Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WISP Qi Christmas in the Jr* E. &. Sanders, ii The field works erected in defense of Petersburg, Va., beginning at the Appomattox River's southern bank and thence runniug southerly and westerly, were hold during thc winter of 18G4-C5 by General Bushrod John son's division. Four brigades consti tuted this division. Ex-Govcrnor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, com manded ono, Ex-Sonator Matt IV. Ransom, of North Carolina led a (sec ond, a third WSB from South Carolina and Gracie's brigade from Alabama was thc fourth. Georgia wa* rCprC SAnf/iil ?t? tilia l>r? trnii n, J?IT };"T; V --- -?...0..>.~ "J V ?J..IJM.il j in tbe Twenty-fifth North Carolina regiment. Bob Phinizy was captain of this company, and instead of feel ing an alien he was probably better known and certainly as well liked as any officer in thc brigade. His high spirits uevcr quailed before thc miser ies of the limos. During the winter he was appointed or elected u justice of the peace. Ile bid us good-bye with tears in his eyes. Ile intormed us that he was a judge, and though it was hard to credit, it was believed that he would preside over one of the courts of record-a court of law nud equity. Strange to say, Wise's brigade had seen but little warfare until the seige of Petersburg began. The others were seasoned veteraus. During thc au tumn of 18(14 two brigades were in tho inironchments and two were withdrawn for rest and recuperation evory two ve.?!<..?. Moro or less lighting was fe '.-.g on daily and tho stress and strain on the men in the trenches were terrible. On ODO occasion the enemy made a heavy demonstration in Wise's front and it was HO formidable that part of tho brigado were driven from the works. Ransom's brigade soon appeared and drove tho Federals back and tho former situation was re-estab lished. When the brigades alternated in the trenches their engouuity was taxed to make their condition less severe. Planks and boards wero highly prized to make bunks, uud when one brigudo left the trenches and did not carry with them all their belongings thu in coming brigade, especially the Twcu- i ty-tifth North Carolina, appropriated to its uso thenoeforth and forever whatever was left behind. Wise's brigade, being nearer home, bad more of these conveniences than any other. On one occasion, when relieved by Ransom's brigade a Virginian said as the soldiers passed eaoh other: "Don't you fellows take the planks wo are leaving here. You oan use thom, but leave them when you go out. Don't tako them away, like you did before." "We never took you-uns plank nor nothiu you-uns ever loft," indignantly answered a tarhoel mountainer." "Yes you have; you take all wo leave," re plied half a dozen Virginians. "Yes we-uns did take one thing you'uns left 'bout six weeks ago," retorted ono of the Carolinians. "One thing! You own up to one do you? We'd like to know what it was we left that you say you took." "These linos," was the silencing answer. It is difficult to realize the lifo the soldier led in the intrenohments east of Petersburg. Tho lines of the con tending armies were less than u quar ter of a mile apart, and about a milo from tho river at the point the Con federate line presented a salient angle they wore opposed by a re-entrant of the Federals on Hare's Hill, crowned by a fort of twenty-four guns and mor tars, some of the latter throwing a two hundred pound ahell. Not a day or night passed bat what moro or less firing was going on and thc Southern soldiers gave tho placo on Hare's Hill the appropriate name of Fort Hell. More than a year beforo Ransom's brigade had been encamped on Major Hare's place and then an incident oo .curred which I will hero relate, as it will explain something further on. Colorod women visited the brigade often bringing cooked food of various kinds, which they disposed of to the soldiers. A member of tho 49th North Carolina bought a moat pie one day and when eating it his suspicions were aroused. He oarricd it to tho regimental surgeon, who examined it and pronounced it dog meat. Eaoh regiment of the brigade had a sou briquet and sometimes two, and hence forth tho 49tb was known as tho dog eaters. To return, some uea were killed and wounded daily. Rains flooded the ditohes and fuel was extremely source. The men were furnished with a small supply of coal from the mines of Chesterfield oor.nty, which they tried to burn in tho open air or cu the fire,.Innes of thoir clay chimneys. The daily i ition waa at the bost about four ounce* of meat, half a pound of flour, ? sometimes a little coffee brought tbrough the blockade of Wilmington: . tobacco aud some salt. Few had an rOR?ES. etersburg Trenches. i Atlanta Journal. overcoat or more than one blanket. There were but few who in their secret hearts did not foresee the rapidly ap proaching end. But thc merciful author of our bc ! ing bus implanted in each soul a seed which germinates and Howers in defi ance of every obstacle. Men can bear up surprisingly when associated in misfortune, and v e had faith in that leader who never had failed us. We believed that General Lee would rot permit us to be sacrificed when tb'* struggle became hopeless and so long as uv remained there were thousands who resolved to adhere to him. But had a chance shot killed him any time during that winter it is uncertain whether any other general could have held the army together, so evident was the desperation of the situation and so great was their confidence in him. Several weeks before Christmas some good hearted person, probably a wo man, suggested that Virginia give a dinner-a real old-fashioned Christ mas dinner to tho army of Northern Virginia. Tho few newspapers that remained gave a hearty support to the proposal, and it was a theme in many bomb-proofs and picket holes. It be came resolved upon, and wo wero told I that we should have an old time, "be fore thc war," dinner, such as the high-bred, hospitable gentry of "ole Ferginy uever tires," used to set be fore their guests. Sunday, thp 25th of December, 1864, was an ideal day to be the anni vorsary of the Nativity. Clear, yet not cold, nature seemed in sympathy with the blessed time. The sun came up and the first day for many months looked U"on the nrmies who were not carrying on tho work of death. It seemed as though each bad agreed to suspend their deadly efforts for one duy. A head oould appear for a sco oud or two above tho parapet and iu full sight of the enemy and not have a dozen minnie balls fired at it. Both sides soon discovered that the orders to fire at au enemy whenever in sight were being disobeyed. Tho men had suspended their work without being so ordered and in a fow minutes they were passing in full sight of each other, shouting tho compliments of the season, giving invitations to cross over and take a drink, to come to din ner, to come back into the Union, to como over and get a plug of tobacco and other amenities, which were a singular contrast to the asperities of war. Several times a group of three or four from eaoh side would dash out from the trenches in spite of the com mands of tho officers end meet mid way, have a rapid exchange of drinks, tobacco and other objects. To a visi tor ignorant of war it would have ap peared incredible that the mon thus fraternizing had been trying to kill each other for years. Some time after noon a Yankee who was very tipsy staggered up to tho trenches oc cupied by thc Thirty-fifth North Caro lina regiment, and after trying in vain to olimb over, begged to be helped! He was pulled across and was soon asleep. This seemed to be getting too strong, and upon its being report ed to General Hansom, he ordered the man to be soot back as soon as possi ble and a rifle to be fired, but not at tho enemy. The Forty-ninth regi I ment was nearest the general's bomb proof, and accordingly a rifle was dis charged upward from it. This was the first shot that had brokon tho peacefulness of the day in the writer's hearing. I was in the trenches when it was fired, and instantly every man who had been exposing himself was out of sight of an enemy. Perfeot silence followed. Everyone, not knowing the causo of the single dis charge, expeoted something much more important to succeed. But the quiet was profound until the explanation circulated through the Confederate linea. When Bob Phifer, of Com pany D, Thirty-fifth North Carolina regiment, reared his burly form above tho parapet and oalled out, "Say, Yank, let's talk some more. Bring a drink to. the picket boles and DI carry some tobacco," the answer came from a soldier in blue, who also showed himself, "No, somo of you Johnnies fired at us." "'Twas only one of thom d-d Dog eaters who shot in the air. You won't get hurt. Come on," repented Bob, whose supply of liquor was ex hausted and who wished for more. By this time overy man who had tho means and desire to become drunk was in that condition. Some had received supplies of food and drink from home, whioh, of course, were divided with the many who had not. The shot before spoken of was the only one I remember to have heard during Christmas. The oalm was maintained until the following day. \ There was muoh aotivity, frolic and fun in tho trenches, but the day, com pared with many which preceded and followed, was one of Sabbatical calm. I attended church in thc forenoon in the city and heard thc Kev. Dr. Platt, who was esteemed by most to be the most eloquent preacher of Petersburg. Besides my own rations I was a guest at three different dinners, and atc at each what would bo a full meal to a sufficiently fed man. I expected cholera morbus, but escaped. It is a melancholy proof of tho des titution to which the people of tho grand commonwealth of Virginia had reached in 1804, with her armies, one hostile, tearing her bosom, that tho dinner intended for General Lee's army was a complete failure so far as I know. Tho part for Johnson's division reached us about tho end of the first week in January. I was directed by General Ransom to divide the dinner sen*, to his brigade among the five regiments which constituted it. I sunnose the hrjgorlo contained between twelve and fifteen hundred men. My task was not difficult. Each regiment was nearly equal in numbers, and the dinner was divided into five equal parts. Ono mao could carry easily thc quantity distributed to one regi ment and not be much weighted. After all had been divided as nearly equal as possible, there was a jar con taining about a quart of apple butter. Despairing of dividing this, I took it for my share, and it was very good. I have been informed by several of them who did it, that on the nights of Christmas eve and Christmas the sol diers from both sides fraternized in tho picket holes and agreed not to shoot during Christmas and tried to reach an agreement by which they would not endeavor to kill each other when momentarily exposed above tho parapet. They could not succeed in the latter altogether, but one mau has told mo since that after that day bo ucver tried to kill a soldier on tho other side, except in tho battles ho participated in during the ensuing fifteen weeks. Many visits were made on that day, and friends from the same community in distant State*, who had been long separated saw each other, somo for the last time. To tho entire army, as I was informed, it was a day of cheer, one bright spot in the gloom of pres ent distress and impending defeat. That Christmas day taught mauy of tho soldiers of both armies that their enemies were such only in name-that in reality there was no hatred between them as human beings, and that they were all subjects of the same feelings and passions, when the star of the. South sunk forever at Appomattox Court House, and thesa same men met for the last time without attempting to destroy eaoh other. If a harsh word passed from those of our army to any of tho other during the days the paroles were being given, I never heard of it. Thousands of good wishes were given by the soldiers in blue to us who were going to our homes, and they surely must have been the sin cere speech of the heart; and some of the seeds may have been planted the previous Christmas. ? Joke on the Sutler. Those who think war is ali tragedy are mistaken, for comedy plays an im portant part, and in thinking of the past I like to recall the amusing inci dents, and would forget the sad ones if I could. ? The best "Confed" ? soldier was equally ready for a fight or a frolic, and entered into one with about as much zest as he did the other. Of this class was captain, afterwards ma jor, Nathan Lyon, of the Eighth Con federate Cavalry, and when I say that he mado as good soldier as he has citi zen of Atlanta, I heve said all that need be spoken in his behalf. During the battle of Murfreesboro, Wheeler's cavalry made Bevoral raids in rear of Rosecrans1 army, destroying thousands of wagons and other prop erty, and putting the Federal army on short rations for several days. On one of these raids wo passed through La Vergne, about equally distant from Murfroesboro and Nashville. For some oause a part of the command re turned the samo night, and with it tho Eighth Confederate, Captain Lyon's regiment. The night was cold and \TV\ it was raining, and every thing was still and desolate, with the exception that from an old storehouse thoro nhone a bright light, and there came forth sounds of loud laughing and talking. In strolling around "Capt. Nath," as the boys affection ately called him, heard this, and de cided to investigate. He was cold and wet, and if anybody was having a good timo he naturally wanted some of it. Pushing open tho door, the sight which met his gase almost paralysed him, for there was a full fledged sut ler's lay out, presided over by a typi cal lager beer Dutchman, with a nurioh on him like a basa drum, and about 20 bloa%oaied gentry were drinking and uaving a good time'gen erally. It seoras that by some means the atore and ita oontenta had been overlooked in the raid, and the pro I prictor and a squad of Federals had returned, supposing the Confederates were ali gone. Fortunately for "Nath" he was clad in a blue overcoat, as many of our men were at the time, so he gently f closed the door and retired without ex- i citing any suspicion. Hurrying to '. his camp, he assembled about 20 of his men, and had their blue overcoats carefully buttoned, so as to hide the carbines underneath. Then he re turned to the sutler'? store and boldly entered, called to "Dutohy" to set out his best liquors, saying they had just been paid off and were out for a good time. "Dot vas right, captain-h af a gude time vile yer can, for dot tam veller may come back some more." Tho new comers were generous and invited all to come forward and call for what they liked-beer, whiskey, wine or what not-but were careful to keep themselves near the door. While the hilarity was at its height a lieutenant among tho Federals be came auspicious, and taking Captain Lyon to ono side, asked him what it all meant. Captain Nath whispered to him the truth, but admonished him to humor the joke and keep quiet, as escape was impossible. By and by the score olimbicg up toward the hundred-dollar mark, the sutler requested a settlement. .'Oh, that's all right, Dutchy," ex plained the Confcds; "we've got the money. Don't be uneasy." "Dot may so, shentiemen, but bet ter yer pay oop, and den we commence ofer new," replied Dutohy. Finding their credit exhausted, Captain Nathan stood close up to the oounter, gently opened his blue over coat and revealed the gray beneath. For a full minuto the Dutchman seem ed deprived of speech, and when he found his voice he fell back with tho wail, "Moiu Got, mein Got in Him moll!" The boys loaded themselves with all they could carry ol' the sutler's good things, formed their prisoners and marohed them in line to camp, witb poor Dutchy bringing up the rear, still crying "Mein Got, moin Got in HimmelH" The First Drink. Two boys stopped in front of a sa loon, and an old man standing near listened to what they said. "Let's go in and take a drink," said one of them. "I-I don't think we'd better," said his companion, "my father's terribly Opposed to saloons. I dou't know what he'd say if he knew I'd been in one, and drank liquor there." "Just for the fun of tho thing, you know," urged his frieud, "of course, we'd s top with one drink. Th er. could not be any harm in that." "My boys," said the old man, com ing up to them, "you don't know what you're talking about. If you go in there and take one drink, you're not sure of stopping there. The chances are that you won't, for I toll you and I know what I'm talking about by a bittei experience-there's such a fascination about liquor that it takes a strong will to resist after tho first taste of it, sometimes. Take the first drink, and the way of the drunkard is open before you. Only those who let liquor entirely alone are safe. I know, for I've been a drunkard a good many years. I expect to be one till i die. I began by taking a drink just as you propose to 'for fun'-but I didn't stop there, you seo. Take the advice of a poor old wreck-and that is never take the first drink." "You're right," said the boy who had proposed to visit tho saloon. "I thank you for your advice, sir. I say, Tom, let's promise each other never to take the first drink." "AU right," said Tom, and the boys clasped hands on their pledge. "That's a good temperance society to belong to." said the old man. "I j wish I'd joined one like it when ? was : a boy."-Eben E. Rexford. The Chrisi Car We are showing this season ar Thoy aro tho latest in style, th msnship, the lowest in pri?e, a We sell all styles Low Do* See the big stock on my flo A l-?vino- Emetic. A servant who did not find her way to tho kitchen very prompt1? one morning was visited byjher mistress, who found her in bed Buffering from pain and violent sickness. She ex plained that she had a cold and had taken some medicino which had been recommended for the children. "How much did you take?" asked her mistress. "Well, mom, I went by the direc tions on the bottle. They said, 'Ten drops for an infant, thirty drops for an adnlt and a tablespoonful for an emetic.' I kitew I wasn't an infant or adult, so I thought I must be an emetio, and the pesky stuff has pretty nigh turned me inside out." He Felt Relieved. It was a long ride through a deso late and dangerous country, and the noli fin?an ?arm ar\it tn roi io no *he 220 notony of philosophie musings on his victory and embarrassments that even success brings. "Hold up your bands!" The stage coach gave a luroh and stopped. The ray of light that shot into the vehiolo turned the spattering rain into myriads of evanescent gems. "What do you want?" asked the politician with a firmness that showed that he had faced danger before. "Your money." "Here it is." "Your watoh and diamond ring." "They are yours." "I must say yer good-natured, any how," remarked one of the highway men. "Not?t all. Are you sure that's all you desire?" "What in thunder did you think we wanted?" "I was afraid"-and the politician's voioo trembled a little-"you wanted an office."-Philadelphia North Amer ican* - Many a man who isn't a biga mist has one wife too many. - A woman will match her instinct for anything in tho world except matching colors. - Maybe it's only human nature, but we al ff ays begin our reforms with the other follow. m \ m WEAN WOMEN Are made strong by the use of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. It regulates the periods, dries weakening drains, heals inflamma tion and ulceration and cures female weakness. Sick women are invited to consult Doctor Pierce, by letter, free. All womanly confi dence held in sacred secrecy and guarded by strict professional privacy. Write without fear and without fee to Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. " I had been a RT?at ; sufferer from female I weak ness,n write? 'Mrs. M. ii. Wallace. . of Muenster, Cooke Co., Texas. ?I Med I four doctors and nona .aid int any good. I suffered six years, hut lat lart I found relief. .1 followed your advice, and took eight i bottles of 'Favorite I Prescription,* and four of tue 'Golden Medical Discovery,' I now feel like a nra woman. X have gained I eighteen pounds.? Doctor Pierce's I Pleasant Pellets teure biliousness and sick head? ache. They do. net create thc pill habit tmas 'ridges e the finest things on wheels, ie best In material and work ll things considered. Wik? ors. JOS. J. FBETWELI. .: WT"""- . y - . . rrrr--? '-vt*:- .L : -- . ?t?geM-kPrepara?onfor As similating tbeFoodandBegufa ?ngUteStoiaacteaMtBewclsof lt DK KN Promotes Dig^stion.Cheerfur ness and Rest .Contains neither Opiuin.Morp??ne nor limerai. KOT *NARC OTIC . 7*np3 a/OUJOrSAMUELPITCIOil sf?cScvt* > SSA Wa Aper?ecl Remedy for Constipa tion, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and Loss OF SLEEP. Foe simile Signature of NEW "YORK. Forlnfaixts and Children. ?The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of jj EXACT CO0\tiQPWpABR?R. Use For Over Thirty Years TN* ctrmrjn eoammr. new TOM ORT. er WE have on hand the beet selection of com for t-bringera for cold and tired feet that we have ever carried. Our long experience of ten years Shoe buying has enabled us to select only the best values from the largest manu, factur?is' lines. We bought thia season in each quantities that we can offer to our customer-! better goods for leas money than we have ever before been able to do. You will, therefore, not consider that our Shoes are CHEAP Shoes because they aro low-priced. The little school fellow will find his Shoes he buys of us the greatest delight of Winter, excepting bis Christmas guns, as Jack Frntt will have no terrors for him ; and his parents will find their Winter's worrie? overcome, as our School Shoes protect the purse as well as the feet. There are a few old shelf-worn Shoes' in stock that we want to sell at a large discount. They are pretty fair Shoes, but not as good as new-hence the big mark-down in price. They are yours for the cash only while they last. They can't last long at the price. REMEMBER WE SELL PLANTATION S?PPILES OF EVERY KIND. DEAN & RATLIFFE. The Store where your Mends Trade. " When the ^Leaves Begin to Turn !" 18 the time t eow OATS, R'S E and BARLEY. Now, in order that you may not cc?te up lacking in harvest time, we have bought GOOD SEED for you. JUST RECEIVED 3000 bushels Texas Bed East Proof Oats, 2000 bushels Nicety Six Bed BuBt Proof Oats, 1003 bushels Winter Grazing Oats. Gar Load Bye and Barley. Could have sold the above without moving sam? for a handsome profit, but prcferreu to give them to you at a loss, as we want to supply those that have always patronized us. Recollect tho above is only about one-quarter our usual supply, and is all we can get ; so come aud secure your Seed at once. Can buy plenty of Kau? eas Red Oats for less money, but they will not do in this climate. HOON & IsBBBBTTBE. WHOLESALE DEALERS. A. 0. STRICKLAND, DENTIST, OFFICE-Front Rooms over Farm . era and Jf enchants Bank. The opposite ont Illustrates Con tinuous Gum Teeth. Tao Ideal Fists-more cleanly than the nato ral teatb. No bad taste or breath ?3m FlatOBOf this kind A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinks it is when the matter of life insurance suggests itself--but cueumatan? 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 ia protected in case of calamity overtaking yon is. to In* sure in ? solid Company Hf The Mutual Benefit Life las. Go, , Drop iii and see us about it JkU Hi; MATT?80N, STATE AGEKT, Feoplea*Bank Building, ANDERSONS, a.