The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-07-12
From the Masonic Trovel.
An Incident of the War.

IN the Northern part of South Carolina,
but few miles from the confines of the
neighboring State of North Carolina
Gen. Sherman's victorious army passed
through it and remained there some days
in the month of February, 1865 The in
habitants were, Of course, subjected to all
the losses and sufferings which in all ages
and in all countries have been consequent
upon the inroad of q triumphant army
into the region of what it deems pc
culiarly hostile foe. But even amid the
excitement of angry and merccna1y pas
sions, which always prevail to too great
an extent among the soldiers of an in
vading and conquering host, the still
small voice of masonry will be heard and
felt.
DR.. K, an intelligent mason, and
most worthy citizen Of Cheraw, has re-
lated to me the following anecdote, which
I give almost in his own words:
"Some time previous to the appearance
of Gen. Sherman's army" said the Doc
tor, 'I transported from my plantation to
my residence in Cheraw, large amount
of provisions, which had caused to be
stored, for safe keeping, in the attic rooms
of my dwelling house. There were living
with me at the time my wife, my chill
dren, and lady who was distant rela-
tive, all dependent on me for protection
and support. On the day after the ap-
pearance of the army in the town, l was
standing at the door of my mansion when
an officer approached, accompanied by a
guard and followed by large baggage
wagon. He introduced himself as Lieut.
b, of Wisconsin, when the following
conversation took place:
"Have you any specie in your house p
II have not"
"Have you any gold or silver?"
eyes, 1 have geld watch, and my wife
has another; and ] have the usual plate
of q respectable family-somo silver forks
and spoons and things of that kind"
"Well, will attend to those matters in
timo. What provisions have you in the
house?"
"About enough to last my family q
year"
"Show them to me-"
II conducted him to the attic room,
followed by my wife, and he accompanied
by his guard of soldiers. He looked at
the goodly display of wheat, and maiso,
and bacon, and corncd beef, and then
said:.
II have an order from Gen. Sherman
to take all your provisions, except ten
rations for ten days foryour family-Men,
set to worluand iii the wagon"
az looked an with CONSERVATION. The
idea of being left with only ten days pro-
visions, all means of transportation taken
away, the railroad and bridges destroyed,
and no possibility, therefore. of getting
fresh supply, wasanything but delecta-
BILE prospect, as it afforded in the future q
very closely approaching picture of actual
starvation But Fsthought that if he
were mason there vas still some hope
of saving myself and family from the
threatened ruin; and for the first time in
my life, long as | have been member OF
the Order, [ determined to have recourse
to it for that aid which it had promised to
be in time of peril and danger.
but espre9sve language o our T nstitu
ton to inquire if Lieut.. BtA-, was q
brother ofthe mystic tie. TS my signals
he promptly responded, andain q few
minutes l was convinced that ke was a
master mason. 1 proceeded in the same
mysterious manner with my inyestiga-
tions, and was satisfied that he was also
Royal Arch companion, and one bright
too in the ritual Having learned fhus
much, I resolved to try the erpdfimehtbm
crusls, and to make that last appeal, to
which 1 hoped he would not be inatten,
tive, for upon it was founded my hope OF
food for my wife and childrcn.>
"The position of things at this time
was thus was standing in the centre
of the room where the provisions were
stored; on my right hand was my wife
opposite to me was the Lieutenant; the
soldiers had just left with the first load of
provisions, which they were conveying to
the wagon below. L availed myself OF
the opportunity afforded by theirAbsence;,
and by the fact that my wife was intent-
lv looking on the f6orin pensfvc att-
tude, to move back a step and to make
that signal to which no true mason e9n
without perjury, refuse to reYoHd.
"The lieutenant; as he recognized the
hail, seemed for moment surprised, and
perhaps confused He turnedrapidly on
his heel and retreated to widow, where
he sat down and leaned is~head upon his
hand, apparently in dssthought After
a few minutes the soldiers, who had de-
posted their first load in the wagon, re-
turned, sad wergPreparing to throw an
other load upon their shoulders. At that
moment thedieutenant rose from his seat,
and in gruff voice exclaimed:
"Men, put those things down. You
can go" In response to their look of
iurprisc, he continued: II guess there
sn't more here than is sufficient for the
family"
"The soldiers departed empty handed,