Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-04-18
Homo Rule in South Carolina.

all save the essential particular that they
were going out never to return the evacu-
alton differed very little from the usual
suppression of the guard which might
have been witnessed any time during
these four months.
Gov. Hampton's published request in
furtherance of his promise to Hayes that
no democrat should go near the State
House unless authorized by him to do
so was carried out to the letter. Not
| saw none on the capitol grounds
| either before Or after the performance.
Twenty minutes before IL O'Clock your
correspondent, with the other members
of the press, presented themselves at
the front door and entered unchalleng-
ed, although a score of the colored
special constables were hanging about
the entrance watching our movements,
with sullen, unfriendly glances.
Within doors was confused crowd of
perhaps one hundred and fifty persons,
mostly colored people, standing in
groups engaged in low and dispirited
conversation. Here and there were to
be seen one or two smaller groups of
white republicans similarly occupied,
and all looking badly demoralized. The
guard on duty to-day was detachment
Of twenty men of company B. Second
Regiment. under command of Lieut..
Hayes.
All necessary preparations for the
evacuation had been completed before
our arrival, and the men, fully ac-
coutred, were resting in two ranks and
with guns stacked before the door of the
comptroller generals Office. which has
been used as officers quarters. A
solitary sentry paced up and down on
his old beat before the executive office.
Col Black and Adjutant Potter stood
under an arch, frequently referring to
their watches. Gen. Ruger's aids had
arrived with the order during the morn
ing, and Col. Black was nervously
intent upon complying with its precise
instructions as to the hour of departure,
to wit, precisely twelve o'clock. His
nervousness affected his subordinate
officers.
At ten minutes before twelve Lient.
Haynes suddenly sounded the order,
Attention ~ Then came in rapid sue
cession, Take arms" ''Unfx bayo-
nets" Garry arms" ''Count fours,"
''Twos," 'Right," ''March." The
last order brought the squad sharply
down on the crowd, which gave way
to allow a free passage to the door, but
the line was not yet up, and a sudden
halt was made as the leading file reach
ed the south entrance.
The sentry on duty before the e1ecu-
tive Office, now relieved for the last
time, resumed his place in the ranks,
and the command, "Order arms"
being given the men stood at ease.
Presently the sergeant. who has timed
his watch with the city hail bell, which
in turn was set with the clock in the
telegraph office, which in turn was
regulated from Washington by tele-
graph, whispers to the lieutenant, One
minute more or so, and is directed to
take his stand at the south door, next
to the city hall, and to give notice of the
first tap Of the clock bell by wave of
his hand.
Col. Black seeing the maneuvre
called the sergant and sent Lieut..
Bridges, of the same company, to take
the post of warning. The seconds are
minutes now, and everybody is listen
ing for the sound or watching for the
signal.
There it goes! Lieut.. Briggs waves
his hand to indicate the first tap, which
was not heard in the recesses of the
hall, and advances rapidly to Col
Black to report the fact.
The Colonel says Don't run, sir"
The Lieut.. joins the squad, then is
heard Attention, guard carry arms"
right shoulder arms, two right march.
The sound heavy and hurried footballs
resounded along the corridors, and
before the bell has reached the fifth
stroke Of the twelve the last file has
crossed the threshold.
A number of colored constables,
evidently acting under peremptory and
urgent orders, instantly sprung to the
heavy doors and slammed them to with
bang, in the face Of the crowd within,
and in the immediate rear Of the last
file of soldiers without, and the military
occupation of the State is ended. All
was done SO suddenly that the clock
could be heard striking after the doors
were closed.
The GRO wd quickly disappeared al
most in silence, and in a few minutes
the wires were flashing the tidings to
every town and village in the whole
land. The detachment of soldiers were
marched direct to their quarters and
dismissed.
Chamberlain action to-day was
complete surprise to everybody outside
the small circle of his immediate friends,
and could not have been anticipated by
any oie not in his confidence. 1t was
certainly known, upon evidence contain
ed in his own handwriting, that so late
ly as Saturday night he was fully de-
termined upon the policy of resistance
to this policy. His supporters here
consider him firmly committed, and
they were prepared to sustain him in
it.
He had not in single instance given
the slightest intimation Of even the pos
sibility of change in the course he had
marked out, and such a possibility has
not been entertained fer a moment in
the plans of Gov. Hampton and his
friends, who have been engaged for sew
eral days devising the line Of attack to
be pursued in view of his purpose of re.
sistance to the last legal extremity.
The truth is that Chamberlain chang
ed his mind within the past twenty-four
hours and the change to whatever influ-
ence due, was kept so secret that it
was not even suspected till the troops
had actually departed from his office
door and he had made formal and Off
cial announcement of his abandonment
of the contest.
Whatever the reason for this course
the fact Of his yielding at this juncture
has gone very far already towards mod
flying the feelings of enmity entertain
ed towards him by the majority of his
political opponents.
LEGISLATIVE PAY REDUCED.-A