Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WAR ST 8orae Stray ?its of C A few weeks ago we published an article that has been much read, en ti tied "Stray Bits of Confederate His tory." This week wc give a few tn "ru reminiscences of the days nf tl .. Con federacy. The date has heeu culled by Mr. B. Wells, who placed in charge of th? Con!'?ram govern ment papers just :.!'t-.:. t!.?- close of tl e Civil War. Thc following is from tho records in the archives : lu 180(1, I think it wa-, Congress passed an act to reimburse Union nu n in the South for their cotton and to bacco destroyed by United States ? troops. The act provided that before the claimants could recover for tIm.loss they must prove their loyalty to thu United States during the war. To liv? in thc South and bc loyal to the Union cause through the terrible struggle was an exceedingly trying ordeal to pass through, but the proof was sino <|ua non to a recovery. The act had hardly been passed when claims hegau to come rapidly to tim Court of Claims, j It was astonishing how many loyal men ' there had been in the South, and how \ quiet they had been concerning their loyalty during all the four years. They j bad not annoyed their nearest neigh- j hors with their recitals of it. They had ; been very modest about it all the time. The claims soon ran up to millions of dollars. The duty of protecting the I interests of the United States in these trials devolved on the Attorney Gene i !. The Department cf Justice fur i..3hcd thc Secretary of Warthe names of all tho claimants from the South. Tho Secretary directed a search to bo made in the Confederate records to sec if the claimants had been in the Con federate military or civilscrvicu or had taken un oath to support that cause, or had ever had auy contract with it to furnish supplies, or had ever writteu letters giving the Confederacy infor mation, or expressing sentiments loyal to tho Southern cause or disloyal to the United States. Any act or aid and comfort to tho Confederate gov ernment, willingly given, was suffi cient to destroy tho right to maintain an action against tho United States. In many cases tho applicants were found to be registered on the muster zolls of tho army as Confederate sol diers. All officers, of course, took the oath to support that government. Many others were found to have had eontraots with tho Confederacy, o nd the contracts and invoices were pro duced in oourt, to tho dismay of the contractors. Tho original contracts were found in tho archives of tho Confederacy. Others had written let ters to the Southern government and the tell-tale missives were found filed in the records in our caro, and came forth from their hiding places to sit in judgment on the claims of their authors. It was a terrible surprise as well as a bitter mortification to the claimants to have the totters appear as witness against their authors. The claimants supposed all such letters were destroyed until brought out in evidence at the pivotal point of a trial of the oaso. The defeat was always overwhelming. A olaimant must bc a first class intellectual athlete to recov er from such a staggering blow, when unexpectedly and cloverly dealt. In this way from four to five million dol lars were saved to tho govornmont by tho Confederate archives. Time will not permit to go into de rails in more than one or two cases. Wi. well remember the case of a Mary lander, Colonel M. Ile was a man of very pleasing manners, a smooth con versationalist, entertaining and able to talk to a finish. Ile came to Wash ington and fell into the good graces of General Joe Hooker, General Burn side and General Meade. Ile was loud iu his protestations of loyalty to the Union cause. Ile was willing to risk his valuable lifo for a consideration, go south through our lines, make his way through thoso of thc enemy and into Richmond and obtain information of intended movements and plans of attack and campaign, which he prom ised to givo or send to Federal gene rals at the nearest point. In short, he desired to go forward and backward from side to side and keep thc Federal army posted. For such a scrvico ho was to be rewarded. In plain English, ho was a spy. His adroit ways and pleas ing manners won him favor, and ho was given a trial. He was provided with a pass and went through the lines. Ho went to Confederates and repre sented himself to bc a refugee driven from home by Federal tyranny. This plausible story and his affability won the Southern heart, and his tale was believed, and he was given a warm wel come. Ile wept to Richmond and had an interview with James A. Seddon, then Secretary of War. He was soon in as good standing thero as he had been at Washington. He made the same offer to Mr. Sedden to go back and forth, from side to Bide, and ORIES confederate History. - \ bring information. Iiis oiler was ac cepted. * Tims bc was a Uonfcderate spy aldo. He thus had the- right of way, and could pass through either anny with out suspicion. His word was "open sesame" that unlocked any situation. lie was bein;' paid hy both govern ments. It was a dangerous position, and death lay at the end of the rope, if detected by either party. Mach side believed in him implicitly. His letters to Mr. Seddon at Richmond were found in thc Confederate archives and showed him an adept in tin: arts fd' :i schemer. His lottern to the Federal authorities showed him as shrewd, well balanced and cunning. He did really give valuable informa tion to both sides. Iludid not, in fact, carr anything for either side, but was loyal to himself only. Ile played tho Federals against the Con federates, and the Confederates against the Federals, according to circumstances, and pocketed tho pay from both sides '.villi great impar tiality. General (?rant was just then acting Secretary of War, during the quarrel between Secretary Stanton and Presi dent Johnson. It was decided that tim documentary evidence best suited for thu trial of Jeirersoo Davis for treason might be found in thc Confed erate archives, and orders were given for an examination. Thu documunts selected to be used consisted of the messages of Mr. Davis to the Confed erate Congress, the originals of proc lamations issued by him as president declaring war against the United States, all telegrams and military or dcrs directing the movement of troops, all orders by him to generals of his army, in fact, all his official acts, j These were found in abundance in tho archives. The execution o these documents would not be disputed by tho defendant. Tho question to bo settled was one of law to bo decided by tho Court. Did theso acts consti tute treason under tho constitution of tho United States ? There was to be thc battle ground. It was directed that these documents bo taken to Richmond and shown to tho grand jury, whioh was composed of white and colored men, and called by the sympathizers of Mr. Davis "a black and tan" jury. It was my for tuno to be sent to Riohmond by order of General Graut as a special messen ger of the government to oonvey the valuablo documents to the grand jury, watch over them there, and bring them safely baok and restore them to the proper files. I have now the uub poeua served on mo, and regard it as a valuablo relic. It was issued by the United States District Court at F. .li mo nd, under tho hand of tho dork, in thc name of the United States, and bearing thc seal of the Court. It commands tho United States marsha! to summon mo to appear at Riohmond and testify in a certain case "in which tho United States is plaintiff and Jef ferson Davis is defendant." The documents were paoked in a gripsaok and carried with me, tho record evi dence in tho way of bulky books was packed in a small dry goods box with my name painted on the outside. Great excitement prevailed over the South in regard to the expected trial, and warn ing, was quietly given in advance t> use every precaution to avoid giving any intimation of the contents of box or the gripsaok. There were hot headed peoplo in the South who might have been tempted in the exoitemeot | of the time to try to destroy thc e^. denoe. There was some danger in being a government messenger under these circumstances. Thc messenger and documents ar rived safely in Richmond, however,and thu latter were laid before the grand jury for their?inspeotion. Geu. Rob ert E. Lee, o? the late Confederate army, had also been subpoenaed by the government as a witness, and on thc witness staud was shown the docu ments which had beeu produced, and pronounced them genuiue. Somo of j the cabinet offioers of Mr. Davis' of ficial family and some of thc governors of Southern States had also been sum-1 monedas witnesses. It was quito a gathering of Confederate notables. All of them testified to the signature of Mr. Davis to the documents pro duced. Angry crowds on the street comers discussed tho situation, i mingled with tho crowd on tho streets and heard the comments of the people, ' but I had no remarks to make, and obeyed my instructions to be "dis creet." I simply said nothing. After the grand jury had found their indict ment thc doouments wcro taken safe ly back to Washington, but I will never forgot my experience. For once at least "silence was golden." President Johnson subsequently or dered the oase to be dismissed, and Mr. Davie was never tried. AUN Fuir in War. "My conscience has alway-, hurt me ! just a bit about a little thing that hap pened at Helena, Ark., during the war," said a white:haired veteran while musing over some of the hide lights of the 00's, "aud I ?o not mind , telli ug you in a confidential way that I have prayed over it a good many times. I'rioe was skirmishing around in thc hills back of Helena at the time. The Confederate lines were in had shape. Some of the southern men had crossed ihn river below Hel ena and were quartered ou the Mis sissippi side ol' the river, on a little hayon which reached on: from thc main stream. The information reach ed me thal the men were i:i a had way, and that they needed provisions, clothing and a few other tiling1-, i here was a certain merchant in Hel ena who had been doing a great deal of smuggling, and I had been keeping pretty well up with him. Here was j my chance. I told him he could sell some goods down below town if he could get out of Helena with them, and 1 offered to help bim d> it. He had a large yawl .which he had press ed into service before, and it di<l not take me a great length of time to con vince him that we could use this yawl to advantage. Ho fell right into thc ?dan. One night wc loaded the boat down with an assorted cargo of cloth ing, food, ami other things which the merchants had in stock. At that time you couldn't hardly get away i from the soldiers, but we managed to get out into the river without mak ing much noise. It was a very dark night. "When we had roached the current of the stream 1 suggested to thc mer chant that we lay down in thc boat ! until we had drifted ' down below the city. We allowed the current to drive ! us several miles below the city, in ?fact, as far down as 1 wanted to go, ? for I knew exactly where the Confed I crate soldiers were camped. Wepitll > cd into a small bayou aud started to j tic up. Suddenly a squad of men ! swooped down on us and placed us ! under arrest. Then they began to un j load the boat. The merchant did not j seem to care so much about the $2,000 ! worth of goods he had in the yawl and which the soldiers bad confiscated. He told tue wo were in great danger of being shot, but I consoled him by saying that I would fix up a scheme to escape. That night a squad waa named to watch us until daylight. About 3 a. m., I nudged tho merchant and told him tho soldiers wcro sound asleep and we could get away. At first he was afraid of being shot, but 1 persuaded him that it was safe, and we skeedadled. I never saw a mac run so in my life, and I was BO tickled all the while that I could scarcely keer. from letting the cat out of the bag. "Up to this day that fellow feelt that he owes his life very largely tc me, when I had deliberately laid th? scheme to rob him of a boatload ol goods for the benefit of the Confedera oy, and I have often debated tho mora aspeot of the question in my owi mind. But I suppose all things ar fair in war. Besides, the motive wa to help tho suffering Confederate eol diera and not to hurt and harm th merchant."-New Orleans Times Demoorat. . m - . ? - Confederate Kennion. New Orleans, La. February 1. Gen. John B. Gordon, oommandng th United Confederate Veterans, ac nouooes that, according to the oustot heretofore in force, which leaves t the commanding general and the de partment commanders the fixing c the date of the reunion, the thirtoent annual reunion will be held in the oit of New Orleans, La., on May 19, 20,2 and 22, 1903, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday, respective!; those days having been named by oi host as satisfactory. - j?33_ I WTith pride tho commanding geuer also announces that 1,490 pampa hat already joined tho association, and I hopes that many more will fileapplio tions before the reunion. Bo urge Veterans everywhere to get togeih and form themselves into camps at send at ouce to these headquarters fi organization papers, so their aid m; bc secured in carrying out tho benev lent, praise worthy and patriotio o jects of our order. F. M. Hill,-of McKinney, Text and B. S. Ellis, of Caddo, I. T., ha bought a splendid blooded dark b horse, 12* hands high and Gyoars ol without a blemish and fully train and gaited, which is to bo present Gen. Johu B. Gordon at tho Confet rato reunion in this city and riddon him in the parade of the Ex-Confct rate Veterans in May. Tho horso T be presented ia tho name of the V orana and will arrive in this city I days befe-- the reunion. Stops Cough and Works off the Col Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tabl cure a cold in ono day. No Cure, Pay. Price 25 cents. - Some people seem to think milk of human kindness is poison less they sterilize it with selQshni - A woman is never happy exe when she has spent all her mon because when she ?has spent it all has been forolothes. BUSY BRAIN WORKERS. r??en cf ThOUflht and Mental Force Are : Usually Long Lived. ft is u very common but erroneous bel iel' that brain work is destructive of physical strength, .says the Chi cago Chronicle. The fact is that men of thought and mental force have always been distinguished for their age. Colon, Sophocles, Pindar, Anacreon and Xenophon were octo genarians. Kant, Buffon, Goethe, Fontcncllc and Newton were over eighty. Michael Angelo and Titian were eighty-nine and ninety-nine rc spcctively. Harvey, thc discoverer of the circulation of thc blood, live/, j to bc eighty. Many men have done excellent work after they have passed eighty years. Lander wrote his "Imaginary Conversations" * when eighty-iivc. Izaak Walton wielded a ready pen ut ninety. Hahncinnnn married at eighty and wa.; still working at ninety-one. Michael Angelo was :?till painting his giant canvases at eighty-nine, and Titian at ninety worked with tile vigor of his early yea rs. Fontanelle was as light hearted at ninety-eight as at forty, and New ton at eighty-three worked as hard as he did in middle life. Cornaro was in far better health at ninety live than at thirty and was as happy as a Fand boy. At llanover Dr. Du Boisy was still practicing a~, a phy sician in 18'.* ?, going his daily rounds at thc agc of 103. William Reynold Salmon, M. R. C. S., of Conbridge, Glamorganshire, died, on Mardi ll, 18D7, at the age of 10?. At thc time of his death he was tho oldest known individual of indispu tably authenticated age, thc oldest physician, thc oldest member of tho Royal College of Surgeons, Eng land, and thc oldest Freemason in thc world. Fuss. A writer in the London Lancet, discussing "Fuss ns a Mark of Mod ern Civilization," defines fuss us a form of neurosis, and says of it : lt is not vigilance or prudence or deliberate and considerate judg ment, lt is not even a natural and rational anxiety, though it may ex hibit itself in thc guise of any ono of these, lt is mere fussiness. Serving in itself no useful purpose, it min gles with and impedes every useful work, dampening energy and dis couraging initiative and thc sense of responsibility in those engaged in it. All thc while it may be preaching moderation and self control. This neurosis is not confined to any peo ple or part of the civilized world, though it would seem "to be more prevalent in some quarters than elsewhere. Wherever there exists a suitable soil in the form of an intel lect equipped with the visual organs of education, but without corre sponding reflective power and self restraint, there the morbid germ de velops until it may even become epi demic over a wide area. Mexican Justice. An American tells this story of Mexican justice: "One morning the body of a cowboy was found in a border town. It was supposed he had crossed the Rio Grande to at tend a dance and flirted with some senorita and so was shot by a Mexi can. At least that was the theory, because a bag of money amounting to $200, all in gold, was found on thc body, proving that the murder had not been done for robber}'. Be sides the coin a very costly six Bhootcr, silver mounted and ivory bandied, was strapped around the deceased. The finding of the gun was the occasion of a trial before the local alcalde, or justice of the peace. It was against tho law to carry weapons, and the dead man was fined $200, just the sum they found on him, for violating the Mexican statute." Explosive Diamonds. It has long been known that dia monds, C8rjecially the class known as "rose diamonds," axe likely to ex plode if subjected only to what would seem a very ordinary degree of heat. It is now believed that tho explosions are the result of the rap id expansion of certain volatile liq uids inclosed in cavities near the center of theso precious stones. A great many diamonds, even though cut, mounted and worn as gems of perfection, are still in an unfinished condition-that is, thc liquid drop from which the stone is being formed has not as yet deposited all of its "pure crystals of carbon." These movable drops may occasion ally bo seen with tho naked eye. The Brute. "Wha-a-t's tho matter, John?* gasped Mrs, Torque. "Don*t you like the new dishes Pvc cooked ?" "Where did you get the recipe?" "Out of tho cookbook, of course. Why?" "Don't you think that you hap pened to get the cookbook mixed with Borne dialect 6tory? This disk tastes like it."-Baltimoro Herald. - If three men sat over whiskey and cigars and talked of tho things that three women will ovor their em broidery, the skin would sooroh oft* thoir faoes from red hot blushes. - The truth would seem less brutal if people were better aquainted with it. - When ?wo men get together eaoh lilka about himself ; when two women meet thoy both talk about some other woman. THE BAND'S PART. Reasons Why lt Would Rather Cut Ice Than Make Music. One w inter when the First United States cavalry was stationed in Montana, says the Chicago News, thc bandmaster went to the com mander of the post. General Culver Grover, and reported that thc mem bers of the band had been ordered to help cut icc. He said, "Shcneral, they did not enlist us to cut ice, but to make moosie." The commanding olliccr called the adjutant and on his approach Faid: "Mr. Adjutant, Mr. Schmidt wishes tho band excused from ice fatigue. He says they enlisted to make music." Mr. Schmidt, bowing to the com manding olliccr, said, "Yes, shcner al, to make moosie." The com man? ling olliccr then said, "Mr. Adjutant, thc band will bc ex cused from icc fatigue." Mr. Schmidt bowed himself out, saying, "Thank you, shcneral; thank you, shcneral." "But," continued the command ing olliccr as the door closed, "Mr. Adjutant, the band will take post on the bluf! overlooking the river and will make music while thc rest of the command cut ice." The weather was intensely cold, and as a matter of course it was im possible for thc players to make a sound, their breath freezing on their instruments. The bandmaster again hurried to the commanding olliccr and said: "Shcneral, it is impossible to make moosie. The band would rather cut icc." "Very well, Mr. Schmidt, just as you wish," replied the commanding olliccr, and, calling thc adjutant, he said, "Mr. Adjutant, thc band will cut icc." _ A Chinese Legend About Tea. There is a strange Chinese legend concerning the tea plant. According to the story, there once lived a very pious hermit who passed thc greater part of his time in prayer and vigils. He was, however, unable to keep awake, as long as he wished and of ten found his eyes closing while he was in thc very midst of his devo tions. This naturally annoyed him, and one day in a ht of wrath against this weakness of the flesh, which he seemed unable to overcome, he cut off the offending eyelids and cast them upon the ground. But his ac tion had been observed by a god, who immediately caused a tea shrub to spring up from the spot where the eyelids had fallen. It is in refer ence to this, according to the leg end, that the leaves o? the tea plant are shaped like eyelids, fringed with lashes and possess thc power of warding off sleep. A Monkey and an Opera Glass. The pet monkey of a German pro fessor, having made his escape, climbed into a tree and defied all at tempts to catch him. Well knowing the imitative habits of the animal, his master hit on a ourious plan to regain his pet. He looked at the monkey through an opera glass, pointing the small end at him for some time, and then retired to a short distance, leaving the opera glass on the ground. The imitative monkey descended from the tree and, taking the opera glass, gazed after a similar manner at his mas ter, who seemed to the deluded ape to be half a mile distant. The mon key, still looking through the same end of the opera glass, supposed his master was RP vc ral hundred yards distant, when thc latter, reaching out, secured the chain and led the victim of ?uv optical illusion back to his cage. - Buy what you don't need and la ter on you will, aell what you need. - A lazy man is always anxious to get busy where there is nothing to do. - Men are always looking for some ore to back them; but it's different Trith horses. PUNBSHMEttiT. Social progress has done away with a .great many forms of punishment once administered under the laws of enlight ened people. But nature never changes or modifies her penalties. She still has the s nine punish ment for the man who neglects o r abuses his stomach aa she had in the far off days w when Adam delved and Eve span." The physical dis comfort, dullness, sluggishness, irri tability, nervous ness and sleepless ness which are visited upon the man who eats care lessly or irregularly have been from the beginning the evi dences of disease of the stomach and ita associated organs of digestion and nu trition. Dr. Pierce's Gold en Medical Discovery cures the diseased stomach and enables the perfect digestion and assimilation of food, ao that the sluggishness, irritability, nervousness and sleeplessness which result from innutri tion are cured also. "I was taken sick nine year? ago with fever." writes Mr. M. M. Wa rd well, of Un wood, Leaven worth Co.. Kansas. "Had the doctor and he broke up the fever all right, but I took diar rhoea right nv.ay; he couldn't cure lt and it became chronic, and then he gave up the case. I go* so weak with it and had piles so badly X couldn't lie down, nor hardly sit up. waa that way two or three months -, thought I would ' never be well again,' but pic lt ed up one of Dr. Pierce's Memorandum Books ene day and saw your description of catarrh of the stomach. I thought it hit my case. Wa had a bottle of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery in the house that was got for mother. You recommend it for catarrh or the stomaeh, so I went to taking it. The one bottle nearly cured me. X got two bot ties next time and took one and one-half and was well. X haven't been bothered with diar rhoea since." Dr. Pierce's Pellets cure biliousness. GASTORU For Infanta and Children? The Kind You Have ?lwavs Bears the Signature of 11 AA?getabie Prcpcralionfor As I sin?lating ihcFoodand?e?uia ?\ I ling ilia Stomachs and Bowels of ld ?TCino!c:sDigcsl?on?tacrfuI- j h ness and Rest.Coitfains neither ;j| Opium.Morplune nor Mineral. KOT llASLC OTIC. frapc ofOUJlrSAl^UELPlTaiER stix .y.'/urrt ? ittxkrtU StdiS st-.Lw Sercl * jirppemKHt - Ci CiubixtakSotZa * Cm ii if d Sugar ViZntttymn. Flavor. A perfect Remedy forCons?pa Tion, Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions ?Fever i sly ness and Loss OF SLEEP. Facsimile Signature of NEW YORK. Alb inoiii.hs old ] y??sh s j i rs i s EXACT COPY.QFlWRAPPER^ Wlio Puts Tip YoTLT Prescriptions ? WE invite the privilege. We use the best quality of every drug ; in exercise the mest esacting care wi Lb ?very part of the work. We prod UM medicine that bringa the beat possible results. We charge only a living profit above the co3t ot material*. Let Us Pill Your Prescriptions. EVANS PHARMACY, 'ANDERSON, S. C. D. S. VANDIVER. E. P. VANDIVER VANDIVER BROS., GENERAL MERCHANTS. ANDERSON, 8. C., October 8,1902. We propose pulling trade our way this Fall, and have made prices on good, reliable, honest Goods that will certainly bring it. We have the strongest line of Men's, Women's and Children's SHOES we have ever shown, and have them marked down so low that every pair ia a great value. We have another big lot of Sample Shoes that we throw oa the market at factory prices. Come quick while we have your size. We are money-savers on GROCERIES. Beac Patent Flour 8150 per barrel. Best K?if Patent Flour 84.00. J?xtra Good Flour 83.75. COFFEE, SUGAR, LARD, BACON, BRAN, CORN and OAT8| always in stock, just a little cheaper tb.au the market prices. We are strictly in for business and want your trade. Try us and you will stiok to us. Your truly, -_VANDIVER BROS. JUST RECEIVED, TWO CARS OF BUGGIES, ALL PRICES, from a 835.00 Top Buggy up to the finest Rubber Tired job | - ALSO, -- A LOT OF WAGONS, That we want to sell at ouce. We keep a large stock of Georgia Home Made Harness Cheap. The finest, light draft- . Mower In the world. Come and see it. Yours in earnest, VANDIVER BfeOS. & MAJOR. Have J ust Jrteoei ved Two Cars Fine Tennessee Valley Red Cob Corn. PERFECTLY SOUND. You run no risk in feeding this to your stock. Will also make the very finest meal. .Sf* Come quick before it is ali gone. O. ANDERSON A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinks it is when the matter of Iii insurance suggests itself-but circumst&o ces of late have shown how life hangs byW thread when war, flood, hurricane and n suddenly overtakes yon, and the only to be sure that your family ia protected <i case of calamity overtaking you is to -;i B?ro in a solid Company like Tbe Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Drop in and see ns about it. M. M. MATTISON, STATE AGEST? People?* Bank;Bulidtng, f ANDERSON & 0 j