University of South Carolina Libraries
A OOVFFDFRATF CADI I'. Reminiscences of tho War Between the States?A Glimpse of lice's Army After Gettysburg?Charleston Daring the Siege Boy Soldiers In ttio Field on James Island. (Rev. John Kershaw in the Sunday News.) In the summer of 1863, when I was II years old. my father wrote to my mother that I might ride his horse, "8tone." out to him in Virginia. The horse had been shot through the neck during the fight at the stone wall near Frederlcksbur.r, December, 1862, and had been sent home to recruit. He had got entirely well and was as frisky as a colt. Some men of the 7th S. C, cavalry were then at home on a "horse furlough," as it was call? ed. I. e., had obtained leave of ab? sence to go home and procure horses In place of those killed In battle or disabled, and It was arranged that I should go with these friends bark to Virginia so soon as they had se? cured their mounts ."Stone" belonged first to a surgeon In the Federal army by that name, and the manner in which he came into father's posses? sion was this: It was at the first battle of Manassas. when, about three In the afternoon, father's regiment was ordered in. He rode by the side of Company A, on the right of the regiment. This company wore a blue uniform,, as also did my father. As yet Confederate grey had not been adopted as the general uniform of the Southern armies. This may have deceived the surgeon, who rode up to father as the regiment was push? ing forward, and said In a tone of deep Indignation and anger, Colonel, why are you retreating, sir?" to father's Intense astonishment. He replied with great emphasis, "Retreating, sir? I'm not retreating. I'm advancing. Who are you, sir?" "I am Surgeon Stone, of the Rhode Island regiment. Who are you. sir?" "I'm Colonel Kershaw, of the 2nd South Carolina. You will please dis? mount and consider yourself a pris? oner." So Surgeon Stone became a prison? er and his horse father's property. "Old Stone" was a great favorite with his new owner and with the men of the command. He was well train? ed, strong and handsome, would have made a crack hurdle racer, and loved a fight The fine description of the war horse in the Book of Job, 39 th chapter, fitted old Stone perfectly: "He smith among the trumpets. Ha ha: and he smelleth the battle afar off. the thunder of the captains, and the shouting." In 1864. at Fisher's Hilt. In the Valley of Virginia, the noble horse was killed In the thickest of the fray. It was in the afternoon of the day that made Sheridan fa? mous by reason of his ride from Win? chester, his rallying of th-i scattered Union forces, and his conversion of what had been a great victory for the Cenfederates into a terrible defeat. In the charge ordered by Sherman eld Stone was struck, once by a Mints ball and afterwards full in the chest by a grapeshot. He fell upon his knees, giving father time to dis? mount, and dragging himself painful? ly along until he reached the shadow of a wide-spreading chestnut, he stretched out his great limbs and died like the hero he was. I am glad to have the opportunity of pay? ing this tribute to an animal that was almost human In his comprehension and brave as a lion. Rejoicing at the permission given me to visit my father, especially in the MMMMf indicated, I was soon made ready f?.r the expedition and set out one fine summer morning, with one cavalryman as companion and guardian, for the town of Che raw, where the other m- n w. re order? ed to rendezvous. The day after we all marched for Virginia. Among the men I became acquainted with was a felb.w named Page, who had exchanged from a regim-nt BOlng duty along the South Carolina coast to one In Lee's army. This man bul? lied me considerably from time to tlm*. but twice I "got even" with htm f>n whl'o hithlng In a river that we crossed, he tried to "duck" mo. He being clumsy and a poor swimmer, whllo I was light, active and entirely at home In the water, nesrly drowned him by way of retali? ation Tho next and last time was while we were in camp at Staunton, Va? where he began by throwing chips at me. 1 retorted in kind. Kroni chips It came to brickbats as Urge as a man's flat, and I succeed? ed In belaboring him unmercifully, much to the amusement of the other men who were watching tbla duello with great Interest. I'age and 1 be? came good friends after that. Flnal ly we reached the army nt Culpogpef Court House, after three days'agony at Oettyaburg. The next day I saw from tho piazza of a little Inn at Stevensburg a cav.ilrv tight which In? terested mo extremely. Our people wer? driven hick about two miles or mor*?. and until the T'nbm cavalry camo In sight of our Infantry In line of battle. They then In turn re? treated When T went that after, noon to Inquire for my friends with whom I had gono on, and who had been engnged In the fight. 1 was much Imprcessd by learning that som^ had been wounded and some captur? ed. It was the first time I realized what the fortunes of war were. Some of those men never saw home agai'i until the war was over. While on the piazza at Stevens r*arg a man rode up whom I recog? nized as a relative, a famous scout, reported killed a few days before. One of his companions?the only our to escape, so it was alleged?had told father that he had seen my cousin fall and was sure that he was dead. Father had written and mnlled a let? ter of condolence to the young man's mother, giving such details as lie could gather from the supposedly sole survivor of this ill-starred MOUtiUg party, and we had mourned hlrn us dead. 1 had not veen Dim for two years, and therefore it was not sur? prising that I should h**M hesitated before speaking to him. especially MtCT all we had heard >f his certain i!ea*h. He was eyeing me quic at OlOaClj as I was him, and at last, with growing conviction, I called him by name. He responded by calling mine. I said. "I thought you had been killed." He explained by saying that his horse had been shot and had fallen on him in the affray. He got on his feet and took refuge In a swamp, but was finally captured. He had the ex? treme good fortune to be exchanged In a very few days, and was then on his way to Join his regiment, hav? ing surprised and captured a Union picket and his horso as he came along. I told him of the letter that had been mailed to his mother, ana he went with me to father's quarters, where he was received as one risen from the dead. A telegram telling the good news was lmemdlately sent. It reached his mother before the let? ter. She did not understand the dis? patch until the letter arrived. There was great Joy In that house when the facts were duly ascertained. When the time came for me to re? turn home father said, "I intend sending you to the Military Academy next year. You are too ycung I think to go into the army row. At the Academy you will be drilled and disciplined in the school of the sol? dier, and should the war continue you will be called upon after a while to serve in the ranks. Promise me that you will not run away and go into the army. If u find yourself at any time so anxious to go that you cannot resist the desire, let me know and I will arrange for you to come to me." I gave the promise, and that was how I became a "cadet in grey." n. Charleston In '63. One not himself an eyewitness of events and happenings in and about the famous old City by the Sea from the summer 1863, when the Federal troops got possession of Morris Island, until the close of the struggle, could hardly believe In the truthfulness of the description I am about to give. From Hasell street to "the Battery," as White Point Oarden Is called, was practically deserted. West of St. Philip street, from Wentworth street south, a few people lived, but the ma? jority of Charleston's old Inhabitants were refugees In the Interior of the State, and the most of those who re? mained lived In the northern and western section of the city, out of the range of Olllmore's shells. Grass and weeds filled all the streets, and to walk along those silent thoroughfare was like travesing a city of the dead. Every few minutes there would be B deep boom, followed by the shriek of the falling shell, a crash as the heavy missile struck house or pavement, and a tremendous detonation as the shell exploded, carrying destruction In its wake. The yards and gardens in the summer of Itfl were full of fruit, figs, frapet and peaches, and the < a AetS got their full share of these. Whoever else went without. There was no one to gainsay them?none to molest or make them afraid, if v except Qlllmore'l messengers, and many was the raid the hoys went on during those hours of recreation In which, as on Saturdays' and Sunday'* they were given leave to go beyond "garrison limits." The spires of St. Michael's church and St. Philip's were the consplclous objects of Gill more's attentb ns, and hence the most dangerous portion of the distance we had to past over In getting to the fruit was at and near the site of these churches, We would await annul the Market until a shell had fallen, ; nd iri the five or ten minutes Interval be? fore the next we would push rapidly on until the danger point was passed, when we would fall into a more leUurely g;ilt and proceed to plunder Often at night we would go upon I he roof of the Citadel ;,,,?! watch tin Shelling. We COUld see the flash of the gun on Morris Island and the burning fuse as the shell mounted Up and tip towards the zenith, until it would look as though it would nev? er stop. We noticed that Just as the ?hell would begin its downward course the sound of the gun's "boom'' WOUKI be heard, and then the tern"', nolae ?>f the des. ending shell, brew? ing louder and nrnn? loud until i! druck the earth and burled Itself, either to explode with deafening e m eusalon or. as would nometlm"* occur, f; ii to explode, Frequent fi ? s re suited from the sheling, and tlid oil volunteer lire department would be called out to extinguish the flames. As soon as these fiery tongues shot into the air, Illuminating the sky, the shelling would be redoubled. Fight? ing fire Is In no circumstances a pleasant or easy undertaking, but It was made doubly perilous at such a time as that. Members of the signal corps occupied St. Michael's steeple, as well as the old Bathing House, off the South Battery. From their eleva? tion the whole harbor lay liko a panorama before them. The block? ading lleet In tho offing, the grim and silent walls of Sumter, Morris, Folly and Sullivan's Island, with the white tents of the opposing armies, and, nearer, Castle Plckney and Fort Rip ley, with James Island and its nu? merous batteries to the south, were all visible. Next the sea wall of the Battery was an immense gun carry? ing a shot weighing seven hundred pounds, the largest missile then in use, I presume. It was much admir? ed and it was thought no vessel of any sort could withstand the Impact of such a shot. This gun burst at the first shot, and the concussion damaged the houses near it more than did the grear earthquake of August 31, 1886. The reason for tb's was that there wa* an air chamber in the breech by the powder. This fact was not known to those loading the gun and the powder was rammed against the breech by them. When it was fired the gun burst. The monotony of the siege was occasionally relieved by the arrival and departure of the blockade run? ners. The wary fellows were caught more than once by the vigilant fleet. One was beached on Sullivan's Island nearly in front of Fort Moultrie. The soldiers relieved her of most of her freight during the night. Next morn? ing she was soon battered to pieces by the fire from Morris Island. A quantity of liquor being part of the cargo, the garrisons of the several forts on Sullivan's Island were In a state of helplessness during that night and the day following. Academic exercises went on unin? terruptedly during the earlier months of 1864. One became accustomed to the regular boom of the big guns in the harbor, and it was difficult to realize that we were living in a be? leaguered city. But early one morn? ing a rumor gained currency that the battalion was about to be ordered into service. Great enthusiasm pre? vailed among the cadets, and when it was ascertained to be true that we were really going to James Island to resist the advance of the Federals from the Stono River the military ardor was immense We embarked in light marching order on a dilapi? dated transport steamer and were landed on James Idand near the noted "Hundred Pines"?a group of tall trees that were a well known land? mark for many years, but at this writing not a single one remains. It was springtime and the dewberries were in the greatest abundance. We noted this as we marched along, and mentally decided to feast upon them when we should pitch our camp. By the time we neared Secessionville there was many a footsore cadet, and one man had fainted on the march. We were finally taken to the rear of u large earthwork not far from the Stono, and there went into camp. We did not then or at any time during our fortnight on the island encounter the enemy, but the sandllies and mos? quitoes and fleas! How they waxed fat upon us! The boys bathed and ate the berries besprinkled with sugar, served ont as rations, drank dally a vile compound termed "prophylactic," supposed to be a pre? ventive of fever, and did picket duty on outposts where they were not al? lowed to light a fire, but had to en? dure the assaults of the unterrifled sandfly throughout the long hours of the night. We used to gather arms ful of broom-grass, roll them into a tight ball, light them and sit in the smoke to escape the plague of fies and mosquitoes, Pipes were plentiful among the cadets, and we were served rations of tobacco. These helped to drive away the pertinacious insects In a measure. The boys would roll themselves head and feet In their blankets to escape them, but the necessity of making an oc? casional opening to get breath also allowed the little nuisances to effect an entrance and sleep was Impos? sible. One night we all suffered for wa? ter, and parties went In various dir ections to look for it. Finally the re? port came that some had la-en found. We all eagerly repaired to the spot and drank deeply of What tasted sweeter than any nectar, as we es? teemed it. but when we were going hack to camp next morning we pass? ed the spring at which we had slaked our thirst and a muddler, more re pulslve and foul pool of water none of us had ever seen. In front of the works were large but shallow pools of water, In which lived great green frogs, whose hind legs are esteem uch a delicacy by the gourmands. Some of the boys tried a fricassee and pronounced it "better than chicken." This argues a great scar? city of that sort of food among the cadets. Mm ept when a box came tfoin home laden with toothsome dell aclea the boys never saw anything in the line of food beyond tough | >eef, salt fish, sorghum syrup, hominy rice and corn bread. The usual bill of fare was hominy, beef, corn bread and coffee for breakfast; beef and rice for dinner; corn bread, syrup and coffee for supper. Yet we were very happy, had excellent appetites and there were few "hospital rats" in the corps. As soon as practicable the cadets were relieved from active duty In the held and returned to the Academy. It was difficult to begin again the' routine of study after such a frolic as we had had, but such was the dis? cipline that after a few days it all seemed like a dream to us?the tented field, the picket duty, the redoubt at Grimball's Causeway and the sand files! Soon after this we were detailed as provost guard in the city, where our duty was to picket the wharves, guard the several commissary depots and patrol the "New Bridge" over the Ashley, which Connected the city with St. Andrew's Parish, and that with James Island by means of a bridge over Wappoo Cut. Thus the summer drew on and in July the cadets were furloughed until the autumn, leaving only a guard at the Citadel. Later on, yellow fever hav? ing been brought in by a blockade runner from Nassau, and threatening to become epidemic, the remaining cadets were also furloughed and the doors of the Institution closed. (To be continued.) The Liquor Issue. What is the liquor issue about which we are hearing so much from certain candidates for office in South Carolina this summer? Simply this, and nothing more: Shall the Gen? eral Assembly spend its time during the next two years wrangling over the question of whether or not the six counties In South Carolina now "wet" shpll be compelled against the wishes of the people of those coun? ties to become "dry?" That Is the whole matter In a very few words. The election of a candidate espous? ing State-wide prohibition would set? tle nothing. However, it would, of course, be construed by the prohibi? tionist leaders as indicating the de? sire of the people of South Carolina that the entire State be made "dry" by act of the Legislature, and they would exhaust every effort to make the members of the General Assem? bly see the matter in this light. What would be the result? Most probably, one of the bitterest legisla? tive fights the State has witnessed for years. No very Intimate acquaint? ance with the facts is necessary to make that plain. It Is, understand, less than a year since, on August 17, 1909, to be ex? act, every "wet" county in South Car? olina was given the opportunity to vote liquor out. Six counties elected to continue the county dispensary system. Candidates espousing State-wide prohibition now urge that these six counties be compelled to discontinue the sale of alcoholic beverages. The question, understand, is not whether a majority of the people of South Carolina think prohibition a good thing or a bad thing, but whether a majority of the voters of the Palmetto State desire to precipi? tate a legislative contest which would most probably engender much hard feeling and preclude the possibility of proper attention being given to matters of the very largest Import? ance to the entire State. Unless T. G. McLeod Is the next Governor of South Carolina our peo? ple may anticipate a period of such dissensions as has not been known in this State for considerably more than a decade. Can we afford it? Will it be fur the good of the Com? monwealth? Will it help the cause of temperance??News and Courier. KICKS TO SAVE LIFE OF ANOTH? ER, Conductor Snatches Man From in Front of Fast Passenger Train. North, Aug. 4.?On Monday aft?r noon when Seaboard train No. ^.>, w hich leaves Columbia for Savanteih at r.:.r)(> p. m.i pulled Into Gaston Si.? train entered the side track to await for the Seaboard's limited train, No. 84, going North, A man, who Ui -a seemed to be somewhat under the n Muence of whiskey, stepped upon the track of the main line. Conductor Williams, who was In charge of train N'o. r,:\, seeing that the man would be crushed to death by the fast ap? proaching train, made a rush for him and aantched him from the track Just in time to save his life. Had not it been for tho brave a?M of Conductor Williams the unfortun? ate man would have met his death. Many of the passengers turned and looked away when the conductor made a dash for the man. Senator Core has everybody's con? sent to run for President, though we haven't yet heard from Mr. Bryan. Anyway, no one will object to his run? ning all this year.?Portland Ore gonlan. LEE STATUE TO REMAIN. President Taft Approves Attorney General WtckershanVs Opinion. President Taft has approved, without comment, an opinion by At? torney-General Wickershara to the effect that there is no provision of law by which the statue of Gen. Rob? ert E. Lee, in Confederate uniform, can be removed from Statuary Hall, in the Capitol at Washington. In addition to deciding the ques? tion on a purely legal basis, Mr. Wick ersham argues the matter from an ethical point of view, declaring that Lee has come to be regarded as typi? fying all that was best in the cause to which he gave his services and the most loyal and unmurmuring accept? ance of the complete overthrow of that cause. That the State of Vir? ginia should designate him for a place in Statuary Hall as one illus? trious for distinguished military ser? vice, the Attorney-General says, is but natural and warranted under the reading of the law. Mr. Wickersham's opinion was call? ed forth by protest to the President from the Department of New York, Grand Army r?* the Republic. In his opinion, addressed to and ap? proved by the President, the Attor? ney-General says: "I have read the resolutions adopt? ed by the Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, at Syracuse on June 23, and the com? munications of Hon. James Tanner with respect to them. The act of July 2, 1864, referred to, provides for tho creation of suitable structures and railings in the old hall of the House of Representatives for the re? ception and protection of statuary, which is to be under the supervis? ion and direction of the chief of en? gineers in charge of public buildings and grounds, and the statute authori des the President to invite each and all the States to provide and furnish statues in marble or bronze, not ex? ceeding two in number for each State, of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or from distinguished civic or military ser vces, such as each State shall deem to be worthy of this national com? memoration; and when so furnished the same shall be placed in the old hall of the House of Representatives in the Capitol of the United States, which is set apart, or so much there? of as may be necessary, as a national statuary hall for the purpose herein indicated." No Limitation In the Act. "It is probably true," continued the Attorney-General, "that when this act was passed Congress did not con? template that any State would des? ignate one or more of its citizens who were then engaged in warlike rebel? lion against the Government of the United States as persons illustrious for their historic renown or for dhv tinguished civic or military servcea whose statues should be placed Id this hall. Nevertheless, perhaps In the hope that what Mr. Lincoln so fittingly described as 'this scourge of war' might soon pass away and that a reunited country might be realised, Congress placed no limitation In the act upon the exercise of the discret? ion of any State in selecting those persons whom it 'may deem to be worthy of this national commemor? ation.' It is now 45 years since the Civil War closed. Robert E. Lee has come to be generally regarded as typifying not only all that was best in the cause to which, at the behest of his native State, he gave his ser? vices, but also the most loyal and unmurmuring acceptance of the com? plete overthrow of that cause. That the State of Virginia should desig? nate him as one illustrious for dis? tinguished military servce is there? fore natural: that his statue should be clothed in the Confederate uni? form, thus eloquently testifying to the fact that a magnanimous country has completely forgiven an unsuccess? ful effort to destroy the Union, and that that statue should be accepted in the national Statuary Hall as the symbol of the acceptance without misgiving, of a complete surrender and that a renewed loyalty, should surely provoke no opposition. But at all events, Independently of the question of taste, the act of Congress places no restriction upon the desig? nation by the States of those whom they may desire to honor in this way. nor does it vest in any official any censorship concerning the designa? tion of the costume In wheh a statue shall be depicted. "Therefore, under the existing law. I am of the opinion that no objection can be lawfully made to the placing in Statuary Hall of the National Capitol of a statue of Robert E. Lee clothed in the Confederate uniform." The devil has his martyrs among men.- ?Dutch. Struck A Rich Mine. ?s. w. Bends, of Coal City, Ala . says he struck a perfect mine of health In Dr. King's New Life Pills for they cured him of Liver and Kil ney Trouble after 1 2 years of suffer? ing. They arc the best pills on earth for constipation, malaria, headache, dyspepsia, debility. 26c at Sibert's Drug Stoic. miraculously escapes death. Miss Nellie Smith of Rutherford, N. C, Throws Herself Under Train biU it Not Ilurt. Asheville, N. C, Aug. 4.?Caught on a high trestle just beyond the B?rgin tunnel on the Southern rail? way, between here and Old Fort. Miss Nellie Smith of Rutherford, thla State, threw herself on the rails in front of passenger train No. 36 this morning and miraculously escaped death when the engineer brought his train to a standstill over the pros? trate body. When the excited train crew and passengers gathered to pick up what they expected to be the young woman's mangled body they were told by a muffled voice from beneath the engine that she was un? hurt. The train was backed into the tunnel and there was revealed to the astonished gaze of the passengers and crew the figure of a woman coverei with cinders and drenched with water but otherwise unrahmed. balltnger to get out. Presidential "Hint" Given Secretary of Interior By Crane. Beverly, Mass., Aug. 4.?Senator Winthrop Murray Crane, of Massa? chusetts, met Secretary of the Interior Baliinger at Minneapolis yesterday, and acting on the initiative of leaders in the Republican party, with the tact acquiescence of President Taft, suggested that the Cabinet officer ten? der his resignation before October 1. From a source of the highest au? thority here today comes this explana? tion of the "accidental" meeting of the Massachuetts Senator and the Secretary of the Interior yesterday. Several days ago Senator Crane paid a mysterious visit to Beverly. At that time the news leaked out that ba was going West "on a mission" the nature of which was kept secret. Great pressure of late has been brought to bear on Taft to hint to the head of the Interior Department that he should retire, on the ground of extreme political expediency. Lead? ers in the party got together and se? cured a tacit acquiescence from Taft and yesterday the Massachuesetta so Ion put the proposition to Balllnger. Senator Crane, according to au thorative Information, told Bal? llnger yesterday that he must step down within a few weeks after the report of the Congressional investi? gating committee is made public. The committee meets at Minneapo? lis during the week of September 11. Its verdict on the conservation contro? versy exonerating the Secretary will be given to the public almost imme? diately. Balllnger is expected to re? tire to his law practice in Seattle and at some time prior to the wind up of the Congressional campaign. Taft has felt a peculiar delicacy about informing Balllnger of the tre? mendous pressure brought to bear upon him to change the present re? gime at the Interior Department, ajid the plan of having the proposition put to Balllnger by party leaders was the outcome of much thought on the part of the President's political ad? visers. At the Executive offices today no information was vouchsafed in regard to the matter, and it was stated that Senator Crane had no appointment with the President. The Massachu? setts Senator, however, Is one of the few for whom the latch string on the Taft cottage always hangs out, and he is in the habit of dropping In very often. Asylum Farm's Fine Yield. Columbia, August 1.?The state? ment is published here this afternoon that the Asylum farm will yield 10. 000 bushels of corn on 100 acres. It is stated that some of the land shows over 12,000 stalks to the acre and some as high as 25,000, while the stalks average two ears. Staggers Skeptics. ?That a clean, nice, fragrant com? pound like Bucklen's Arnica Salve will instantly relieve a bad burn, cut, sealJ. wound or piles, staggers skep? tics. But great cures prove its a wonderful healer of the worst sores, ulcers, boils, felons, eczema, skin eruptions, as also chapped hands, sprains and corns. Try It. 25c at Slbert's Drug Store. American actresses and actors are faring badly In Europe these days One is killed In Italy, one in ?codaetJ and another in Austria. Must not like our art.?Omaha Daily Bee. Folcy Kidney Pi IN ?Tonic in quality and sotb?n. ?w?--\ in results. For backache, headache dizziness, norovusness. urinary irreg? ularities and rheumatism. Stbett's Drug Store. Poetry Is the natural language of all worship.?Madame de Stael. For Quick Relief From Hay Fever. ?Asthma ami summer bronchitis* take l'oley's Honey and Tar It quickly relieves the discomfort and suffering and the annoying symptoms disappear. It soothes and heals the inflamed air passages of the head, throat and bronchial tubes. It c- i - i tains no opiates and no h irw?*?i1 i drugs. Refuse Substitutes. Bihert'S i Drug Store.