The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-08-22
ORIGINAL STORY.
KATE RAYlvl|0 MD. 7.
"A TRUE STORY OF
SHERM MANS CAMP AIG N
fy4;s IN
South Carolina.
-:O:-
BY REITA.
8cmAprEnrI III.

The 0Serts iranspiring in LII passed
,nheedel by Mrs Raymond and Kntc. They
cered not ;fwr life. The world looked dark to
fiiemy tile sl,ine seemed fu mock their grief;
lie had lost es charm, now that their idol had
passed Away. Early OH the morning of the
sfburteehtA, Colonel Austen called. Mrs. Ray
mond hSa not left her chamber for three days,
aud had refused to be seen by her friends but
to-day, Colond Aastcn came to bid her good
bye. His regiuseABk had been ordered to Co.
lunibis; and, VIXEN the servant bore her his
iuessage, she ncsTly dragged herself into the
psrlor Colencl Austen could only remain q
short whilo; for he expected momont;rily to
receive orders to march. He said, any letters
or packages that Mrs. Raymond had to send on
to Richmond, he would forward from Colun,-
bia; but being told there was nothing to send,
lie rose to take his leave. "Mrs. Raymond,
the Yankees arc 'oMly three miles from L..
Tomorrow nc expect to evscuatc the town.
My dear madsm, let me adyisc you to be firm
with them. Show ao symptoms of fear. If
they attempt to barn your house, do not leave
It until the last moment; and advise you,
Miss Kate, to act likewise. And, nov, good
bye, may God bless you" He wrung their
hands, and then turned to 60. Scarcely had
he-pssscd out of sight, when the heavy roar of
artillery shook the air. The battle (if such it
could be tcrmed) had commenced. Peal after
peal followed each other; and the sharp crack
of the rife could bc heard along the line.
Troops we're being hurried up from below !:
General Sherman right was trying to cross the
river General G was equally as anxious to
prevent his crossing. But, alas ! for our poor
country, 'twas impossible to stay Shcrman's s
advance General c. had only fifteen
hundred men and with those men he had to
guard Brucc's Ford, tine bridge, leading from
the town, and Jones' Ferry, five miles above
H4-. Hc could only hope to retreat in
safety. The fighting was kept up all day !;
and only ceased, when it became too dark to
see. Colonel Willis had been ordered to
Bruccs Ford and when he passed the ere
treat" he saw Kate standing on the piazza.
He rode up to the house, and without dismount-
ing, told her that tho fight had begun, and ad-
anonished her to be firm and cool, and not al
low tho Yankee guns to frightcn her. Making
. low bow, he turned and rode back. Little
dreamed tho brave Willis that the morrow
would find him captive, and wounded.
But anticipate. The day wore away and
when darkness set in, L. was still occupied
by our boys. The night seemed intcrminablc;
but the longest night must have dawning
A flag of truce came over to General C,
demanding the immediate surrender of the
town. General C-'s reply was short
Come aud take it." Firing began again, and
continued up,to noon. An order was given to
rctreat; tho troops began to move slowly; and
by two o'clock, only one Regiment remained.
Colonel Willis had been fighting an over
whelming force; but, at last, he was forced
back. His retreat was cut of from Columbia;
and.only one way Of escape was open to him,