The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, May 01, 1901, Page 2, Image 2
WAR S'
A- Terrible Test of
I^atri
News a
Thc month of April, .from 18U1 to
1805, .seemed peculiarly pregnant, with
fate for thc contending belligerents
during "The States' War."
This writer heard the boom of thc
first gun fir"d at Fort Sumter, on the
12th April, 'Cl, which milled thc
feathers and knocked the plume out
of Unelo Sam's cap and presaged a
long and bloody war, also the roar of
the ls.st guti ?it Appomattox, Vu , on
thc 9th April, 'fifi, thc sound of which
was fraught with such ominous fore
bodings for thc South; and history re
cords that the intervening months of
April were full of fate in the "tented
licld."
Our couiuiauu, Garden's Palmetto
Battery, had been withdrawn from the
trenches around Petersburg, where we
had been for weary weeks, and had
been sent to reinforce the extreme
left, of our lines, north of Richmond,
on the Nine-mile road. There wc
were encamped on that bright and
tranquil and eventful Sunday, the 2d
April, 18?5, in blissful and placid
ignorance of tho terri6c strife and
triumph of the enemy. There was
neither Hight nor sound that betoken
ed aught beyond the usual, until late
in the day, thc startling rumor flew
from mouth to mouth that wc had lost
position on tho right, below Peters
burg, our troops forced back, our
works taken, and Richmond and
Petersburg were to be evacuated that
night and our army withdrawn.
Where? None knew. Deep anxiety
and gloom overshadowed ui all.
Late in the evening orders wcro re
ceived to move, with a strong hint at
light marching order. This we had
already surmised, and therefore little
was packed for transportation and our
quarters left very much intact.
Thc writer has a vivid remembrance
of a pot of peas and rice, (lloppin'
John,) seasoned with a generous
chuuk of thick, cheesy Naussau ba
con, a sweet Sunday dinner, thc cook
ing jf which wc had been watching
with abiding interest and awaiting
with ravenous relish; but alas, the
fruitiou of that hope was not to bc,
and our deep and patriotic sorrow for
thc evacuation and desertion of our
Capital was e'en mingled with an
overweening regret for the loss of our
pot of lloppin* John, and even to day,
after the lapao of near farty years, the
memory of that last pot of dinner ob
trudes itself and mingles with those
other and sadder memories that como
trooping down tho corridors of time.
Thousands beguu that last march
hungry and with empty haversacks.
On reaching tho thoroughly demor
alized city of Richmond eur command
passed through tho principal streets,
and the writer can testify to tho truth
of many of those graphic descriptions
that have become historical. There
was v* *!.ly a revelry of confusion. The
steady and continuous passing and
tramp and rumble of marching troops
and trains was the sole and single il
lustration of order or system. Tho
rest waB chaos, and pandemonium
reigned; seething, tumultuous masses
of rabble humanity, augmented by
hordes of army stragglers, possessed
tho doomed city and, for the nonce,
took advautage of the turmoil and hia
tus in the government as a licen 'o for
looting, pillage and anarchy in general
Mobs madly rushed in and out of
stores, ware houses, bar rooms, load
ing themselves with plunder; only to
bo tLrown dowu and discarded for an
other load of? something, for the in
stant, moro tempting. Barrels of li
quor were rolled out to the streets, tho
hoads squashed in, and before a can
teen or bottle could bc filled by the
struggling, wrangling mass of brawl
ers, would bo overturned, and it is no
fictitious story that records the gut
ters aud even sidewalks as streaming
rivulets of liquor. Government ware
houses were gutted, and herc it was
discovered that millions of rations
were being hoarded for some myste
rious reason, and clothing, shoes aud
blankets galore, while thc troops
had been doled scant feed and less
clothes.
Why? Eoho answers, Why? Those
earnest patriots who determined to
follow tho fortunes of the Stars and
Bars to thc last ditch marched with
firm tread, sadly and silently across
Mayo's Bridge, over tho James River,
.and bade final farewell to tho Confed
erate Capital.
Then, without preparation, food or
sleep, began that toilsome retreat,
that terrible tost of human endurance,
fortitude, faith . nd patriotism, than
whioh the annais of fifty previous
vaara recorded noss greater. All
through the weary hours of night and
day, and day and night again, with
lint brief intervals of mere breathing
apella, and sleep oaught in winks and
nods and am tal ?napa; with empty
haversacks, and not one meal that
merited the naroo of repast; with
[DRIES.
Fortitude, Faith, and
otism.
ml Couria'.
parched corn, (when thc corn could bc
purloined from thc horses,) over
which a grace of great unction would
]>>? said if a little salt could bc had to
?.avor it; or when time was given to
scald a handful of meal and graciously
call it mush; endeavoring to assuage
thc gnawing pangs by chewing thc
buds and twigs of trees; foot sore and
wearied in muscles and aching in
I ?n?nfu- tn mulind o ?wi P,.>1>l<ri<r f/>r nnn
j .. ~ ..., .?ia- -- - ..?? ~o" -" ~r>
eternal week did these fragments of
; Lee's army exist on hopes deferred;
withe 'tany of those dramatic acccs
. sorics that encourage, cheer and in
! flj>irc; yet ready at any moment and to
j thc last minute to obey thc behests of
' their noble chieftain.
NO HATIONS I i?lt Tilt: KT A it VE I) HOI, .
DI HUS.
Our t?r.st poignant disappointment
was experienced at Amelia Court
I House, on thc second days' march,
' where wc had been assured rations
I would bc issued. Gen. Lee had or
dered supplies to bo sent from Dan
ville to thia point, but demoralization
had seized thc rai road also and thc
long train loaded with victuals for the
hungry army had run by and taken
the precious freight to Richmond.
Not a ration was to bo found and thc
revelation was terribly dispiriting.
Added to this depressing misfortune
was the fact that our delay and wait
upon thc commissariat had permitted
time for Sheridans cavalry and Meade's
corps of infantry to get on our lino of
retreat to Danville; so that our jaded
and furnishing, though undismayed,
columns were forced to head for Farm
ville, and in thatdircotion the flagging
footsteps of men and horses wended
their weary way iu a last effort to
reach thc advantageous protection of
tho hilly regions about Lynchburg.
But the highway was obstructed by
exhausted teams that refused farther
to move their loads. These wagons
men set aliro and abandoned, thus
adding obstacles to our progress.
There was no rout, no panic at any
time; only au utter exhaustion of thc
animal powers in mau and beast, and
thc locomotion became necessarily
slow aud painful.
Yci, on many a drooping, soil
stained face, could bc read a grim de
termination still, and thc couplet
"For Dixie's land 1 take my stand,
To live au die for Dixie,
was plainly intagliated. Horses stag
gered or fell, no longer able to respond
to thc overtaxing demand upon their
strength and endurance; men reeled
and nodded as they tramped, or went
down under thc suporhumau strain
upon their ?voakcued physical powers,
and quickly passed to unconsciousness,
and thero would bo nono with heart to
disturb them. Thc writer himself
went down more than onoo from sheer
inability to move tho over-wearied
limbs farther, and under the fullest
conviction dat his farther retreat was
ended. Yet after a brief respite and
summoning up thoughts of home and
loved ones and a Yankeo prison, and
I by dint of will, tho stiffened limbs
would tardily respond to effort, though
I straightening rcmindod ooo much of
? the crackling mado by a dried wooden
hoop when undergoing tho same pro
cess. In the earlier hours of one of
those terrible nights, in the swampy
approaches to sonic stream, thc writer
became entirely oblivious to all mun
dane or heavenly environments a.. was
subsequently ascertained, remained io
this aluuibrouo unconsciousness for a
I distance of seven miles, awakening ou
a bald hill near thc road, at sunrise
next morning, but with no knowledge
of getting there. Added to our other
tribulations, uttnek and counter-attack
and ruuuing Bghts becatno far too fre
quent for comfort and scenes tragiv
pathetic, ludicrous and grotesque so
intermingled as might have dismayed,
interested or amused but for tho in
evitably dulled sensibilities and im
passive stolidity of our mental condi
tion. Thus did tho fragmentary por
tions of tho Army of Northern Vir
ginia still drag its slow length along,
like some gigantic, writhing, tortured
worm, depleted in size and strength
and divested of its parts until naught
remained but the bones and sinews;
yet these fragments, when attacked,
stemed inspired with that samo esprit
de corps that possessed tho whole
body io its full pride and glory and
heyday of BUOOCSO. Maugro, tho pat
ent apathy that seized rank and file,
engendered by tho terrino overdraft
exacted of tho entire animal econo
my.
A WELCOME RATION OP CORN MEAL.
On April 6 Farmvillo was reaobed,
and hero a elender ration of corn meal
was iained to a portion of the troops,
but thero waa scant timo for ita pre
paration aa food, for Sheridan waa
close on our flank and the enemy mak
ing strenoaa o?ortB to cut off and oap
tur?; tho eui ire remnant army. Our
corp-* occupied the hills near Farm
ville ami, like a fagging gamecock, re
sponded to the attack with such de
sperate vim, fired aud fought with
such cuergy aud spirit as to force the
foe to thc- conclusion to leave our
march unmolested to its Ouai sequel.
The 7th and 8th were but toilsome
repetitions of previous days, except
that their wearisome monotony was
unbrokeu by thc annoying pressing
attention of our confident antagonists,
who now knew that they had us like
partridges within the foous of a snare,
with the Janies Uiver on our right and
their linc of march converging; it
could bc but a question of hours.
On the night of thc 8th we were
halted and went once more regularly
into camp within a short distance of
Appomattox Court House, and doubt
less each worn and wearied soul
thought, if he didn't repeat in his de
votions, "Blest be tho man who first
invented sleep." There are probably
but few participants in the occurrences
of these last few days who possessed
or retained any very vividly distinct
remembrance of them. The writer s
"gray matter'' was woefully befogged,
though the badly jaded body managed
to reach the historical aud inevitable
goal on thc fateful Sith of April, 18fi'3,
only to find our further progress se
curely blocKcd. With Sheridan mass
ed in our front, Meade in the rear and
Ord on our left, with the James Uiver
to our right; with but some eight or
nine thousand armed men, famished
and exhausted, there was but the one
reasonable alternative; yet, even then,
there were no cravens, no crestfallen
countenances, no shrinking from tho
inevitable, no despair.
HEADY TO FACE DEATH.
Overwhelmed by superior numbers
only, wayworn, solid and tattered, but
undaunted still, was this dim nished
band of Leo's devoted followers, and
even in this dire extremity of despera
tion, a determined audacity possessed
them, and had thc order been passed,
were ready lo cut their way through
thc serried columns that opposed their
way. "To do or die." (Note-Just
here it is in order to mention that
among thc other claims made to thc
distinction of having fired "thc last
gun at Appomattox," the fourth piece,
a Parroit rifle gun of Garden's battery,
llaskill's battalion,Longstreet's corps,
claims consideration. Tho circum
stances were that this piece, being on
thc firing line at tho time of Gordon's
last attack, had a charge rammed
home when thc truce began and tho
order to cease firing received. The
guu squad was, for a time, in a quan
dary as lo thc disposition of the load
ed piece, when Gunner Henry G.
Scarborough determined to fire the
charge and did so, breaking the si
lence that had reigned for some min
utes and that remained unbroken
thereafter. This veteran gunner re
cently died iu Bishopvillc with the
firm conviction that this was thc last
artillery shot discharged.)
Tho occurrences of the surrender
arc matters of familiar history. Wo
saw cur illustrious ohief as he rode to
tho front and the rumors were rife
that the struggle was ended. We saw
him as he returned from the last in
terview and final surrender, and rode
sadly and silently, but still majestic,
past the aligned remnants of troops,
hat in hand, grandly sublime even in
defeat, tho cynosure of every tear
dimmed eye.
Our chieftain was apothosized and
tho oause sublimated in the hearts and
minds of this attenuated band of de
votees. The breasts of stalwart men
that had been bared in many a battle
lino, wore convulsed with sobs; many
blubbered audibly; yet, to us there
wus naught ludicrous, grotesque oi
cveu melo-dramaticio the majestical
ly tragic scones. The occasion wat
two calamitously mournful, our hearts
too grievously burdened. "To suffei
and be strong," was the requisite ol
the hour for this sad emergency, anc
it waa met with thc same fortitude ai
had been manifested in tho eventfu
past.
Scon there was a visible chango ii
tho panoramic scene as "tho bluo am
tho gray," (tho gray was a composit
of color, made up of every shade o
soil.)'mingled in quasi-pleasant intel
course. First, they began to mee
about that quondam traditional myth
tho apple tree, uudcr which Gen. Lc
was roported to havo surrendered, an
which, first stripped of it's bark, wa
out down and divided into bits, not
the last vestige of stump and root
had disappeared.
Among the relio fiends ok' the tv.
armies wac also a fabulous rail upc
whioh Gen. Leo waa reputed to ha\
sat pending the negotiationa for an
treaty of surrender. With all di
honor bo it said that there waa no e:
hibition of vaunting, exultation <
triumph; no manifestation of.sop
riority; no slightest show of enmit
Instead, West Pointer met We
Painter with oordial grasp and inte
oh ango of reminiscences. "Johnnie
officers and "robs" met Yank office
and men aa equals and moro lil
brethren, and discussed past combat
tribulations. +
GEN. GRANT* 8 MAGNANIMITY.
Magnanimity ruled the hour, frc
Grant to the ground. Kations we
issued to our famished band and wo
learned of the generous, liberal and
honorable terms of our capitulation
and which were honestly conformed io
and complied with.
On the 10th tko last farewell order
from our noble commander was issued
sad rerd to thc sorrowing troops. A
copy of thc original order as read to
our battery command was made at the
tim?, by this writer, who cannot" at
this day read it over without a swell
ing in the throat and tremor of the
lips and moistening eyes; and though
often published, may be ioteresting at
this date to many still. It is as fol
lows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN
VIROINIA, April 10, 1865.-After
four years of arduous service, marked
by unsurpassed courage and fortitude,
thc Army of Northern Virginia has
been compelled to yield to overwhelm
ing number? and *e90,irnaz. ? seed
not tell the survivors of so many hard
fought battles, who have remained
steadfast to thc last, that I have con
sented t) this result from no distrust
of them, but, feeling that valar and
devotion could ancomnl?ah nothing
that could compensate for the loss
that would have attended the contin
uation of the contest. I have deter
mined to avoid the useless sacrifice of
those whose past services have endear
ed them to their countrymen. By the
terms of agreement, officers and moo
can retura to their homos, and remain
thero until exchanged.
You will take with you the satis
faction that proceeds from the con
sciousness of duty faithfully perform
ed, and I earnestly pray that a merci
ful God will extend to you His bless
ing and protection. With an unceas
ing admiration for your constancy and
devotion to your country, aod a grate
Tul remembrance of your kind and
generous consideration of myself, I
bid you an affectionate farewell.
K. E. LEE, General.
OB tho 12th the last parade and
surrender of arms was mado, charac
terized by a dignified and delicate
consideration throughout, and nut an
act or word can be remembered that
would havo added pain to the present
or solitude for the future of Le (e) s
miserables. Parolos were issued on
printed Blips, signed by each company
commander, and w* were instructed
that transportation would be furnished
us from and to any and all points
within tho jurisdiction of tho United
States army. Men were permitted to
claim and take a horse or Mule, aad
many took and brought off two animals
unchallenged and unmolested, and
rode to their homes across eountry.
Thc larger portion of the disbanded
army plodded homeward afoet, and
many who were homeless, and some
who were not, just scattered oui, flot
sam and jetsam like, to find lodgment
in (he first opening that presented an
offer of shelter and food. A compara
tively small contingent, among whom
mma dw
transportation through tho Northern
army lines back to Petersburg, ?ity
Point, Fortress Mooroo and the garri
soned coast towns along the seaboard,
and thereby gained some varied and
'ioique experiences; son?o cX?o pet til
ing, some amusing and some profita
ble. GUY.
Wee Nee, Sumter County, April
9, 1901._
Beware cf a Cough.
A cough is not a disease but a sym
tom. Consumption and bronchitis,
whioh are the most dangerous and fa
tal diseases, have for their first indi
cation a persistent cough, and if pro
perly treated as soon as thia cough
appears are easily cured. Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy has proven won
derfully successful, and gained ita
wide reputation and extensive sale by
its success in curing the discuses
whioh cause oeughing. If it is not
beneficial it will not cost you a eent.
For sale by Hill-Orr Drug Co.
- Some men are measured by feet
and some by their heads.
- A gentleman is a hnman being
combining a ? man's courage and a
? woman's tenderness.
D. S. VANDIVEH.
VJ, P. VANDIVEP.
Vandiver Bros.
GENERAL MERCHANTS
- AND -
JOBBERS OP GROCERIES.
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Including ninny pairs of Fine Parapi? Shoes that we will sell at a great bar
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Your irada will be highly appreciated.
Yours for more trade,
VANDIVER BROS.
D. ?. VANDIVER.
J. J. MAJOR.
E. P. VANDIVER.
Vandiver Bros. & Major.
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23IA.K;3NI"E3SS,
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Give ua a call. We will be glad to show you through our Stock.
Respectfully,
VANDIVER BROTHERS & MAJOR.
A LONG LOOK AHEAD
A man thinks it is when .the matter of life
insurance suggests itself-bnt circumstan
ces of late have shown how life hangs by a
thread when war, flood, hurricane and fire
suddenly overtakes yon, and the only way
to be sure that your family is protected in
case of calamity overtaking you is to in
sure in a solid Company like
The Mutual Benefit Lile Ins. Go.
Drop in and see us about it.
STATE AGENT,
Peoples' Bank Building, AN DKR^ON. 8. C.
33 Car Loads Corn, Ear and Shelled.
10 Car Loads Oats.
10 Car Loads Molasses,
1 Car Load Oreen Coffee.
300 Barrels Sugar.
Come along fend see for yourself.
II$?N & LE^BETTEE,
WHOLESALE DEALEBa
AO. STBIOELiSP,
DENTIST.
OFFICE-Front BOOBS over Fara
cia And fiferchasts Bank.
Th* opposite ont illustrates Con
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P?t,ts-more ?'santy iban the natu
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rom Pie* *? of thia kind.
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IN? WIS ( HU I)Kt.S'
Promotes DigestionXheerfu?
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?OTHAECOTIC.
frey* afOIdtirSAMUELHTCI?Eli
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liochtlla Se??t -
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Signature
Aper?ecl Remedy for Constipa
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-V I br i tV*> I ? 1 11
EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER.
TM* cenTAu a co ta PA? v. ?ra VORK em.
Grass Killers I
( A good General always surveys his field well before going into aotiw,
Just so with the successful Farmer. He examines carefully all of thc lam
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His best judgment naturally directs him to patronize that Firm that hi
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high quality and genuine merit are matters of first consideration. That Fin
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The Genuine Original Brooks Cotton Planters; made of very best mal*
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Terrell and Roman Harrows ! Grass killers and cultivators ' whose eqath
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Imperial Disc Harrows ! Best construotcd and lightest draft Harrow M
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Cotton Hoes, with perfectly tempered bladss, made of very finest quilty
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GARDEN SEED,
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Remember when you go to get yon? Seed to get
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'Sours,
F. B. GRAYTON & C0|
I Near the Post Office.
HARRIS LITHIA WATER
IQ the strongest natural Lithia
Water in the United States!
Which is shown hy the analysts and testimonials from the moat noted Pb}
elans of the country.. Read what Major 8. S. Kirkland, who is known
aimost every one in South Carolina : "
EDttEFIEIiD. 8. C., Arn? 12, IMA
Mn J T. .HABRIS-Dear Slr : I truly fesl so grateful for the henefi s detir
from Harris TiUbia Water that, were J. able, I would like to erect a monument
commemorate lt? virtues and curative powers.
For over thirty year? I have been a fearful mi florar from what ls known M
stitts or Catarrh of the bladder ami enlarff*?n>?"-? or two oroatrate gland, caused rfT
er o ?> uro ami bard horseback riding do?'./ ?U? ... ? ?inoo, too. Mybiauderi
i instantly In a dreadful state of Irrit?t i . .<., <.;? u IWit S .... ?staut deslro to urinate. ?
Uonlarlv during the night. My urine ?? wi a very dark oolor, and thick wltni
cns and deposita ; sometimes as dark as? uuy fctrong lye or black copper and otaf
dlaagreeabio odor. I consulted nvy phvtdciaus. Some Of thom, the most proauj
in tho South, and I beliovo they did uii they could; bnfl never ?xf ?riencea'
sllguiest benefit from their advice, ?dd lemedies and new remedies were u
Every known remedy I believe was taken by me and, besides, varloUB mloenV.,
tera, but to no effect, and for years I struggled along ; end I truly bellovn tnt\ _
over thirty yo'vn I did not enjoy ten consecutivedaya free from ?pain or annoy?
from this dreadful disease of my bladder, until finally about two or throo yearaj
I let down and had to give ap my profession (olvil engineering.) I bad &D0"V?,
cloded to "throw up the sponge" and Btruggle no longer. When friends urged ?NJ
try Harria Ltthfa Springs, which I finally oonolndsd to do. more by way of ovm
intore-ted irieuda than for any great good that I expected from the waters. {.
to tb? Springt?, reaching them about tho middle of Jun?-, tired, sick and! waa ?*
faith, but determined to give the waters a fair and an honest trial, which I?^ld. *
I can truthfully and honoetly state t?xm\ I wa? well rewarded for so doiog,:ror PW
I left there I slept soundly and waa rarely disturbed by calla of nature. I
the first time in over 25 years, passing olear, healthy water-tho result of toflff
and wonderful curative power? of Harris tatala Water. Too much cannot
for this great health-restoring fountain of nature.
Ton aro, gentlemen, at liberty to rarer to me aa to the great healing prof
of your Harria Ll thia Water. I have known or a number of other parties wi
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Wo guarantee that one glosa of Harria Lithia Carbonated Water
re??ovo any case of indigestion iu one minute's time or money refunded,
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The Hams Li thia's Ginger Alo is superior to any other Ale on tho
ket, because it ta made ?roui the famous Harria Lithio* and you receive
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PHARMACY can supply you with tho Water in .?> qu<
HARRIS Li?HIA L ATISH 00? Bank Sprint:, &