Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WAR STORIES. ,A. Virginia Clergyman Describes his Una vailing Efforts to Get UNTeerled l^ood Sup plies for Men in Gray. Her. A. E. Dickinson, in the liichmond liclit/ious fferald. Many of thc rising generation know little of the extremities to which the people of the South were reduced in thc closing years of the war. At one time so great were thc difficulties of supplying thc hospitals and thc camps around Richmond with food that thc Confederate authorities invited some it was only one dollar. Thif. r gladly paid in Confederate money, cf course, as I had no other-and left thc horse with a friend, who was to keep me in formed about my purchase. But, as ? have never heard from him since that day, I think that the "rebel ball" must have done more damage of the representative mioistsrs of that j than wa? supposed. city to try to formulate plans for in ducing the people to supply ?.he food needed for thc sick and wounded sol diers. Such a request was made of me and of many others. It was ex plained to us by lue autuontic? that the point had been reached at which Confederate money had abont lost its purchasing power and the farmers would not receive it in exchange for their products, as they already had more of it than they could usc. They would not sell their flour for $1,000 a barrel nor their bacon for $40 a pound. In general thc Confederate money was at that time of no more value than thc paper on which it was printed. A number of preachers, probably fifty, of different denominations, met at St. Paul s Church, and they were asked by a representative of thc com missary department to divide among themselves thc counties within a radius of fifty miles around Richmond, and to visit tho people and collect from them supplies for the army, just as they would take collections for mis sions or for any other good cause. In response to this appeal I agreed to go to the Northern Neck of Virginia, into Northumberland and Lancaster counties. It was understood that I was to be supplied with a horse, and when I went to those in charge and asked for the horse they said they had no horse to spare, but they had money in abundance, and if I would buy the horse the Government would pay for him. After a long search I succeeded in scouring a sorry nag, for which I paid thc modest sum of about $1,200. My travelling companion was the Rev. Andrew Broaddus-the same ono who, when asked by a stranger: "Aro you thc distinguished Andrew Broad dus?" replied, "No; I am the Ken tucky Andrew." Ile, however, went with mo only as far as some friends to fill an appointment to preach. Let me say just herc that he was a splen did brother and a delightful compan ion. Some day I must tell more about him. Ahl what a time thc "Kentucky Andrew" aud I had with that cid $1,200 horse! He broke down before wc were a dozen miles from liich mond, and we had to walk and push, hut it was thc best wo could do. Brother Broaddus's place in my buggy was filled by tho Rev. George F. Bagby when we reached King and Queen. He, too, was my dear and honored friend, and he agreed to go along with mo and share my fortunes. Wc reaohed the Rappahannock Rivor about dusk, and were cordially invited to spend the ni/-ht with Brother Payne Waring, a precious old saint widely known in that day. Heating that we were there, friends and neighbors came in to hear ?he latest news from thc Confederate Capital and to inquire about friends and relatives in thc army. We had a delightful evening and did not fail to tell the object of our trip. All ex pressed warm sympathy and promised to help us as far as they could. Our plans were arranged. We were to cross the river early in the morning and all seemed to promise well for our mission. What bright hopes Brother Bagby and I had of the great things wc were going to do next day! But about 3 a ' m. wo were waked by the firing of can non from vessels coming up thc Rap pahannock River. We did not know what it meant, but we knew it meant something. We could not think that Mr. Lincoln had been informed of our coming and had ordered that his war vessels should open upon us. But, after earnest consideration and con sultation with friends, wc decided to retrace otir steps. We went back just as wo had come, but a little faster; for there was no tolling when a shell might drop unfortunately near us. We felt much relieved when wc were out -of their reach. Duringihe day wc found that there had'been a raid from West Point around Richmond and thc raiders had been driven baok by the Confederate cavalry. We came across scattered arms, broken wagons and wounded horses. It was then that I bought the cheapest horse 1 ever owned. I carno across a colored brother leading i? horse. He stopped me and asked if i triohed to buy a fine horse. I asked yt nm was the matter with the horse and WAH assured that it was only a rebel ball in his leg, whioh would eaupe merely a temporary lameness. On inq i ;ng tho prioe I was told that Brother Bagby having returned to his friends in King and Queen County I came on back alone to Richmond, meeting ever and anon a straggling soldier, now of thc gray and once of thu blue. Having to spend a sight on the road I turned to seo a dear friend with whom I had stopped on my way down. I was amazed at the change in his home since I stopped with him a few days before. Then all was order and plenty. We had every comfort and I was told that neither army had ever visited the place. But sinoo that time thc retreating Federal soldiers had paid their respects to him and had done their worst. Describing thc wreck and ruin which had come, one of the older daughters, after telling mc how the "Yankees" had carried off thc corn and bacon and horses, and mules and negroes, said: "Brother Dickinson, don't you re member that sorghum molasses which you enjoyed so much with the pan cakes when you were hero before?" Yes, indeed," I replied; "and I hope they left you some of that." Burst ing into a flood of tears she said: "Wo, no. We had a runlet of it, which we buried carefully in the gar den and covered it with bushes, that no traces of it might be seeo. But the 'Yankees' spied that fresh earth and dug up our runlet and took all our sorghum molasses. Just think how good that sorghum molasses would have been with pancakes this spring!" This was too much for me and, in spite of her flowing tears and my deep sorrow for her, I had to laugh. I said: "Why, how is this, sister? You did not weep about the negroes or the horses or the mules, or the corn, or thc bacon they took; why should you grieve so over the molasses?" But her only reply was a repetition of tho words: "How good that sorghum mo lasses and pancakes would have bcon this spring!" Well, I went home without even so much as an egg or chicken for tho poor soldiers; but thc other brethren did no better. Governor harbor, when a member of Congress, said: "My overseer writes mo that ho has made crop this year; that the drought has ruined everything; but that ho thanks God his neighbors did no bet ter." Wo are too apt to have that feeling; but the same cause hindered us all. I did not ask the Confederate Government to pay for tho horse; but did soil him for about $5.50 in greenbacks. "GALLANT JOHN ;PELHAM.M The Heroic Alabamian of whom Gen. Lee Said: "It Is Glorious to Mee Such Courage in one so Young.'' Detroit American Hoy. lu tho first great /niggle of our nation the grandfather of "gallant John Pelham" served as a major in Lafayette's command. He was distinguished not only for intrepid bravery, bat for his kindly heart and generous, sympathetic ma ture. It is told of him that on one ocoasion at Valley Forge, whon the Amerioan forces were in ouch ead plight, he took off the only pair of shoes he had and gave them to a poor fellow whom he happened to see walk ing through thc snow in his baro feet, the majo?* wearing only stockings un til another pair of shoes could be scoured. From one capable of such unselfish ness must doscond a heritage of honor, and it was from such anoestors that the young hero, John Pelham, the boy artillerist, derived his inspira tion. His uncle, Peter Pelham, was a ma jor in thc war of 1812 and died in command at Pensacola, Fla., in 1S35. When tho oivil war opened fivo Pel ham brothers joined the 51st Alabama regiment. Only two of them are now living. While all wero notably brave and attained distinction, John,-ojie of the five youngest artillery captains of tho war, became justly famous. He was born in Alabama on Sep tember 7,1838, and entered the Mili tary Academy at West Pcist July 1, 1856, when in his 18th year. Here he quickly attraotcd attention by his intelligence and cheerful dis charge of duty, and his remarkable skill as an athlete. In fencing anc boxing ho was the superior of an] cadet in the Academy, and his feati of horsemanship were considered mar vellous. When the Prince of Waloi visited West i'oi?>t in lttlJO he was specially interested in Pelham for his profit ?ency in these ;ieeoinplishtncnls, aud his dash and soldierly bearing. When the trouble bctweca the States came he was s/.ill at the Acade my. Just one week before he was to graduate and get his commission in the United States army he resigned and went South to take up arms for tho people of his own section. Like the majority of his comrade.., he was first Southern, then American, and sympathized with the soldier who de clared: "I would fight wita France against any nation of the known world, but with Brittany against France." It is said that a fair daughter of Indiana assisted him to get through thc lines into Kentucky. Succeeding in this, he went at once to Mont gomery, Alabama, the first Confeder ate Capital, and reported for service. From Montgomery be was sent to Virginia, and at the first battle of Manassas his bravery and ability as a soldier were so conspicuous that Gen. Stuart had him organize for hit com mand a six-gun battery. Some of his men were from Talladega, others were Frenchmen from Mobile, and these he placed in charge of the one Napoleon gun in the battery. At Cold Harbor, when it was neces sary to engage the Federals in a des perate skirmish that certain manou vres might be effected, he dashed a third of a mile in advance of the force, and, with only ono gun, drew the fire of an entire battery of the Federals. At the second battle of Manassas he thrust his guns forward almost onto the columns of the enemy, and won a warm expression of appreciation from Stonewall Jackson, the silent, taciturn oommander, who rarely gave either commendation or censure. It was here that Jackson said to Stuart: "General, if you have another Pelham give him to me." At Shepherdstown, again he was in advance of the troops with one pieoe of artillery. When the enemy in overwhelming numbers were almost upon him Stuart ordered retreat. His men reluctantly obeyed the order, but Pelham seemed unconscious of the fact that he was alone, and continued to load and fire his pieoe until the Fed?rala were so olose upon him that escape seemed impossible. Then he mounted one of the horses and started off with the gun. He had only gone a short distanee when the horse was shot under him, but he out its traces and mounted another. This too, waa shot, and then a third horse met the same fate, but he finally escaped with his gun through a blinding storm of shot and shell. At Sharpsburg he showed the Bame superb courage, and then came Fred erioksburg and the climax of his glory. The little town with its cordon of hill* stood ready for the baptism of blooc and flame, when, in November, 1862 Sumner's grand division of the Fed oral army moved toward it. Then tw< of Longstreet's divisions hurried to itt defence, and on the 21st they tool their position on the crest of the hills Next Jackson's command came fron the Shenandoa Valley and, early in De comber, Gen. Burnside approachei with his immense foroe, and an at tempt was made to throw a pontooi bridge across the Rappahannook Kivei that the troops might reach the town The brave Mississippians, howevei under Barksdale, kept up suoh a gal ling fire along the river front that the defeated nine different attempts ? Federals, and kept up the engage ment until all the Confederates wei in position.. On December 13 the battle ope nee The Federals, with their brilliant un forms and glistening bayonets, made splendid appearance, while the grii veterans under Jackson, in their du suits of butternut brown, most] ragged and threadbare, and the poor accoutrements, were in sad eoi treat. The engagement opened on the Coi federate left, where Pelham stoc ready with his six-gun battery. I the dense masses of the Federals a vanead the artillery made great gaj in their ranks, but they still preaoi on. Six desperate charges they mad all marked by the most unfiinohii courago and determination. Meaghei Irish brigade left its dead with twenty-five paoes of tho wall behii whioh were lined the commands Cobb, Kershaw ano. Hansom. Jol D. Kc nf roe gave this pioture of t hattie of Fredericksburg: "The flower of the South's you manhood was on the heights in doul lines behind bristling and glimaori guns. Every soldier knew there M to be a fearful fight before the s Bank behind tho western wood. Jae son, Stuart and Leo rode down t Confederate lines to tho extre ' right, followed by waves of ohee Stuart called to Pelham and si ' something. Immediately he dasi > down the heights, followed hy c , gua at a g??!op: Ti waa the "Manoh Detachment" of Mobile Freo chm i Onward they rushed, far down to I . foot of the heights, where the n ) forks. There they halted, uulimbo 1 and prepared for aotion. Soon tl 7 saw moving toward them stead! s with measured tread, a long, com;: - blue line, their bayonets glistenic< s the streams of sunshine. There ' a flash, a boom: the earth shook around Pelham's Napoleon. Then there wa* a shrill, hideous, indescribable shriek of shell as it swirled through tho charging lines of blue. The surging m UP: J recoiled, halted, hesitated; then, with a demoniacal yell, pressed for ward thc single gun. The yell ceased, and for a moment there was a ghastly hush. And then there came thunder ing through thc ?ir from across the Kappahannock boom on boom. From southeast to east, from east to north east; then from thc north carno huge shells whirling death in their arms. Pelham had drawn upon himself the concentrated fire of half a dozen bat teries-twenty-four guns-yet hi'; gun j continued to nar and never failed to i slaughter. No other gun on the Con- ! federate side and yet opened, but this I lone war dog howled on. And in the i half lull between thc booms of the cannon there floated above the noise a sound that seemed strange on that day of multitudinous terrors-the Napol eon Detachment singing the "Mar seillaise" as they fought their gun. Like infernal imps in tophet they flitted about ia its smoke. Two armies looked on while the Mobile Frenchmen wrote history with blood. Time wore on. Still the gun roared, and the sound of its roaring thunder ed through the air. Gen Lee said: "It is glorious to see such courage in one so young." In his report of the battle he spoke of no one but Pelham below the rank of major general, term ing him "the gallant Pelham!" At dark the Federals withdrew, the ground was heaped with their dead and dying, and the day ended for them in most disastrous defeat. John Pelham was now only 24, but the services of this great day had made him & lieutenant colonel. Tho order was issued, but had not gone into effect when the fight occurred at Kelly's Ford, on March 17., 1863.. Here ho saw a raiment wavering and dashed forward in their lead, shout ing: "Forward, boys!' Forward to victory and glory!" In^this gallant action he fell, his brain pierced by a fragment of a shell. He died in a few hours. Gen. Stuart telegraphed the event, saying: "The noble, the chivalric, 'the gallant Pelham,' is no more. How much he was beloved, appr?cia- ! ted and admired let the tears of agony ! we shed and the gloom of mourning throughout my command bear witness. His loss is irreparable." ID Stuart's general order announc ing his death to the division he said: "His eyes had glanced over every battlefield of the army, from the Ma nassas to thc moment of his death; and, with a single exception, he was a brilliant actor in all. The memory of 'thc gallant Pelham,' his many vir tues, his noble nature and purity of character are a sacred legacy in the hearts of all who knew him. His re cord was bright and spotless, and his career brilliant and successful." He was calmly and recklessly brave, and saw men torn to pieces around him without emotion, "because his heart and eye were upon tho stern work he was performing." The body of tho young hero was car ried to Richmond; there it lay in state at thc Capitol, and was then taken to the old home at Jacksonville, Ala bama, for burial. The spirited lines of A. Sidnoy Morton deserve, a place in an, record of this young hero: "Into the hurtling storm of shell, Into the gaping month of hell, Pelham, the dauntless, dashed Oat from the meagre line of gray, Ont to the bloody fringe of fray, Where thousand thunders crashed. "Lashes to straining horses plied, Cheers of defiance aa they ride, Under the eye of Leo. Out or the day and into night, Clouded in smoke they ride to fight, Glorious sight to see! "Out of the bedlam Freedom speaks, Hear lt in Pelham's Parrot's shrieks. Pelham!, 'tia bravely done! In the concentrating, deadly hail; Daring to die, hut not to fail, Pelham still fights his sont "What ls that sound? 'Tis not a cheer There, yet again-list! Comrade?, hear! Hark, 'tia the hymn of France! Rising, tho lofty anthem swells, Over the din of countless hells, Freedom defiance chants! "Never was wltnsssed braver deed, Bringing of praise 1U richest meed, Making a deathless name ?Courage sublime in ono so young!' Words from the heart of Lee he swung, Crown of immortal fame!'' Th) "gallant John Pelham" hada cousin who served as private in Ter ry's Texas regiment. He fell while charging tho enemy at Halton, Geor gia, and the Texas Legislature enaoted that as he, "a hero in more than one hundred battles, had died leaving no one to boar his honored name/' the ehild of his sister should receive it and be called Charles Thomas Pel ham, in order that so noble a name should not fail to be perpetuated. WHo Kilted Geo. Sede wick? In article on "Thc Tenth Georgia at Spottsylvanin," Colonel A. J. Mc Bride, in your issue of July 20th, says : "General Longstreet had a band ol sharpshooters, composed of the best Jabots in the corns, among others 'Kansas Tom' Johnson, of Co. ?, Tenth Georgia. He killed General Sedgwick; who, I believe, was onr of thc best generals -.nd best beloved men in the Federal army." in 1874 Lieutenant Charles K. Paui, of the Eighteenth ?. 5. regu lars was in the garrison at this place. He toid me that he was toting aide to General Scdgwiok when killed. At the fatal moment General Sedgwick was giving orders about bringing up a commissary train. Major W. S. Dunlap commanded a battalion known as "McGowan's Sharpshooters," and about two years ago published a book entitled "Lee's Sharpshooters, or the Forefront of Battle." McGowan's brigade was from South Carolina, and was in A. P. Hill's corps. Major Dunlap gives a circumstantial account of the killing of General Sedgwick as follows: "Here we could plainly see Sedg wick's corps in line of battle on the crest of another hill, busily engaged in rectifying their lines and con structing breastworks, with their skirmishers well advtnoed. Upon thete we opened a scattering tire, with some effect. We discovered an angle protruding from their main line to wards the right of the battalion, which brought a four-gun btttery with its infantry supports, placed there for the defense of the salient, btrely within reaoh of our long-range ri?es, and to these Ben Powell, with his "Whit worth/ and a few files on the right paid their respects. Presently an officer of rank, with his staff, ap proached the salient, and adjusting his field glasses, began to take obser vations of the front. A few shots only had been fired at the group, when the ringing peal of Powell's 'Whit worth' was heard some distance to the right. The officer was seen to stagger and fall, and the brilliant career of that gallant and distinguished soldier, Major General Sedgwick, commandant of the Fifth Federal army corps, was closed and closed forever. Powell re ported at once that he had killed a Federal general, but we knew not his name or rank until it esme out a few days latei* in the northern papers, an nouncing that General Sedgwick had been killed by a Confederate sharp shooter, which faot, so published at that time, has gone into history, but the name of 'the man behind the gun' has never before been mentioned." This account may interest some of your readers, but I don't suppose it will settle the question as to who did kill General Sedgwiok.-Robert R. HemphiU, in Atlanta Journal. Abbeville, S. C., July 25, 1901. - One pound of Phosphorous is sufficient to tip 1,000,000 matches. in Danger. Every one is in danger who neglects the warnings of declining health. The warnings are not as startling as the sud den shriek of a locomotive, but they are just as ominous. When the body begins to lose in flesh, rA?, when the cheek is flHrHA"']^^-^ hollow and. ^ the f. and "weak" stom %?S0?B?' $K flch soon involves /'Ts Y > Ct other organs. Dr. a^sg. /7J^ "*?*J?XPierce's Golden /fflfc^NMMfr ~ ' Medical Discovery X^H^y^^^"^"*. cures diseases of tS yBHBR /^the stonmck an(i 2/?/^MP\ //Mother ovgans of , (?^--A?^\ / *. digestion and nu Jbjys tr?tion, and cures tgV) through the stom w ach diseases seem ingly remote, but which have ?heir origin in the disease of the stomach and its allied organs. There is no alcohol in the " Discovery" and it ia absolutely free from opium, cocaine, and all other narcotics. ! ?Before I commenced to use your medicine I was in a bad condition (for eight years), and four doctor* treated mc," writes Mrs. Bettie Askew, of Garyaburg, Northampton Co., Ki. C. "They, of course, gave me at the time some relief, hut lt did not last long. I was some days in my bed and soma days I dragged about the house. X hare used five bottles ol the ' Golden Medical Discovery' and Ave of the 'Favorite yresciiptten ' and .four vials of the ' Pellets.' Now 1 reel like e.-new woman, and I want the world to know it." Dr. Pierce's Medical Adviser, rood large pages, paper binding, sent free on receipt of a? one-cent stamps to pay expense of smiling only? or 31 ramps for it in cloth binding. Address Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. ?I? 8? ACKER, ATTORNEY AT LAW, ANDERSON, S. C. All business will receive prompt atten tion. OFFICE OVER WEBB BUILDING. Joly 24,1901 5 3m WATCHES, CLOCKS & JEWELRY g??h AU Benair work done promptly and at low ratea. JOHN 8. 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Reference : , F. B. GRAYTON & CO.; Druggists* Anderson, S. C. 3? CJar Loads Corn, Ear and Shelled. 10 Car Loads Oats. 10 Car Loads Molasses. 1 Car Load Oreen Coffee. SOO Barrels Sugar. Come along and see for yourself. IIGOH & LEBBETTEE, WHOLESALE DEALERS. A.C. STRICKLAND, OEMT58T. OFFICE- Front Reams over Farm crs and Merchants Baak. The oppoalte cut illustrates Con tinuous Gum Teeth. The Ideal Plate-more cleanly than the natu ral tc-i- No .bad tasto or breath from Pla*"Mi of thia hind. A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinkr it is when the matter of life insurance suggests itself-hut circumstan ces of late have shown how life hangs by a thread when war, flood, hurricane and are suddenly overtakes you, and the only way to be sure that your family is protected in CSSG cf CSlit?Si?1* CV-t?tln" v0\l I1* ta in? sure rn ?, Bolid Company liCeA The Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Oo. Drop in and see us about it Mi. ?E. MATTI8QW, STATE A0ENT*. Peoples' Banlc Building, ANDERSON- B. C.