Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-20
GENERAL STEPHEN ELLIOTT,

Whose memory is recorded in the shot-torn bat
Elements of Sumter, gained his reputation as sol
der, not from military training at West Point,
but from, an ;ntui.i-o genius th~t ntNnaped l,s or"
nv act with success; history must record his name
high upon the sacred roll Of Honor, and no monu-
ment other than the ragged fortress of Sumter is
needed to remind South Carolina Of her costly sac
rifce. His exploits are too splendid for my pen,
vet as one who was his friend, and served under
him, profer few incidents connected with his
service. After the fall of Port Royal, Captain El-
lott organized his company (the Beaufort Artille-
ry) as Infantry, and resolved upon harrassng the
blue coats as often as an opportunity offered. The
game of confscation was progressing finely on the
islands, and Uncle Sans (children's) pockets were
being lined with captured cotton, when behold! !!
one moonless night the lurid glare which illumi-
mated the sky-Elliott and trusty squad had put
the torch to scores of barns, and while aftrlghted
Ethiop was telling indignant Jonathan that Mass
Steben bun up oil de cotton" he and his detail
were complacently regarding the wasting light that
showed their work complete. The enemy had
lodged upon an island which commanded an ap-
proach to Savannah, and Elliott concluded to visit
them; reconnaissance was made, but the Yanks
SUSPECTED something, and resolved to intercept his
return. Captain Elliott was returning in fleet
boat rowed by his men, (who were, many OF them'
amphibs) when it became necessary to bail out !;
the boat was hauled to the marsh, and was being
emptied of the water, when hush a barge ap-
peared rowing in the opposite course a brass how
itzer shone in the moonlight at her bow; muskets
glanced back the rays of the tetale queen and es.
cape seemed hopeless; but stray cloud draped
the moon with its dusky mantle, and hid the boat
in which was our hero and his men, and the barge
glided by. AS it passed, the officer in command
bestowed un unfattering compliment on the lag
gard barge behind. "Ah!'' whispered Elliott,
'sanother; now, men, lie close; we may not be so
fortunate again every man to his double-barrel
gun, and if they discover us, rake them and let 8
make the affair costly" The stiffness was only
broken by the receding strokes Of the oars Of the
first barge, and was being still, indeed, when the
regular thumps Of the oars Of the second was
heard Nearer and nearer it drew, till the hoWlt-
zer on it's bow lifted above the marsh, the barge
was skirting the shore to avoid the current, and
soon its oars must touch the hidden boat. The
suspense was fearful, but again cloud yelled the
moon, and ere it escaped the bargesld by, so near
that the drops of water fell from its oars upon the
persons of the men who lay quietly awaiting the
issue. s'Safe, thank God ~ was the grateful muir
muir; and thus escaped he once when the enemy
were nearest him.
I was once preparing the howitzer, upon which
served, for inspection, and to facilitate my duty,
pushed it into the water that overfowed the banks
Of the Savannah, but being unconscious Of
unity of the bluff, gave it another push and sent
it to the bottom of the river, Ia twenytour pound
gun, ammunition chest and contents). looked
IN, as did the Irishman who sawed himself OFT
the tree, considerably confused, but remembered
the CAPTAIN. found him in his tent planning a
torpedo told my story, and was entering into ex-
nlanations, &C., when he jumped up and started
for the gun, undressing as he went. When he
reached the spot where committed the Ja'sc pas,
he was divested to good swimming costume, and
dove like m otter into the swollen stream He
coon arose some distance below where the gun was,
having been swept by the tide, but called tor q
stout rome it was procured, and he plunged again
beneath, carrying the end of the rope renamed
until he had secured it about the carriage, and a.
gain loated to the surface like cork and struck
out for the shore. We all grasped the rope, and
stout pull lodged the gun 1--WE thought lost on the
bank ready for inspection. I saw him few min
utes later, stretched complacenty at full LENGTH
with his chin supported by the left palm, figuring
out theory that afterwards was put in telling prac
tice, namely, torpedo.
1t was a favorite sport of General Elliott tc
gather terrapins from alligator holes, and MS mel
| well remember his grotesque appearance when he