The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-04-20
How the Troops were withdrawn.

percession Of the guard which might have been
witnessed any time during these four mouths.
GJvernor Hamptons Published request, in fur
Nth,rince Of his promise to Hayes that no Demo
crat should go near the State House unless
thorized by him to do so, was carried out to the
letter. Not one was present at the ceremony
and saw none at the Capitol q ounds, either be-
fore or after the performance. Twenty minutes
before II o'clOcS, your correspondent, with two
other members OF the press, presented them
selves at the front door, and entered unchallcn-
ged, although score of the colorcd special con-
stables were hanging about the entrance watch
ing our movements with sullen, unfrendy
g!ances. Within 1oors n confused crowd of
perhaps one hundred and fifty persons, mostly
negroes, who were moving about aimlcssly, or
standing in groups of threcs and fours engaged
in low and dispirited conversation. Here and
there were to he seen one or two smaller groups
of white Republicans OF the better sort, similar
Iy occupied. and all looking badly demoralized,
or, to use n homeiy phrase, "decidcdly down in
the mouth"
The guard on duty to-day detachment
of twenty men, Coml lany b, Second Regiment,
under command of Lieut. Haynes. All necessa-
ry preparations for the evacuation had been
completed before our arrival OIL the scene, and
the men fully accoutred were resting in two
ranks and with guns stacked before tho door of
used KY 9epHssHqea ai6ff MAiql has been
solitary sentry paced up and down on his old
beat before the Executive Office Col. Black and
AdJt. Potter stood under arch, n few pncccs
distant, frequently referring to their watches.
Gen. Rugers aide had arrived with the order
during the morning, and Col. Black was ncrvOusly
intent upon complying with its precise instruc-
tions as to the hour ofdeparure, to wit, precisely
twelve. His ner, BUSINESS affected his subordinate
officers, from these il spread TO tho crowd and
no second was permitted to pass altogether un-
observed in its flight. Al ten minutes before -
Lieut.. llarriSs suddenly sounded the order,
IL
the crowd throughout the building, we'll rs by
the handful of men To whom it was more partc-
ularly addressed. Then came in rapid succession
lake arms, "uuhx bayoncts, carry arms,
count fuurs, 'twos right" .march - The
last order brought the squad sharply down on
the crowd, which gave way to allow free pas
sage 10 the door. But the time was not yet up
and II sudden Ialt made as the leading
file reached the south entrance. The sentry on
duty before the Executive office, now relieved
Tor the last time, resumed his place in the ranks
and the command, "Ordcr arms, being given
the men stood at case in their places. Tue few
remaining minutes OF the ten seemed to loitor
rs they passed. Presently the sergeant. who
had timed his watch with the City hall bell,
which i'll turn was set with the clock in the tel
cgraph office, which in turn was regulated from
Washington by telegraph, whispers 10 the lieu
IcnGnt, zone minute more, sir and is dirCC-
led To take his stand 1T 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
iiiack, seeing the man1uvre recalled the ser
gcant and sent Lieut.. Briggs, of the same COM
rany, to take the post Of warning. The seconds
arc minutes now, aud everybody is listening for
the sound or watching for the signal. ILcre
ii goes Lieut.. Briggs waves his hpnl 10 inGi-
cate the first tap, which was not heard in the
reccsscs Of the hall, nnl al.anccs rapidly to
Col. Black to report the fact. The Colonel
says. "Dun't run, sir The lieutenant joins
the squad. Then is heard, "Attention guard -
Garry arms Fright shoulder arms - 'Twos
right, march, The sound Of heavy and hur-
ricd footballs rcsounls along the corridors,
and before the he'll has reached the fifth stroke of
number OF the negro constabIess", 'eerrfEdieGliy
acting under pcrcmptory and urgent orders in
stantly sprang 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, who are hardly out oi
the way Of the closing panels. \ heavy bar
dropped into its brackets, and the military occu-
patton of the State House is eadcl much TO the
relief Of the citizens and the military we'll.
All was done so suddenly that the clock could
I've heard striking after the doors were closed
The bell strikes slowly at best, and it required
little suggestion to evolve the comparison Of Il
funeral kncll. Twelve strokes sounded and the
twelve long. weary wrctched years of carpet bag
msrule were tolled Oft one by one, and consi tncL
TO the tomb OF the past forever, never TO know n
resurrection. The crowd quickly dispersed, al
most in silence, and in few minutes the wires
were flashing the tdngS to every town and vii
lnge of the whole land. The detachment of SOL
diers were marched direct to their quarters and
dismissed, and SO ended the first lesson OF the
evcntlu day.
Mr.. Chambcrlaips action today was a com
pletc surprise to everybody uutsilc the small
circle Of his immediate friends and associates,
and could not have been anticipated by any one
not IN his confidence. |; was certainty known,
upon evidence contained in his own handwriting
that so lately rs Saturday night he was fully de
icrinined upon the policy of resistance, rs So:
forth III the NcwS and courier and sustained in
alyiccs TO Northern persons here from CORES
pondcnts at Washington. To this policy his
supporters here considered him firmly commit
ted and they were prepared TO sustain him in
it. lie had not in single instance sivon the
slightest intimation of even the possibility Of n
change in the course he had marked out an i
declared, and such possibility has not been en-.
tertaincd for n moment in the plans of Governor
Hampton and his friends, who have been busily
engaged for several days dcvising the line OF
attack to be pursued in view OF his assured pur-
pose Of resistance to The last legal extremity -
The truth is simply that Mr.. Chamberlain
changed his mind within the past twenty four
hours, and the change, to whatever influence
due, was kept so secret that il was not even sus-
icccd till the troops had actually departed from
his office door, and he had made formal and of
fetal announcement of his abandonment of the
contest. have heard 10 reason suggested for
his sudden revolution Of uiposc, and have no
means of ascertaning. lie will probably make
it known at his discretion. Ii may he re-
marne just here that whatever the reason for
his course, the fact of his yielding ut this i,Iuc.
ture has gone very far already towards modify
ing the feelings of cnmity entertained towards
him by the majority of his political opponents
The city is very muict after the exciting event.
n he fh,rn iS l,,t :, ho