyond tho villago from us with some cavalry and artillery and t small corps of infantry. Ho was to at tack at daylight. From some causo th< attacV was delayed and Gen. Lee rod? down the road to meet Gen. Grant t< discuss the terms of surrender propos?e at Farmville a few days before. Soot after Gen. Lee left us we got a fayorabl? report from Gen. Gordon, and Gen Longstreet asked Col. Haskell to rid? rapidly aud catch up with Gen. Lee ant report this fact to him. Shortly afte Col. Haskell left us a discouraging repor dame to un from Gen. Gordon and a mes senger was sent to overtake and recal Col. Haskell. A few moments later an othet measengBt arri?ed'from Gen. Gor don asking for reinforccaer^a/^W Ml 1 few moments another and then another stating that he waa pressed back in front by heavy numbers and was lapped on each flank. Gen. Longstreet then direc ted me to ride over to Gen. Gordon and say to him that ii he thought proper ho might send a menage to Gen. Sheridan who was in bis front asking for A 8U6PEX6ION OF HOSTILITIES until Gen. Leo could bo heard from, who had ridden down thu road to meet Gen. tirant. I founa Gen. Gordon in the centre of the Villago of Appomattox in the main street pressed very heavily iu front and threatened on each flank. I delivered him Geu. Longstreet's messago, and he at onco asked me to do him tho kindness to take the message to Gen. Sheridan asking for the suspension of hostilities, as he did uot have a single staff officer to spare. Upon a sLar. con sideration as to the proper placo to go through tho lines, it waa agreed that I should go to tho left, where the flauk waa threatened by a heavy force of cav alry, and where a sharp fight was going on between dismounted cavalrymen on each side. Just os I was leaving Gen, Gordon a member of his ?"'ilf, a Majoi Brown, came up, and he w J either senl with me or joined me afterwards-aftei I had entered the enemy's lines-I dc not now remember which. Pardon a little digression. A few weeks before leaving Richmond I had found up on Broad street some very nice towels and I invested in throe, paying $40 apiece. On this morning after dress ing I put one of these clean towels and i comb and hair and tooth brush In a sinai haversack, which I threw over my shoul ders, preparatory to oor day's adven and the departure of our headquartc wagou with our trunks and all other bag gage to parts io UB unknown from tba day to this. Cadet Alexander, of thi Gen?ral's Btaff, took charge of the wagoi and started for the mountains of Nortl Carolina, but wo never beard of it ngain I had been cautioned by Gen. Long street not to let our men know that ther was such a thought aa asking for a truce So in passing into the enemy's lines had a Very dangerous duty to perform The enemy occupied the edge ora woo< running across tho road. I had to ride end our dismounted cavalry were benin a fence paralled to the wood, ?nd som two hundred yards from it a lively figh was going on between them. I rod through a part of Gary's brigade. I di not exhibit any signal until near the en erny's line, but put spurs and dashed i os rapidly as possible, pulling out as went n towel. As soon as THE WniTE TOWEL was recognized by the enemy, which wt not until I got almost upon" them, the ceased firing at me. I was approached rapidly by a liei tenant colonel, who asked my busines I told him I wished to see Gen. Sberidai He told me that Gen. Sheridan was c some distauce, but that Gen. Custer wi near by, and that he was in command i that part ol' the line. We Btartcd up tl road to find Gen. Custer. I had con from the village and had gone but a sho distance, about one hundred yards think, when we struck about tho cent of CuBter'a division of cavalry movit at a gallop a road at right angles to tl one we were in, and leading east and the left flunk of our advanced force We turned to the left, riding briskly join the head of the column. This c vision was so u eli drilled that we foui little difficulty iu keeping a steady ai brisk gallop by the Bide of tho line in not very wide road. After gallopil some four hundred yards, I should sn we reached the head of the column Gen. Custer at its bead. He was neatly dressed, wearing a sa cont, felt hal and boots. The striki peculiarities in his features and dr? wero a sharp thin face with little bea on it, long sandy reddish bair, a red sci and an attractive scatf pin, a brillia stone in tho front of his bat and ou es shoulder-strap. He asked mo quick "Who are you, and what do you want I replied I was an officer cn Gen. Loi street's staff, but was the bearer of a m sage from Gen. Gordon, who was in co mund of the forces in his front ; tl Gen. Gordon desired me to say to G Sheridan that Gen. Leo had ridden do tho road to meet Gan. Grant, and he < sired a suspension of hostilities until could ba heard from. He replied promptly and imperative "We wiii do no such thing ; we ' are^ hind your people now and we will lia to no terms but those of an unconditi al surrender." I said, "Very mil, sir, we will ne submit to this, but you will allow me carry your mescage back to Geu. G don ?" "Certainly, sir," he said. "Do you desire to send any one w me," I asked. He said "Yes," and be directed I officers, one the lieutenant-colonel .v I first met me, and a major, to go with I Just before entering our own lines uj I my return the lieutenant-colonel, \ ! was with me, asked mo if I would plc give bim the towel which I bad displa as A FLAG OF THUCE. Tho realization of our whole situ?t the end of the four years struggle, of hopes and fears, the hardships aud dangers endured.and this miserable t ing of all bunt upon me at once, am fear, I aniwered the officer very rud "No! It is a sufficient source of re ? to know that I have used it in sue way, and I surely shall not allow yoi preserve it as a memento of our hum tion and defeat." He apologized at once, caying he mi no harm and appreciating my feeli and deeply regretted that he had w? ded them. Passing a branch some Confcdc artillery were contending with the i and mire and struggliug to get at aud to get upon the hill in front. Yankee officer, with very keen per ? ions of business, desired me to stop artillery, that in view of the prob su8pen?ion of hostilities everyt should remain in ?taiu quo. I rei that I could not do so, and from wi: learned from Gen. Custer I would n I could, as the probability was tha would not have a suspension of ho ties. I found Gen. Gordon upon my it to the villago in very much the samt sitiou that I left bim. A great i atracglers and the wounded were fi up the streets. Tho fact that somel referring to a truco had been ?ugg aprc-ad like lightning. I met Gen. before I reached Gordon, who, with I depreciated the idea of a surrender, demanded from me, ftom roy per friendship and service with hun, to ? tho status of things. I tdd him b what had happened and that a verj minutes would decide whether net. lion* leading to very honorable teri wrrendet or the fight would comm By that common consent or instiucti so inflaenced picket firing during whole wartho firing along thc lino whore I bad passet! ceased. Gen. Gordon desired me to ta* flag ovttto-thartebt and roque*! Ifbt rme? bim" to ?xUW! that his staff was with him, and that I must return to Gen. Longstreet. Redi rected Major Brown, of his staff, to go over to the right and ask for a suspension of hostilities. Major Brown came to me and asked mo for the towel I had used. I cave it to him, but, before doing so, esked him not to allow the Federal officers who came into our lines with me and wero going to return with him to get pos session of it, that I would call later in the day and gel it from him. Upon my reaching the petition where I bad left Gen. Longstreet I saw the staff all standing together, ami tbeir faces turned to the General and a Federal offi cer, who were standing off some ten paces talking. The Federal officer, who I re cognized at once, was Gen. Custer. The road in Vihich I met Custer led right down in the direction of Gen. Long street's position. Following this road, when he encountered our tcoops ho pull ed out his handkerchief and rode into our lines, when he was taken to Gen. Long street. Jost as I dismounted I heard Gen. Cus ter say something to Gen. Longstreet about tho message he had sent bini. Knowing how particular Gen. LongcU^ct was, and fearing that bo might be led by Gen. Custer to think that I nad assumed to bear a message from him (Longstreet) and not from Gordon, I walked over to where they were and stated to Gen. Long street that Gen. Custer was mistaken ; I told him that the message was from Gen. Gordon. They both ?nid that they understood it and lt was all right. 1 turned off, and, just as I walked off, 1 heard Custer oay : "Well, wo will proceed to attack al once." Geo. Longstreet replied : "Just at noon ae you please." We all got ready, but the attack wat not made. I think Gen. Custer discover ed, that while ho was on the flank anc rear of Gen. Gordon, be was not in rea; of Leo's army. And be very wisely do cided not to attack. There seemed to b< a paralyzing influence spread over bott armies at once. Some fighting went on on the extremo front and right, but thi soon dfedout, and, I think, without an; orders from any one. TUE TWO LIMES OF BATTLE stood still, looked on in wonder and amaze ment, without firing a gun. We sauntered about the top of thc hill forgetting that breakfast-time, withou any breakfast, was fast passing a was waiting for Gen. Lee to come up. should think about 9 or 10 o'clock b rode up, aud we moved down or up th road to an old barn near a branch, on th side of the roacV and waited there to bea from Gen. Grant, who had uentamessag that he would ride around to our front an meet Gen. Lee at the village of Appomn' tox. While sitting there on the rail fence remarked to Major-Gen. Field, whos division was the only OGO of tho Army < Northern Virginia intact and in eoe fighting order, that the boys in read ic History hereafter would have a hard ?H spelling out the names Appomatto: Mattaponi. Tollopotime, &c. &c. Tl General replied thatthr-v would have tl sweet consolation that they were havic a much easier time in spelling the nairn of the battles than we Had ?gi- ling ther I don't know whether this was tl scene of the apple tree or not, but the were somo old straggling apple tre growing near by. Directly a gaily dressed young Feder officer made his appearance with an o derly. dismounted, gave his horso to tl orderly, advanced to within about fi feet of Gen. Lee and delivered him message, which I think was to the effe that Gen. Grant had arrived at the vi l?ge and would see him there. Gen. Lee's answer was very short. Tl young man pulled out a memoranda book and very formally wrote the ans? in it, saluted, faced around a la militai and moved off. This was the only fora part that I observed of the surrend Gen. Lee and Gen. Longstreet a portion? of tho staff rode over to Apr lanttox Courthouse to meet Gen. Gra I did not go with the party. GJU. I returned in less than an hour. AN ARMY IN TEARS. I have never in my li ie seen the sa strong feeling, in roany instances w tears from the strongest mon, cxhibii as from tho soldiers of Lee's army at t time. A few words from Gen. Lee, to I effect: "You have done all that men< do, leave the rest to God abd bo quiet a satisfied," and bo passed on, followed a large mob of soldiers. They Boon c per?ed and everything was quiet. 1 returned to our bivouac, and found C Fairfax feasting Gen. Gregg and a i other Federal prisoners on almost the I rations that we had, very much to our < gust. Many ead and many amusing thi were done and said later in this hom gloom. Capt. Armistead, son of the General, brought me tho sword of G Gregg, the captured Federal cavalry G eral. I replied : "Keith, I don't wan I am obliged to yon." "Well, what shall I do with it?" said. "Break it up and throw lt into t gully." This I think be did. Pending the interview looking t< truce, Gen. Field and I rode leisui across the branch, which seemed by ci mon consent to be the Hue between two armies. We soon met a Fed soldier, evidently a straggler, and dire a lieutenant-colonel of Gen. Sheridi staff, I was informed. The Federal cer ordered the Federal soldier to command with an oalb, and, as he not move rapidly enough, he ruahet him and struck him with his fist, kn( ing his hat off. I turned to Gen. F and said : "General, that is West P discipline, I suppose. I'll bet you fellow graduated at West Point." ". Pli bet you," ho replied, "that he did and I'll will bet you that he kept a w key Bhop at a crois-road before the w The bet never was determined. Col. McKisaick had been badly woi -ed five months before and bad come 1 to his command on crutches. The a broke camp and he bad to follow the tunes of Gen. Lee. He occupied irregular position at Appomattox Ct house of oeing present yet reported sent on furlough. Not knowing t they would do with him, and fearing ho could not be paroled nut would be to the rear as a prisoner of war, he anxious to escape through the 1 Hearing that Gary intended to RUN THE GAUNTLET, he came up and asked my advice, vised him against it and referred to Longstreet who was standing nea Gen. Longstreet explained to him th thought it amounted todesertion. I street was the last to assent to a sum of the army, but when it was agreed he strongly favored carrying out the of the capitulation in good faith. The officers on our part to draw u; signs thc articles of capitulation Gens. Longstreet, GoixSn and Pe ton. Poor Gen. Hill had been killci Sunday before Anderson and Picket relieved from command, and Gens, aud Kershaw captured a firw^dayR.! at High Bridge. Major Generals wero scarce. I was instructed, ia paroling , Pickett's division, to give the instructions to Gen. Geo. Stuart. I met Gen. Pick-1 ett first and gave them to him. I found Gen. Mahone in a very com- ! fortable bedroom in the second story of j a house. He was being sorely bored at ! j the moment of my entrance in bis room j ; with a visit from two or three Federal i i oflicorn. They left very soon and Gen. ! ! Mahone broke out in a volley of curses ! ; upon them for their impertinence in I \ calling on bim when, perhaps, they were \ ; fr cali from burning his house or tho ; house of some good and innocent South j om man. But mon and manners change, j Upon leaving Gen. Field ? remarked, : in shaking bauds with him, I hope we ! may meet again, General, after tho war. j I hope oo, Major, bul I fear it will bo at tho nat storo-the remark of ahareupou separating from Ber rabbit, alluding to their skins meeting there. Ttuly wo have been skinned. Neiihor wealth, nor learning nor intelligence, nor virtue in any shape has been a barrier to TUE CURSED, COWARDLY OPPRESSION that bas followed car defeat and bas mr.rked every step of the dominant par ty. I have neve? seen ono bright streak in this black cloud that bas hovered over Us from 1865 to this day, and that has meant nothing but plunder, our robbery and humiliation. I have seen no respito from their petty tyrannic? from 1865 when I had to ask the Federal command ant at Charlotte, North Carolina, not to cut the buttons off my coat, to the moro miserable spectaclo I witnessed a few weeks ago in Charleston, of a United States District Attorney and a United States Circuit Judge combining to pack a jury of ignorant and vicious colored men to try thc lives, I may almost say, of our citizens. I havo seeu no respite nor have I hope of any, snvo by own manly and conservativo action. We need not appeal to them for justice and fair dealing : it bas to bo wrung from them by tho combined and united effort of every patriotic man and woman in tho country, demanding it and fighting for it, within the lines and within tho Dem ocratic party. If this sketch should come to the at tention of Maj. Brown, of Gordon's staff, or of tho Federal officer who came bnck with mo from Custer, I would like to know what became of tho towel which waa used aa a Flag of Truco. Stockholders' Meeting. The spocial train which loft hero yes terday morning for Piedmont had on board a number of tho Stockholders and Directors of the Piedmont Manufactu ring Company, including Messrs. R. L. McCaughrin, Hamlin Beattie, T. Q. Donaldson and other prominent gentle men. Tho train arrived at Piedmont about balf-post teu o'clock. At twelve o'clock tho meeting was called promptly and the report of President H. P. Ham mett was read. It is an exceedingly sat isfactory document, and gives a most gratifying exhibit of tho condition of tho factory. It in very concise and com prehensive, and begins by announcing the completion of the extension of the mill with all its appointments, it being now iu full operation. The operations for tho year ending ? , March 81, show the total gross profits to be $119,799X)5, total expenditures $23, 729.90 ; total net profita for the year ?96,069.15. The factory has paid semi annual dividends of five per cent, on tho | total capital of $500,000. or over 19 per cent, profit, despite the fact thnt tho mills lost B?X weeks time in putting in new water wheels and making nece mary changes. Tho mill as at present ar ranged has 22,496 spindles and 504 looms, with room to add 704 spindles and 24 loomB. There are 129 tenant bouses, containing 740 rooms, 118 having been added daring the year. A number of] cottages, house, outbuilding, Btables and sheds have been constructed. A new brick warehouse, with a capacity of 3,000 bales, is now being built. Since the first of September 6,000 bales of cotton have been purchased from wagons. Tho total cost of tho property bas been about $700,000, of which the Stockholders only Said $500,000, the balance being paid by 200,000 of the earnings. The stock iu actually worth 1.40 on the booka without any consideration for future prospects. The mill, with 22,496 spindles, has cost the Stockholders but $22.22 J pur spindle. The school, which is a most excellent private institution, and which is sup ported by tho Company, is in a very sat isfactory condition, and bas made much ?rogreas. The total number of scholars < urihg the year was 185, the avenge at tendance being 66. The circulating library, under the charge of Mr. Miller, is also an excellent idea, and Mr. Ham mett thinks that it has done a great deal of good, os it is eagerly sought for and generally read. The Church has been open every Sunday, and tho continuation ot the appropriations for the school, library and minister's fund is recom mended. There are 504 operatives em ployed, their children exclusively attend ing the school. Tho report was unani mously adopted. The President and Directors were thon elected, as follows : President-H. P. Hammett. Directors-Hamlin Beattie, T. Q. Don aldson, J. P. Kennedy, R. L. McCaugh rin, J. N. Martin, Wm. Lobby, Francis J. Pelzor, Sroilie A. Gregg. W. H. Bald win, jr., Wm. Woodward and Josiah LaSeil.-Greenville News. WHY 1900 is NOT A LEAI? YEAR. The year 1900, although it is divisible by four without a remainder, is not a l~'ip year, and it comes about ir. this v f y : "Under the "Julian poriod" thc solar year was considered to consist of 865 days and a quarter of a day : but as the actual or civil year could not be made to include a quarter of a day, an addi tional day was inserted in the calendar every fourth year to make up for four last quarters, and this is the 29th of Feb ruary. But the Julian method of inter calculation made ?ae year too long by eleven minutes and ten and one-third seconds. This put the calend >e ahead of solar lime one day in 129 fears; soto balance this, in the adjustment of tho calendar known as the''Gregorian," after Pope Gregory XIII, now universally adopted in Christian countries except I Russia, one of the leap years is dropped at tho close of every century, except when tho figures of the centurlal year, leaving out the two ciphers at the end, can be divided by four without a re mainder. Thus, 1600 was a leap year, and 2000 will be, bnt 1800 aud 1900 aro not. - Mahone had the honor of casting 1 tho decisive vote yesterday against the eligibility of ox-Confederates to hold offices in the regular array. Mahone is a bird of foul associations and fading plumage. A remedy resting on the bania of in* trlnsic worth domnnds the confidence of avi. Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup is known and used most satisfactorily throughout the land, as is attested by ita great sales, i Your druggists k*opj i" Ungoverned Xatures. There haveboeu of late sc* ral occur* renee?, the reporta of which have had wide publicity, which have been indica? tivo of the fact that there aro ninny per* nuns to whom the term we have used above can be truthfully applied. For these lucldenta, though widely talked about, aro after all, but samples of the results of a too-prevalent tone of mind. Hero a young woman of remarkable per* sonni beauty, in spite of tho warnings of ber parents, yields herself to bad comps* ny, and is found drowned Whether it was au accident, or suicide through re* morse, or murder, cannot yet be deter mined. But, whatever it was, it was tho ungoverned nature that led to the fatal end. A young married woman-the bride of a year-has a petulant dispute with her husbaud, and with a too-handv Eist ol puts an end to life. That her life ad been shadowed by the dissipation of her husband, only makes thc matter worse, for it reveals two ungoverned natures bound together, with vue iuuvuublo in* crea-io of resultant misery. One ce not take up a daily paper with out seeing tho record o? uianr jrlmes, and tho incidents to which wo have referred aro out of tho common, simply from the fact that they havo been moro bruited abroad. Tho world ls full of these un {;ovorned natures, and tho very air is do orouB with the cries of woe that their evil doing have caused. I Even where tho evil does uot go to the length of crime, yet how much of mis chief is wrought by this causo. Here is a homo that ought to bo tho abode of tc ce, but it is filled with jangling, 'arent quarrels with parent, child with child. The parents aro not self-controll ed, and, consequently, cannot properly control their children, while tho children aro in a staro of rebellion against their parents, only restrained, when restrained at all, by a sense of servile fear. Hero is a young man-"good-hearted" people call him-but he acts upon impulse. Perhaps he yields to the temptations of wb it is falsely called "good fellowship." H . i Hows himself to drift along on tho cv t mt of his appetite*-. and becomes a st " Or bo does nos want to appear "L ' .o" and so indulges iii extravagances ; tho end very likely is peculation and tl en -ruin! The young worann is flattered by thc attentions of some stranger, and, dospito thc warnings of parents wiser than herself, rashly, without weighing the matter, links her fate with his, only to find, when too late, that she is mtsma ted, and must drag out an existence of marital ir.A'licity. Tho root of tue evil lies far back. Any oue who bas opportunity of obser vation can seo how frequently it is the case that children aro not trained to obey. There will be, certainly, a mechanical obedience under a stern command; but tho spirit of obedience will be wanting. Tho children are not "governed," iu auy just Hcnso of tho terra. They aro per mitted to follow their own wayward im pulses, except when their conduct causes inconvenience to their parents. Of tho principies of obedience, of the claims of right and duty, they aro left in utter ignorance. Tnat there aro multitudes of families constituted on this basis, tho most casual observation will show. Parents are solemnly responsible before God for the training of their children. They are to teach those children the principles of self-government. No child is thoroughly obedient till he obeys, not simply because he must through fear of penalty, but because he chooses to ob^y because obedience is right. The to mi tr... i mistake that is made is in not beginning eurly enough. The infant in the eradlo can be taught obedience. It docs not do to wait, permitting the little one to have its own way, and expecting that later ou you can control him. Tho quest'an of obedience is essentially settled during the first year of a child's life. It can bo set tled without harshness, without undue severity, certainly withont any physical harm to the little one. But it must bo settled, or the path is a straight one to the full development of an ungoverned nature with all its mischievous and evil cons?quences. Lawlessness in the State comes directly from lawlessness in tho household. Crimea against property, against purity, against life, petty mean ness, ana tyranny, aro tho direct outcome of the unchecked ebullitions cf childish temper or wilfulness. No parent, to bo sure, can change his child's heart ; that is God's work. But tho parent can teach his child tho principles of self-govern ment. Perhaps in teaching him obed: ence to parental authority, he is at the same time inculcating in bim submis sion to the divine authority. In any case tho obedient child will make tho most docile and symmetrical and servicea ble Christian. If parents bave neglected their duty, and one fiuds himself approaching ma turity, or even advanced in life, without having learned self-control, nevertheless his duty is plain. The task will bo hard, undoubtedly, but he must leam to govern himself. For his own sake, for the sake of others, no man has a right to permit the mere impulse of bis nature to control his conduct. Anarchy in tho individual is just as evil in proportion as anarchy in the State. We have discussed this matter on tho lower, however important, plano of its relation to our fellows. There are higher considerations, which we commend to our readers, and with wh ch wc close. Tho all-imperative duly is to bring our naturo into subjection to the perfect and holy will of God. Until this is done our na turo will not bo properly governed. When this is done in every one, the Mil lennium will havo come !- Christian Weekly. - A man in New York who had spent fifteen years studying out a flying ma chine, and had just "perfected" it, blew his brains out a few days ago because be could not get capital to put his theories into practice. His secret dios with him. Just as he lay on his bod stiff and cold tho needed capital came, too lato by sev eral hours. Tho inventor of tho Keeley motor, however, will not blow out his brains. He has had a good enough thing without resorting to that desperate meas ure. The secret of the Keeley motor has not been sufficiently alive, however, to die with Keeley or.any other man. - Cadet Whitaker is in Chicago, look ing for employment. Speaking of bim, the Times a&ya : A carelessobservor might .ake Whitaker to be an Irishman, rather than a negro. He is slight in build, with a face so irregular as to bo almost deform ed, though the features give hardly ? suggestion of his descent. His complex ion is florid and very much frcckclca, his eyes, which havo the peculiar swarthy blackness of the negro, Wing about the only race characteristic visible. His ears show nc signs ol' having been treated with violence. - Over seventy thousand immigrants arrived at the port of New York in tho month of April, nearly all of whom wore sturdy well-to-do people. About forty per cent, of thom were Ge...ians. In one ship load which art. red, containing G72 Germans, each bad a good supply of household ^?Qoda and monoy ranging fron Crops lu South Carolina. Commissioner Butler furnishes the fol lowing information In advance of the monthly report of tho Department of Agriculture. The estimates giren ara based upon 171 report?, covering every coumy in the State, received May 1. COTTON. Thc decrease in cotton acreage is 3 per cent, below last year. The actual num ber of ac.<js plaited is 1,409,023, against 1,454,278 in ?881-a decrease of 44.855 acres. Thc aveiago of tho returns snow that 47 per cent, of tho crop is up. The general condition A the plant is reported at 5 per cent, better. Tho amount of commercial fertilizers used on cotton is 17 per cent, less than last year, and 25 per cent, of the crop is fertilized with nome made manures. COAN. The acreage in corn has been increased 4 per cent, over 1881. Thc number of acres planted is 1,356,805, against 1,298, 286 acres in 1881-an increase of 58,019 acres. The stand of corn !s reported aa a good average and the general condition 6 per cent, better than last year. Fifty por cent, of the crop is fertilized with commercial fertilizers and 37 per cent, with home made manures. BICE. Tho acreage in upland rice has been increased, while the area iu the low coun try h M been decreased ; miking a de crease tor the State of 8 per cent. Thc number of acres planted in rice in 1882 is 75,270. The condition is reported at per cent, better than for the same period last year. SORGHUM. Tho acreage in sorghum bas been in creased 15 per cent, over 1881. Tho number of acres planted is 8,454. Con dition reported as good as last year. This shows a total for tho Stato in tho principal crops of 3,414,141 acres, as fol lows: Cotton.,. 1,409,923 Corn. 1,356,805 Oats. 862,873 Wheat. 201,816 Rice. 75,270 Sorghum. 8,454 Total. 8,414,141 This gives UB 2,004,213 acres in the food crops, against 1,409,923 ceres in cot ton. It will oe noticed that this does net include sugar cane, peas or potatoes, which will add largely to tho acreage of tho State. No estimates have been made yet of tho acreage in grass lauds nor Ibo products of orchards. All these will doubtless show an improvement over last year. Altogether the showing rondo is very encouraging and prosent prospects very promising. SUPPLIES. Estimates based upon tho reports of tho correspondents and the number of liens recorded last year show that owing to tho partial failure of the food crops last year 25 per cent, more farm supplies havo been purchased this year than last. This would make tho value of supplies purchased $11,283,445, against $9,021,845 in 1881. Of this amount $9.218,311 worth are bought on time, against $7, 884,072 iu 1881. These estimates are not strictly correct, because the number and amount of lions recorded in Newberry, j Pickcns, Richland, Union and Spartan burg could not be obtained lest year, but the statements aro close enough for pur poses of comparison and are probably nearly correct. Tho Republican (Jame* The mightiest effort of ibo Republican managers ia to mako gains on both branches of Congress by campaigning at the So nh. The present Senate stands 87 Democrats, 37 Republicans and two Independents. Practically, Mahone is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican of the worst Btripe. Ho is only kept from being ut terly dominant by David Davis, who holds the balanco of power, much to Ibo Virginia Senator's disgust. After the 4th of March next, tho Democrats can count with something like certainty upon 85 Senators. If New Jersey and Oregon go Democratic, they will have 37. Thu would give Mahone and Riddleberger still control of the Senate. This would be preferable tu the Republicans rather than Democratic asco nun ney ; but they infinitely prefer to have authority outside cf Mahone and his partner. So New Jersey will be fought for desperately, sud possibly the Senatorshlp of some Southern State other than Virginia. Death or change may upset the caleula? tion of the Republicans as well as the Democrats. But. from all appearances, the Republicans nave the beat chance of a working majority of one or two next year. The House is in great doubt. Unless there be many Republican gains in the South, the next Houso will be controlled hy the Democracy. No stono will re main unturned to secure such advantages here, and nothing but vigilance and tue hardest work eau prevent that kind of consummation, It is reported that a member of the Republican Committee said to Wm. E. Chandler: "We've got to cross tho Potomac to get recruits." Chandler, as ho scribbled ail over an en velope, and made hieroglyphics, replied, "I think wo shall at once move on to Richmond and further South." This little anecdoto speaks volumes for Republican intentions, and should bo met with corresponding vigor on the part of the Democrats. All dissensions in the South aro fomented for Republican purposes, and should bo met by Demo cratic unity and enthusiasm. We can defeat tho Republican programme in tho South by superior management, and the sooner we set to work to do so tho better 1 for tho Democracy.-Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist^ , . - Wealthy Mormons have an average i of twelve wives each. - Mr. W. P. Clyde end the members of his syndicate, who have been traveling ] over the Richmond and Danville and Air-Lino roads, are accompanied by a {?arty of rich New York bankers who j lave an oyo to makins an investment in the stock of tho syndicate. Tho party j travel in two palace cars and have af- ! ready made a trip from Richmond to Atlanta, going over the Greenville and Columbia railroad in the meantime. Sunday evening their special esr passed by Charlotte juet after the departure of the 4.30 Northern mail. At Salisbury their train waa switched off to the .Wes tern North Carolina railroad track and the party proceeded on their way to Asheville. It is expected that they will come to Charlotte on Wednesday, and from here resumo their journey homo. The New Yorkers aro represented to be thoroughly delighted with the system of roads and the country through which they pass, and will no doubt chip in and mnke the Clyde backbone stronger yet thsn ever lt has been.-Charlotte Obser "I have fou..d St. Jacobs Oil to be a moat excellent remedy :.fQ?. rhjuroatjo paius," says Mr. F. Latham, ? Harrlew street, Providonoo, L. I.-Boslon'I?erala\ A HR.8WUCfiWA8*A?HISS. Straogo Sexaal MetaraorphoaU-A Story that ia Vouched for aa Tro1?. The following remarkable story is "vouched for by eight trustworthy rJti sons" of Erie. Pft : William P.;Baxter is alarmer and has for many years owned a large farm sit uated between Northeast Pennsylvania and Ripley. N. Y. He is frequently in this oity, where he is well known. Near to the Baxter farra there Iii ves a family by the name of Fear, ano: highly respect ed by their neighbors. About twenty-five years ago there was born in this family a girl named Rosa, and grew up a lovely child and in due time was sent to School. She distinguished herself there by c. traordinary precocity, ber aptitude ex ceeding that of scholars ten years'older than herself, and in less than two years she had passed every other pupil and stood at the head of her class, the holder of all the honors competed for. At the age of - 14 she entered the services of Mrs. Bax ter, the fire* <??ife of the farmer referred to. Rosa proved to be aa good a girl for farmhouse duties as she had been a stu dent, and Baxter's . family liked ber so woll that sbo was treated in every respect as though she was one of the family. She continued to live there, and when she bad attained the age of 18 her hand was sought in marriage by a young far mer from a neighboring village. For some reason, unaccountable at the time tn h-r friends, Miss Fear declined the honorablo offer, alleging she bad no desire to quit the root of her kind friends. About this time it began to be noticed that'.Rosa's features were losing their feminine softness and that tho effeminate contour of her hitherto symmetrical form was vanishing and giving place to mas culine angularity. Hor bands, that were once so well shaped, began to grow largo and coarse, and a down appeared on ber upper lip. The presence of tho latter greatly distressed ncr, and as it continued to grow, in spito of ber efforts to prevent it, she became 'so ashamed tbnt she re fused to accompany the Baxters to the family pew in tho village church, or to minglo in any of the socials or parlies in which abe had onco been a courted belle. The family, while deeply regret ting the loss of Rosa's personal attrac tions, tried to laugh her out of her sen sitiveness, but tho girl appeared to be consumed with a Beeret. About six months after this Rosa did not appear as usual. One morning no answer came from tho room, and when it was broken open it was found to have been unoccu pied that night. All of Rosa's clothes were hanging up, oven to those she was accustomed to wear about tho house. Two letters were found in her trunk, one addressed to Mrs. Baxter, the other to her parents. Tho contents of Mrs. Bax ter's letter created the utmost consterna tion. Il Baid the writer had gone away, and that it would be useless to follow her. That her Ufo had become unbearable be cause within a year nature had worked a complete metamorphosis in her BOX, and making it necessary to change home and raiment. The astonished Baxters dis covered timtshehad attired herself in a Buit of clothes belonging Dr. A. A. Freemau. Two months passed and a let ter carno in ROS?'B handwriting. It in formed the family that the writer was well and was working as a farm band in Oblo. Two years elapsed and one morning a fine looking young man, with aunbrown face, a magnificent beard and a heavy dork moustache, stood at the gate of the Fear homestead. "Do you know me, Mary ?" ho said to tho voung lady who came out to ascertain bis business. "It ia Rosa," Bald the girl, and the next moment the spectators were regaled with a sight of ^tias Fear clasped in the arms of a you. j fellow. "Not Rosa, but Charles Fear, now,1' said'the whilom housemaid, and then he told them hew, after that wonderful change, he had hired cut aa a male help; that ha bad made a little money, and that he hod come home to work tho farm. Mr. "Rosa" Fear runs tbat Farm to-day, ?nd Ripley has no citizen held in higher esti mation than he. Since his return he has twice been appointed a teacher in the public schools, and he can be seen on the Fear farm every day ie the week.-MU souri Republican. Took tho Chance. Traveling into town about dusk, Mr. Hendricks bad occasion to call at the mansion of an esteemed friend, who had, among other worldly posseasions^two or three very fine daughters. He had scarcely knocked at the door when it waa opened by one of those blooming . maid ens, who, as quick as thought, threw ber arms around his neck, and before he had time to say, "Ob don't I" pressed be* warm, delicate lips to his, and gave him cs sweet a kiss aa ever swain desired Qi deserved. In utter astonishment, the worthy gentleman was endeavoring, to stammer out something, when the damsel exclaimed : "Ob, mercy, mercy I Mr. Hendricks, is this you? I thought It was my brother Charley," "Pshaw 1" thought the gentleman to himself. "You didn't think any such thing." But, taking her hand, he said, in a forgiving tone: "There's no barm dona ; don't give yourself any uneasiness, though you ought to be a little more careful." I After this gentle reproof, ho was uah i ered in the parlor by the maiden, who, ns she came to the light, could not con ceal tho deep blush that glowed upon her checks, while the bouquet that was pinned upon her bosom shook like a flowergarden in an earthquake. When he rose to depart it fell to her to wait upon him to tho door; and it may be added that they there held discourse to ?ether for some minutes. As the warm hearted youth plodded homeward, he argued with himself in thia wise : "Miss AUen knew it waa I who knocked at the door, or bow did she re cognize me before I spoke ? And ls it Erobable that hor brother would knock cfore entering ? She must be desperate ly in-pshaw ! Wby, if she loves a brother at that rate, how must she love a husband ? For, by tho great squash, I never felt auch a kiss tn my life." Three weeks after the incident above described, Mr. Hendricks waa married to Misa Allen. Did ahe ever confess tba* tho kissing was not a mistake. - From concurrent reports from va rious sections of the Slate, should no frost or rust prevail rn Tennessee, the farmers will have an unprecedfinUd wheat crop. Commissioner Hawkins bas received a large ncmbar of reporto which indicated that tho average acreage will bo 110, while the averago of the crop will be J 26. In tho Southern portions of Tennessee harvestirtg will commence about the 10th of May. - A young lady in Rhode island cut and sold her luxuriant brawn hair to ft !ady in Providence for $200, to procure comforts for her *lck mother. Sue Isen titled, according to a contemporary, to the best husband io that Staid, but will (probably get thc worst'ono.