Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-02-08
commanding generals pretty we'll exhausted

commanding generals pretty we'll exhausted
Every man of ordinary common sense
knew very we'll that the game was up, un
less Sherman could be prevented from
marching through South and North Caro-
lima, into Virginia, thus getting to Lee''
rear and compelling an unconditional sur
render or vain attempt to fall back, which
would only be attended with slaughter
too general and terrific to think Of And
yet, there we're no grounds for even rea
sonable hope, that Sherman's advancing
columns could or would be met bya force
sufficient to defeat bis object and prevent SC
terrible disaster.
Newspaper editors, in their paper breast
works; Provost Marsbals and Enrolling
Officers, in their bomb-proof Offices, were
hard at work. The first, in deceiving the
people with manufactured dispatches, and
reliable news from the frout'-whict
'frout,' by the way, existed more in theil
OVID fertile imaginations than in fact-aud
urging the people on to supernatural efforts
to do impossible things; the second and
third in driving living skeletons, invalids,
old men and little boys d..:actly in Sher
mans path, and allowing an army of nice
young gentlemen to remain at home and dc
the talking in bar.rooms and at street cor
ners. There we're few honorable excep
tions, perhaps, who reversed this order Of
things, and discharged their difficult and
delicate duties in fearless, impartial and
conscientious spirit; but, nevertheless, this
did not prevent an abuse and misuse Of
power on the part of certain officials, which
was criminal and cruel, in every sense OF
the word. Wounded men, whose furloughs
had expired, actually sent to the front on
crutches, at distance of hundreds Of
miles; pale, haggard and cousumptive
creatures, whose strength was but barely
sufficient to endure the weight Of their
knapsacks, tagging behind their commands;
beardless boys under guard and being es'
corted trembliDgly to Provost Marshals-
these were becoming daily occurrences and
pointed too surely to the disastrous end to
which the South was slowly drifting.
The game is up!' exclaimed Mr.. Rog.
ers, as he sat moodily in the front parlor of
bis little cottage in the village of -
TIE South can do no more, and fall she
must, through mere exhaustion. Ifsuccess
we're possible, under the circumstances,
God knows she would deserve it; but it is
not possible pas possible
But, papa soft mellow voice replied,
somehow or other, it seems to me that there
is some hope of success yet. Sherman may
| not fiod it quite so easy to pass through our
State as he did through Georgia; and if
We can only prevent him from doing that,
who can tell what turn affairs may take
sMy dear child, Sherman will 90 just
where be wishes. 1t is 20. manner of use
to deny that, for We cannot prevent it. He
has already taken up his line of march from
Savannah, where he received heavy rein.
forceueuts and. mark my word, whatever
may have been the programme laid down
by himself, be will follow it out to the end
without any. material deviation. tell you,
child, the game is up!
sAnd what is to become of Us, papa 2
Sherman will certainly pass through this
village, if he gets into the State
perhaps not, Ellen, perhaps not; but if
he should, God help u.s.
But, papa,' said Ellen, looking anxious
ly up into the troubled countenauce of the
old man, 'be will not trouble US, will he p
We are all English people, you know and
have had nothing to do with the rebellion
'But what do they know about that, chld2
I do not suppose that Sherman's army is
composed of any worse men than any other
army is; but l fear that it has its share of
bad and unprincipled men, who will stop at
nothing short of the qualification of their
own wills What pity it is, Ellen, that
we ever left dear old Euglaud =
sOh papa, do for gracious sake, don't
talk that way I will never be able to close
my eyes to night. Lately I cannot sleep,
anyhow, without dreaming all kinds of hor-
rible things about Sherman and his men
Last night dreamed that great big COL
ored soldier bit off Captain Faulkener's
head, and then cut his body all to pieces
Oh ! my, how dreadful frightened was !
But, papa, doesn't Captain Faulkener stand
in great daDgerp
Mr.. Rogers looked long and anxiously
into the earnest face of his daughter, and
replied II am upder the impression. FL
len, that the captain can take care of him.
self What 10 the world have you to do
with Captain Faulkeuer? 1t is Captain
Faulkener this, Captain Faulkener that, and
Captain Faulkeuer everything. Who is
this Captain Faulkenerr
why, papa,' said Ellen, blushiog, you
know him very we'll. Don't you remember
the evening he spent with us -
Over two years ago2' said the old man.
Yes, l remember that very we'll; but what
does the fellow mean by making it a rule to
visit my daughter every time he gets fur
Tough, and always managing somehow or
other, to keep out of my way. Why, l
have not seen him since the last night that
poor Williams came to see Us, and yet, l
hear of him being here very often since
Do you knew, my dear, that l highly disap-
prove of all this2'
But, papa,' said Elleu, sit is all accident
that you have always been aweY wnen be
comes
TL,t ,,., ho yorp trua Ellan. ht,t O ra his