Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Sad Tragedy on By Col. D. We were hanging to the rear of Sherman's army, pretty closely, as le was moving up the Salkehatchie river. and had halted his rear columns at a bridge, I have forgotten the name rw. It was the first crossing after leaving the railroad bridge. The river -was on a rampage and it is impossible to cross any of the low country streams at other than regular cross ings. The swamps being wide, are al ways causewayed at the bridges. Our army, of course, had torn up these causewavs, but the Yankees :had a Tvay of iaying them down or clearing oDstructions as fast as ours could tear them up or place them in the way. But as this was the only cross ing for miles up and down the river, it necessarily caused delay to the Federal army. Not being positive which way the Yankees were going, whether back towards Charleston or straight a head to Columbia, we had special orders to watch Sherman closely, and report his movements daily. On account of the condition of the river, it was impossible to get on his front, so we were pressing up near him, in the hope that by some good opportunity we might cross the bridge before it was destroyed. We had been in the swamp all day, dodg ing about, avoiding scouting parties, and watching the road the best we could. While we were in the swamp, a stranger dressed in Confederate uni form rode up to us, with as little con cern as if we had been old friends. He claimed to be a Texan, saying that while scouting in Georgia he was cut off from his command and since had been kocking about on his own ac count, andhearing I was leading a seouting party on the west side of the river, he determined to join me. Be ing told at our camp that we had passed over the day before, and were no doubt somewhere in the swamp on Sherman's flank, he rode in the raging stream and swam across and began tracking us. How he ever found our whereabouts in that tangled morass and water, with enemies on every side, Heaven only knows. He was a scout pure and simple, an expert in tracking, but not our kind of a man. He disliked taking any risks a.nd avoided the eta emy as he would the plague. In wvatc.hing the enemy from a distance, &r in concealment, and giving timely information, he probably was a sue cess. but 'he was too cautious for our purposes. Late in the evening we came out on the main road, and started for Sher man 's rear-guard. At the first house we came to wye caught a Yankee, who ihad had some trouble with the inmates but what it was I never knew. The family consisted of a very old man, this wife, and widow:ed daughter, witen a child or two. What 'he had done or said, we didn't ask, for the poor devil was too frightened to tell the truth, and the old man was in a towering rage, denouncing all the Union soldiers with great vehemence, and this one in particula-r. I rather suspeeted he had insulted his daugh ter.'We took tue prisoner up the road a short distance. and were consulting as to t'he best way to be rid oft him. There was a small squadron of our eavalry in our rear, and wve sometimes turned our p)riso?'ers over to the caval ry. as they were always near us. The Texan volunteered to take him back and turn him over, as he had had a hand in his capture. But this made us suspicious. He had no way to iden tify 'himfself, only by his word; he might be a Yankee spy or a deserter, anti it he. choSe, he could ruin us. j-ftwever, I think he was all right, but our talk and actions convinced him he was in the wrong company, so he wished to gret free from us. --Turniing a prisonler over to the cavar'' was a slang phrase our comn exr anlation of \'hat became of them. We really intended to send our ri.ne:- back to the cavalry, and if they would not accept him, why, then, do with him as circumstances pointed the way. We east lots to see who was to ace<ompany him back, and it fell to the lot of a brave soldier from this county, one who has children and randehildren -here, so I will not men is namne. While all were stand Lfthe road, it beCing (lark by this hetf! man o was to take him thvankee sprang at the man with the Salkehatchie A. Dickett. rhe pistol, grabbed it with both hands, and turned it back on the man holding it, just as a wild animal at bay. The pistol being cocked, and finger on trigger, the wreneh backward caused it to explode, the ball penetrating the breast of our soldier. Then like a flash. the Yankee sprang away for the swamp. We all opened on him with our pistols, but he continued to run like a frightened deer. It being dai-k and we in such a hurry to shoot, all missed him bui one, and he not more than ten yards distant. Whatever eventually became of him we never knew. At a farm house we were told a Yankee soldier had come in that 'night, with a desperate wound in his jaw, wanting bandages and some clean clothing. He left and nothing more was ever heard of him. We car ried our man back to the house at which we had captured the Yankee, and there he died that night. The Texan did not like the affair by any means. He told us he was a scout, not a bushwhacker and wished to leave us. But we could not allow this just then; it was too much risk to turn a doubtful character loose, with a wounded prisoner at large. Next morning we continued up the road cautiously and about two miles from the house, at which we had bur ied our comrade, we heard a horse galloping up the road in our diree tion. All dropped out in the bushes in a moment and then to our great joy and astonishment Lieut. Hugh L. Farley, of our regiment, rode up. He was exceedingly glad to meet with us, having been hpnting us for a day or two. Hearing of us at the house of the tragedy, he rode rapidly to over take us. Hugh was one of my best all-around friends in the whole army, and as game as the gamest. His com pany was right, and mine left color company during the whole service, and we had come to look upon each other as brothers. He became adju ta.nt and inspector general of South Carolina, as well as Stat, historian after the war. Before he came to us, 'e had been on detached tservice. wit.h a new organization. But this being disbanded, he wished to throw his lot in wit-h us, and we were proud he had made that choice. We travelled on up the road, in great good humor, now having the lionahearted and relentless Hugh with us, still keeping a cautious look-out. A house up on the hill to our left seemed deserted, yet the front door stood open, and looked suspicious. Two of our men crept to the house to investigate, then hearing a noise up stairs went in, and brought out one of the most abandoned looking wretches I ever saw. He was loaded down with wori.iless plunder he had secured in the house and, as usual, was frighten ed to death at being caught. He told us that three of his companions had gone down to the spring house to see what chanee there would be to get some milk or something to eat. It is the stragglers who get the booty, for soldiers mare'hing in ranks are not al lowed to leave their command. Hugh and I guarded the prisoner, while the other men scattered on either side of the path leading to tihe spring and elosed in uon those at the spring. Our party took the marauders with out anly trouble and brought them back to tge one Hugh and I were guarding. One of them had an axe tnder is arm,. which I suppose lhe had picked up in the yard. but for what we couldn't tell, unless to break in a door when found locked. They were a hard looking lot, inoffensive in appearance, but they began to plead for their lives like all of those *aught robbing. \\ !.ad about conl eluded to take them back. turn them over to tile cavalry, then make oulr way thirough the swvamp, swim- the Salkehiatchie ad get in front of Sherman'*s arm. This5 wais brought about partly by thlen in ., a well a1. IiurselVes want ed food. We con tillue1 down tile path, t hroIughl Seine Scrubby) bushes, iowadd th ilainl roaZd, back towarids the cavalry. Whiile mnoving slowly down thle path, one of tile p)risoners told us there was a vanguard picket about tive hundred yards up a settle nren1t road, that led off from t'he main road, not far above us. What was his idea or motive in telling us this, none of us knows to this day. It seemued so strange that lhe shIluld put us On our Har~1d th at we didi not be to keep our vlry off from the wI I C I p I j ii oarti I i o gia rd ag(ai Ist ambush and such men as ourselves, but we could not understand why the country should be picketed on the side where Sherman knew well there was no army. Farley and I agreed to ride up the road to see what was in the story and learn if the road was really picketed or not. If it was. it would put an enemy in our rear, something not to be thought of. Inas much as we had determined to swim the river to scout the other side, we cared nothing about the prisoners and intended to turn thei loose when once we were out of danger. Farley was riding a powerful black charger and I. a wiry little strawberry roan I had captured a few days before. Abot two hundred yards up the road from the -house we came to a set tlement road sure enough, turning to the left just a- the Yankee had told us and up this we turned. It was a dull road with limbs and bushes on either side and we did not apprehend the least danger. In fact. Farley re marked "those blamed Yankees are lying, they had some purpose in throwing us off the track." Riding slowly up the hill, thinking if we were hailed, to turn and make our escape, we never once dreamed of pursuit. Then there would be little likelihood of being shot in that narrow bushy road. Just as we were about to rise on the crest of the hill, riding up a long incline, very steep nea.r the top, we came upon a dozen or more Yankee horsemen, lolling about on the right hand side of the road, lholding the bridle reins in their 'hands. About forty yards beyond the crest, were three videttes, sitting t1h:eir horses, apparently watching the other way. To say merely there was excitement when we rode up, would be expressing the situation mildly. I do not know whether Hugh and I or the Yankees. were worse frighten ed. but they sprang to t'heir feet and velled. -Surrender, Surrender,' but we turned in an instant and started down the road like the wind. The three videttes. hearing the racket and seing our disappearing heads going through the bushes, made for us, fir ing as they came. Hugh called to me in front to lie low on my horse and give him rein, but tis was a useless admonition, for I was putting the rowels into little Strawberry 's roan flanks. Then Hugh gave a wild yell to warn our men to be on their guard, while our horses pulled upon their bits and as we rushed headlong down that steep incline, the hot breath coming like fog from their nostrils, Farley, with a sarcastic banter, would call back at t'he onrushing enemy, "Come on, come on,-you.'' It was purely dare-devil in him to fire back, as it was utterly impossible to hit any one, while riding at such speed. even if the way wa.s clear. In the flash of the instant we turn ed into the main road and I called at the top of my voice "'Flushed,'' even before I saw our men, but they under stood the word and knew the enemy were upon us. They knew, too, that every man must take care of 'himself. and make for the swamp. Our tirst rush being down a steep hill with limbs brushing us on either side, pre vented the enemy from firing upon us with their carbines, but when we turned into a smooth stretch of tile main thoroughfare, with not'hing to obstruct the vista, they stopped and brought their carbines into play. These could kill for a thousand yards easily. Our hlorses needled no spur or encourageCment and the way the sho-w ers of sanld were falling behind us, as their yighosdug into t!he soft soil of the road, told us plainly we were p)ut ting distance rapidly betw~een u and our foe. Just as,we came in sight ofI the men. I called out again "flushed'' but they, not knowing perhaps what to do with the .prisoners, did nothing. I tried to make them understand to turn the prisoners loose and ride for the swamp. Now, here was a tragedy enacted, t'hat caused us all regrets, it was so whbolly uncalled for, and could have been 3o easily avoided. As I have said,. one of the prisoners had( anl axe under his arm. The man, whose namre I have said I would never mnition., for his "blood-lust'' seeing us comling in suc'h haste, and ill the exciemiemi ofth menQ h1(11 aving the prV5~isoers ini etar1ie, rech'ed downVI, pulled thIe axe from the prisoner's arm. and. before any one was aware of hiis Iitnions. they were all four dead oin the ground. It was no0 lime then for remonstrance, all of us mak ing for the great wooded morass. across the road, where we were soon lost to our pursuer's. In the mix-up we lost the Texan and niever heard of him again. I think ie was all riIlit, but sul scenes as he 1;ad wit iiessed ini lile last t wenty~ Why Ihe man dide el ded. ('C-1 ld perCha s. it bein12 o t h~Ile impjiulse itf 1 tthe moent. w iih t%ie sudden t hirist fr hi enmy's blood, which lhe + e+.+O+@+@+@+*.@*@.@* 0*S*,,Ov * IF iT'S @ 8* !Good to Eat~ * .AND YOU WANT . e2 THEBES YOU WIL FIND IT AT* ae JOES 'GROCERYI + 'PHONE No.212' + Special in China Gold Band Cups and Saucers, set of six 50c. 60c. Decorated Plates . . . . 40c. White China Cups and Saucers, set of six 50c. Plates to match, set of six . . . 50c. I 8-inch White Plates, set of six . . 25c. 16 x 20 Pictures, under glass 4 inch 1 Moulding, each . . . . . 59c. Religious Pictures in the sheet, each . . 10c. These prices are for 10 days only. Mayes' Book Store thought he was about to lose. There opposite shore and then rode down the i such a thing as '"wander-lust,'' stream, meeting a part of our army on where a man. who has spent years in its way to the Edisto. travelling in strange countries and j i_____________ exciting surroundings and then settles She Was Too Quick. down to a quiet life, will 'hear a call There were three at t.he little table o the svild upon him, a yearning fo in the cale. a lady and two men. strang2e lands again. It is the same Suddenly the electrie lig'hts went with some men. who have lived amid out, and the lady, quickly and noise scenes of -death and bloodshed for a lesslv. drew back. log~ time; there will come moments An instant later there was the of a desire to kill. This man had an smack of a compound kiss. As the only sister living in New Orleans at electric lights went up each man was the time and the older men know what seen smiling complaisantly. that meant, when, by -an order of Gen. "I thought I heard a kiss,'' said B. F. Butler, federal commander of the lady. "but nobody kissed me.'' tihe Southern metropolis, the women Then the men suddenly glared at who (lid not yield to the solicitations each other. and flushed and looked nd salutations of a brutal soldiery, painfumly sheepish-Ceveland Plair Iwere to be considered a.s "'abanidoned woe plying1d' H their vocations. WAe reachedi a point ait the~ riVer were thecre wereC several Jarere i EETR-FASa lands. and the river very wi<d n I~TI .Sa deep. WeO swamH our1 hoerses fromf SUMMEvIR BROS. CO. .02in toilnd, until we reached the The NEW SUN No. 2 PRICE $40,00 This Writing Machine is Good Enough for Anybody. INVESTIGATE IIT G. L ROBINSON, Agent, A styp -to-dyn. Has cured itch magically for others in Newberry and will cure for you. For sale at Mayes' Drug Store. COAL COAL COAL Now is the time to buy your supplies for winter and save money. SUMMER BROS. 00. A GRAND OPPORTUNITY To See The Pacific Coast And The Alaska-Yukon Exposition. The best and most inexpensive way to see the Pacific coast and the great Western country this summer. and take in the Alaska-Yukon Exposition opened June 1st, is to "Go as you please, pay as you go, stay as long as October 31st, if you desire." Why not spend your own money? Why not plan your own trip and go in comfort, and when it suits you? This may be done by planning your trip over the SOUTHERN RAILWAY in connection with an individual par ty leaving the Carolinas July 3rd, on the individual expense plan, whieh will cost you about half as much as a fixed expensive excursion tbur. July 3rd, Route. Southern Railway, Goldsboro to Harriman Junction. Queen and Crescent, Harriman Junction to Danville, Ky. Southern Railway, Danville, Ky., to St: Louis, Mo. Wabash R. R., St. Louis to Kan 3as .City, Mo. Union Pacific, Kansas City to Den ver. Denver & Rio Grande, Denver to Salt Lgke City. S. P. L. A. & S. L., Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Round Trip Railroadi Rates. Going via any /ticketing route se ected and returning via any ticketing route as desired. SVia Portland, Seattle and 'San Francisco or vice versa, going or a-e turning one way vii. Portland and Seattle. From: Goldsboro .. .. ...99.~5 Greensboro .........99.75 Durham .. ........99.75 I SSpartan(burg .... ....97.45 Columbia ....... ...9890 O'rangeburg ...... ...98.20 Greenwood .. .....- 6.6.5 Rock Hill .. .... ...98.35 Anhderson ......... 96.10 Raleig-h........... 99.75 Salisbury ......... 99.75 Charlotte ......... 99.5 Greenville....---.....96.5 Charleston .. .......p9.75 .Newberry...... ..--9745 Chester.. .. .......98.3~> Sumter .. .... ......99.5 *Rates quoted f:em other ponts on application. Tickets limited to October 31st, 1909. and permit stop-overs at all poits west of Chicago or St. Louis. Tickets on sale daily to September 29th. 1909. Lower Round Trip Rates to and from California quoted on appli cation. Before completing arrange ments for your trip give us an oppor tunity to talk with you about the de tails of it, quote you best rates and tell you of the most interesting points, and the best and cheapest way to see them. Write to representatives as follows: W. E. McGee, T. P. A-, Augusta. Ga. S. H. McLean, P. & T. A., Columbia. S. C. I J C. Lusk. D. P. A., Charleston. S. C. H. M. Pratt. T. A.. Spartanrburg. S. C. R. H. DeButts. T. P. A. Raleigh. N. C. K. L. Vernon. D. P. A., Charlotte, N. C.