Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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In this way we were abundanIy led at no expense. After traveling through several counties, and thinking ourselves out of danger, we turned South, leaving Lincolnton about twenty miles to our left. After several days we fell into the great swarm of Lee's army, mak ing their way home. Near a little town we met up with Gen. McGowan and his staff, from this State, with sever al hundred men of his brigade. The general was naturally astonished at seeing so many men under arms going his way, and made enquiries as to its meaning. Capt. J. F. J. Caldwell, of his staff, long after the war, when both were unknown tj each other, told this joke on one of my men. His name was John Miller, from away down in the Fork, near Columbia. Miller was a great duatterer and was slow of speech. He was near the rear of my command, when the general rode up and asked: "What is the meaning of so many men going home with guns, and who is in command of the troops?" Miller answered and said: "It is Capt. Dickert's.'' "And who in the hell is Captain Dick,ert?" asked the general. Miller looked up in astonishment and replied: "Why, you don't know Capt. Diekert I Well, he is the smart est man in the army. " Clen. McGowan turned to Capt. Caldwell and said: 'There is faith enough to remiove mountains.'' We were some distance above Dal las and were nearing a small range of mountains, when a soldier from Lee's army rode up 'and reported that a regiment of Yankees were following us and had been nearly all day. We moved rapidly to the crest of a hill, all covered with heavy timber, and there I deployed the men in line of battle and awaited -events. We heard during th day that the fords in our front, as high up as Newton, were well guarded. So we found ourselves between two forces of the enemy. Those in our rear never came up. Why we never knew, but we moved up to the top of the mountain and took up camp for a few days. until we could learn something definite. Some of th- men went out on a foraging expedition next day, and at an old Unionist house they ran up on a squadron of Yankees from the pick ets from beyond the river, whom the old citizen was entertaining highly, with a barrel of brandy in his bArn. I had safeguarded my men, by writ ing them paroles as Lee's soldiers, so They had no trouble with the Yankee troops, nor any difficulty in getting brandy with greenbacks from the old man. We were running short of pro visions up on the mountain and on the second day a fine fat hog came root ing leisurely along through eamp. Some of the men wanted to shoot it, but I was afraid a'gun shot might create suspicion. John Ferguson, from Spartanburg, picked up a roek and asked permission to kill it, assuring me it would never squeal. He threw at the hog, and it dropped without a groan. It was soon cleaned, but how was it to be cooked in the little mess t.ins we had ? Some 'one remember ed seeing a large wash pot about two miles down the mountain, near where the old eitizen with the barrel lived. :A detail was mad'e and the pot was lugged to the top of the mountain and the hog cooked. I have wondered often since what the parties thought when they found their pot gone, and what conclusions those came to who found the pot up on the mountain. We were compelled to cross the river somehow and somew'here, so I sent two trusty men doiwn to the ford, or ferry, to see what information they could gain. The old miller, who lived at the ferry, a rank Southerner, in formed the men thast there were about fifty Yankee cavalrymen on the other side of the river, with perhaps a half dozen kept on this side as pickets. He didn 't see much chance of our slip ping by the soldiers, but several hun dred yards above the river was shal low and shoaly, and he thought we could cross without much danger. We concluded to- cross there that night, surround the Yankee camp, fall upon and stampede them and then secure their horses and make our way South. In the scattered and demoralized state of the Yankee army there would have been little chance for them to over take us. Early in the night we began our march. on the hazardous expedient of erosegw a strong river in the face of kan alert enemy. The moon was up, but fleeting clouds obscured it most of the time. When we neared the river the loud roaring of fhe water falling over the rocks, the thought of blundering through this unknown. un eertain stream with what lay beyond ne, ruade some of the men feel quite "creepy.' W\hen at last we reached the point where t he old millie'r had( a ma hea The men began to mur mur. especia.iY tLOse wuo''UC could nol swim. and even to those who could it looked dangerous, out over that dark expanse of roaring water. So we failed here and some other method had to be found to cross the river. We had been told the pickets kept a. bateau on this side, and in all probability their bivouac was some little distance from the water's edge. Marching the men back to the old mill I halted them in the shadows of some trees. along the side of the road. and taking Frank Wesson, from Union county, with me. we started out to reconnoiter, and if possible, slip the the boat from the pickets, drop down the river, and when far enough down to be out of danger, we would put all the men over. Frank Wesson was a stalwart young man, brave as the bravest, reckless of his life, and al ways ready for dangerous adventures, -the very kind of man anyone would have chosen for such a mission. We cautiously crept around the Yankee bivouac, but could not find a boat, search as we would. We could have easily, with what men I had, over powered the guard, and crossed over, but I discovered a sentiment among some of the men to take no further risks with the Federal soldiers. While creeping around in the dark, we heard a horse neigh in a lot to our left. This seemed strange and unusual, for a horse to be there, away by itself. While investigating we discovered two horses hitched to a low tumble-down fence, in a few feet of an out-house, and between them, rolled up in their blankets, but faces uncovered were two Yankee videttes. These had been sent out as a guard to protect those at the river from surprise, and instead of guarding, they had gone to sleep. The mountairs all around were full of desperate characters, deserters, run aways from the conscript law, outlaws from everywhere-and these two men, twho were trusted with the lives of their comrades had gone to sleep and deserved death. They would have been shot by any military tribunal. Wesson crawled up to within two feet of them, with a cocked rifle in his hands, ready for emergencies, while I untied one of the horses and led it up the fence and hitched. Then I took the post of guarding, while Wesson untied. the other horse. All this time the horse I had untied was kicking up a terrible racket, and either of us could have toehed the sleeping troopers with our hands. Why they did not wake up, I nev er could undertsand. Whether they were really asleep, or whether they were wide awake, and saw themselves treped and feigned sleep as the safer poiley, it is a question I could never solve. But I have always thought the faces of those two videttes would have been a study next morning when they discovered their horses gone,when they had been tied so safely and to near. their heads. Anyway, Wesson and I had two as fine horses as were stolen in Georgia. Wesson 's was a fine cream gelding, and mine an iron gray, and they had splendid new saddles and bridles, and a pair of pistols to each saddle bow. The men were taken back to our old amp on the mountains, and there we A Rare Q -] To supply your household whiskey at di TH E following "SPECIAL INTRODi Tour whiskies to discriminating buyi satisfactory, all you have to do, is to ri money will be promptly refunded. Remit by Postal or Express Money Or All goods 'guaranteed under National plain packages with no marks to imdicate OUR "SPECIAL INTR Good for 6 6 Quarts Pure Whiskey f 1 Quart Clarke's Happy Valley Corn Whiskey.. 1 "Clarke's Tar Heel Corn Whiskey .... 1 " Clarke's Select Old Corn Whiskey .... 1 "Clarke's Sunny Sout-h Rye Whiskey... 1 "Clarke's Tar Heel Rye Whiskey. .. .. I Clarke's Monogram Rye Whiskey .... 6 Quarts. Average cost of express charges ... Actual worth. .. .. .. .. .. .. Glasses and Corkscrew incuded. FEE.-~NVith each order for the -one CLARKE'S JIG-SA affords much amusement to both younga the puzzle is completed, it forms a rept inches in size. Do not delay H. CLARKE & SONS, The South's Greates - Cmplee price-list and useful sou for onE thing. and some for another. I knew well enough that in the morning when the Yankees found that there had been such bold prowlers about. there would be something do ing. and the whole country-side would be searehed. Most of the married men were anx ious to get home. or to see what was left of their homes. so I decided to write paroles for the men as coming from Lee's army, and hide our guns to be gotten at some futura time. I set Sergt. Werts. who now lives across the river, in Saluda. and two others, to writing paroles, and I sign ing them as adjutant of some Western regiment. That was all that was re quired for paroles: "By order of the Colonel commanding, "then the name of the adjutant. The next morning I started Lieut. Huffman on my horse, and Wesson on his, up by Newton, thirty miles up the river, while the men began hiding their guns under logs and rubbish. It was a sad moment for the men, this leaving of their guns, for a soldier loves his rifle as a mother her child. To guard against suspicion. we all went singing and yelling down to the river with each a forged parole in his pocket, but when we reached the ford we were as much surprised as the two Yankees were the night before. Not a Yankee was on either side of the river, and the. old Miller told us they had all left that night and gone in the direction of Newton; that they had -received a fearful fright that night about something; that they had taken his old Dobbins, two mounting him, and then ridden away, saying, "Come to Newton and you can get your old horse." We had a pretty good idea what caused the commotion. But, should the parties from whom we got the horses, run up on Lieut. Huffman and Wesson riding them, would not there have been a lively discussion? But they got through safely. 'Since the coast was now all clear, we went back and got the guns, and tapped the old Unionist's barrel for several gallons. and started again for home. W crossed over the State line somewhere in York county, f_ id then turned west again, until we came to the head-waters of Broad river. Here we all disibanded. There was o more danger, and each ehose his own route home. As I had been on one continual tramp of nea-r a thousand miles, with scarcely a day 's rest and with one continual strain of excitement and danger, I felt worn out and deter mined to make the ba-lance of the way by boat. Procuring a bateau, I took five cf my men and started down the s'tream. They poled along the smooth par oftheriver, but when we came totegeat falls and shoals I took the helm and guided the -riekety boat through the swift sluices, strong chan nels and dangerous falls and bars. We only reached home to 'hear that the army of the Trans-Mississippi ihad disbanded, that the Confederacy was no more, and our homes ruined and our hopes dead. The End. IIII .1 pportunmty with pure and wholesome stiller's cost. CTORY OFFER" is made to intrcduce ~rs. If your purchase is not absolutely ~turn the goods at our expense and your er, Certified Check or Registered Letter. Pure Food Law, and shipped in neat, contents. ODUCTORY OFFER" )days only. ~r $5.00 Express Prepaid. Price per botde. .. .. .. ...-.$ .70' This complete as . . . . .. . .75 sortment sent to you .. .. .. .. ..100 by EXPRESS PREPAID . . . . . . . -90 to any point on Adams . .. .. . ....1.00 or Southern Express L.ines . . . . .. . 1.25 . - For $5.65 .0 aove " Special Offer" we will give away W PUZZLE, cut into 110 pieces, which nd old when trying to assemble. When >duction of a fine oil painting 11 x 17 rder to-day. nc., Richmond, Virginia. tMail Order House. enir mailed FREE upon request. MONUMENTSO. I am representing the Mecklenburg Marble aqd Granite Co, CHA1RLOTTE, N. C., in this section, and am prepared to make you prices on anything in the way of Headstones, Tablets, Monuments, Etc. See my cuts and get my prices before placing your order. Mateital and work guaranteed first-class. B. B. HILLER - NEWBERRY, S. C. PROTECTION:, the First Law of Nature '\INSURE the lives of your horses, mules and cattle, rates very low. Reliable company. OUR FIRE INSURANCE POLICIES are the best in the world, cost no more than the others. Windstorms damage property every day. We can protect you against loss. You will be surprised how low you may buy this protection. Our DISABILITY policies pay you for the time lost on account of sickness and accident. Double benefits if in jured while traveling. No medical examination. We have a proposition for insuring your life that is sec ond to none. Why ask ycur friends to sign your bond for any purpose when you may buy this accommodation at very small cost. Our office is open every week day, call, write or 'phone us for any information. SECURITY, LOAN & INVESTMENT GO., Insurance Departrnent. J. N. McCaughrin, W. A. McSwain, Treasurer. - Manager. THE EXCHANGE BANK Newberry, S. C. SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. Every person in this vicinity ought to be interested in our Savings Department. You can open a Savings Account with $1.00. Yo% can add to it on any plan you see fit, but we sug gest that you adopt some systematic, definite method as that is the surest way to make a success of saving. - W Pay 4 oI lnterest on all Savings Accounts, Compounded Semi-Annnally. Open an account and train yourself in the saving habit. Once you acquire-the habit of laying by a certain per cent. of your income it will become a pleasure and you will soon have a snug sum earning interest for you. DON'T PUT IT OFF. BEGIN NOW. J. D. DAVENPORT, EDW. R. H IPP, President. V. President. M. L. SPEARMAN, GEO. B. CROMER, Cashier. Attorney. REPORT TO THE STATE BANK EXAMINER (CONDENSED) / OF THE CONDITION OF The Bank of Prosperity Prosperity, S. C. AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS, APRIL 28, 1909. RESOURCES: fBItE5 Loans..... .. .. . . $ 97,213.14 CatlStc ....$250 .0 Overdrafts. .. ..-..-.1,976.03 Building and Fixtures 4,coo.00Srlsadprot 2475 Cash in ourDutoohrbns ,640 vault . . $ 6.I83-57Dpots...... 9,754 ICash in oth er Banks. 25-494-I8Borwdony.OE 3I,677.75 SCapitalEDR tOck V. HUNTER$ 2,o-o SurplusACKand H.rfts. .12475 DeF RON, poits. ...AR.N9,67-4 DR.orro.w edoeyR. .. NN Our institutIo 34ude,866 uevii.9f2nrglal ________$__34,866 ii exmiedbythSatIBnkExamTORS: -The NEW SUN No.2 PRICE $40.00 This Writing Machine) is Good Enough for Anybody. INVESTIGATE IdT 6. L, ROBINSON, Agents BARBECUE BACHMAN CHAP On August 12th, there will be a b becue at Bachman Chapel church f the benefit of the church. Refres ments-ice cream and lemonade-wig be served by the ladies of the congx gation. Mrs. Jimmie Epps being at the head of this. There will be som' speaking on subjects of pubLik in-terest, Come, all who will and help a cause worthy of your help. Congregation. A GRAND OPPORTUNPNY To See The Pacific Coast And Alaska-Yukon xposition. The best and most -nexpensive w to see the Pacific coast and the gre Western country this summer, take in the Alaska-Yukon Expositio. opened June 1st, is to "Go as yo please, pay as you go, stay as long as October 31st, if you desire." Why not spend your own money I Why not plan your own trip and go in comfort,, and when it suits youI This may done by planning your trip over th SOUTERNf RAILWAY - in connection with an~ individual par ty leaving the Carolinas July 3rd, o the individual expense plani, whi will cost you about half as much a fixed expensive excursion tour. July 3rd, Route. Southern Railway, Goldsboro Harriman Junction. Queen and Crescent,' Junction to Danville, Ky. Southern Railway, Danville, Ky., St. Louis, Mo. Wabash R. R., St. Louis to sas City, Mo. Union Pacific, Kansas City to ver. Denver & Rio Grande, Denve Salt Lake City. S. P. L. A. & S. L., Salt Lake to Los Angeles. Round Trip Railroad Rates. Going via any ticketing route ses lected and returning via any ticketing route as desired. Via Portland, Seattle and San turning one way via Prln Seattle. Prln From: Goldsboro .. ......$997 Greensboro .. ......75 Durham .. .. ....9' Sparta4buirg........97.45 Columbia ......'...98.20 Orangeburg .. ... .98.20 Greenwood .. .. ..96.65 Rock Hill ....... .. 98.35 Anderson ......... 96.10 Raleigh .. ......... 99.75 Salisbury ......... 99.75 Charlotte ......... 99.75 Greenville ....... ...96.65 Charleston .. .......299.75 Newberry .... .....97.45 Chester.. .. .......98.35 Sumter .... .. ......9.75 Rates quoted fromn othe'r ponts 5 application. Tickets limited to October 31st 1909, and permit stop-overs at al points west of Chicago or St. Loui, Tickets on sale daily to Septembei 29th, 1909. Lower Round Trip Rate to and fromOalifornia quoted on appli cation. Before completing arrange ments for your trip give us an oppord tunity to talk with you about the d tails of it, quote you best 'rates and tell you of the most' interesting points and the best and cheapest way to them. Write to representatives follows: W. E. McGee. T. P. A.. Augusta, Ga. S. H. McLean, P. & T. A.. Columbia, S. C. J. C. Lusk, D. P. A., Charleston, S. C.. H. M. Pratt, T. A., Spartanburg, S. C R. H. DeButts. T. P. A.. -aeigh. N R. L. Vernon. D. P. A Charlotte, N.