Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-08-11
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR,


Northern part of South Carolina, but few
miles from the confines Of tho ncighboring
State of North Carolina. Gen. Shcrluan's vic
torious army passed through it and remained
there some days IN the month OF February,
lSGo. The inhabitants were, of course, sub.
jcctcd to all the losses and sufcrings which in
all ages and in all countries have been consc-
Tucnt upon the inioad of a triumphant army
into tho region of what it deems peculiar
iy hostile foe. But even amid the excitement
OF angry and mcrccnary passions which al.
ways prevail to too great an extent among the
soldiers Of al invading and conqucrns host,
the still small voice Of masonry will be heard
and felt.
DR.. X, an intelligent mason, and
most worthy citizen Of Chcraw, has related
to mo the following anccdotc, which give al.
most IN his own words:
=" Some time previous to the appearance of
Gen. Sherman's army" said the Doctor F"
transported from my plantation to my resi-.
deuce IN Chcraw, large amount Of provision
which | had caused to he stored. for safe keep.
ing, in the attic rooms Of my dwelling house
There were living with me at the time my wife,
my childrcn and Il lady who was distant
relative, all dependent on me for protection
and support On the day aftcr the appear
Mt the door of my mansion when an officer an
proachcd, accompanied BY a guard and follow,
cd by large baggage wagon. lie intro
duccd himself as Lieut. B., of Wis
consin, when the following conversation took
place:
Have you any specie in your house I?
have not !" =
Have you any gold or silver ?''
lcs, | have gold watch, and my wife
has another; and have the usual plate of
respectable famiy-somc silver forks and
spoons, and things of that kind"
Well | will attend to those matters IN
time. What provisions have you in the housc?'
About enough to last my family year.
Show them to me-"
/" conducted him to tho attic room, fol.
lowed by my wife, and he accompanied by his
guard of soldiers. He looked at the gootlly
display of wheat, and maize and bacon, and
corncd beef, and then said
havo an order from Gen Sherman to
take all your provision, except ten rations for
ten days for your family. Men, set to work
and fill tho wagon"
looked on with CONSERVATION. The idea
Of being left with only ten days provisions
all means OF transportation taken away, the
railroad and bridges destroyed, and no posi-
b'lify, .thercforc, of getting fresh supply
was anything but a 4lecctablc prospect, ms it
afforded in the future avery closely approach
ing picture ofrctul starvation. But thought
that it he were Il mason there was still some
hope Of saving myorf and family from the
threatened ruin and for the first time in my
life. long as have bccn member nf tic Or.
der, determined to have recourse to it for that
aid which 1t had promised to be in time of
peril and danger
commenced, therefore, in the mute but
expressive language of cur institution to in
Iulrc IT Lieut.. B-, was a brother of
the mystic tic. 10 my signals he promptly
responded, and in few minutes | vas con
Vlnccd that he was master III. -. 7 pro-
cccdcJ in the same mysterious manner with
my investigations, and was satisfied that he
was also Royal Arch companion, and one
bright too in the ritual Having learned thus
much, | resolved to try the cnpcrimcnlu,n
cr"sis, and to make that last appeal, to which
| hoped he would not be inattcntive, for u,.
on it was founded my hope of food for my wife
and children.
"Thc position Of things at this time was
thus: | was standing in the centre of the
room where the provision were stored on nv
right hand was my wife, opposite to me wa.
the Lieutenant; the soldiers had lust left
with the first load of provisions, which they
were conveying to the wagon below avail
cd myself of the opportunity afforded by
their absence, and by the fact that my wife,
was 'ntently looking on the floor in pen
s,ve attitude, to move back a step and to make
that signal to which no true mason can with
out perjury, refuse to respond
"Ihe Lieutenant, as he recognized the
nan, seemed for moment surprised, and per-
maps confused lcturned rapidly on his heel
and rctfeated to window, where he sat down
and leaned bis head upon his hand, apparent.
ly in deep thonght. Xftef few minutes tho
soldiers. who had deposited their first load in
the wagon, returned, and were preparing to