The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-18
SOLDIERS, REUNION AT HARTwELL.
Experiences, Adventures and Pleasures
Of the Anderson visltOrs..The Reun-
Ion Grand Success.


Of the Anderson Visltors--The Reun'
ION a Grand Success.
Mr.. EDITOR: The Anderson Corne
Band left Anderson at 43 o'clock on thu
evening of October l, having previously
been invited by John H. McGill, editor
of the Hartwell (Ga.) Sun, and others
who constituted committee of arrange
ments for the reunion of the soldiers o.
Hart County, Georgia, to be held al
Hartwell on Tuesday, October 2.
We took the upper road, by Roberts
Church, leading to Browns Ferry. The
Band played a few tunes on leaving
home, and, out of compliment, one tune
was played while passing the residence
of Mr.. J. C. Keys. Night came on us
when we were eight miles out from home,
with sixteen more to drive before reach
ing Hartwell. After dark the boys com:
menced singing comic songs, sandwiched
with funny anecdotes, mixed with droll
sayings, and all seemed to 60 merrily on:
The store of A. NJ. Holland was reached
at o'clock. We stopped here to await
the arrival of member. Playing tune
or two brought out Mr.. Holland, who
wanted to know what it all meant-if
another war, or what else" He was
informed of the purpose of the party, and
soon opened his store and treated each to
fine cigars. Everything now ready we
started for the Ferry, not far distant, but
not without some cautious remarks from
Mr.. Holland about being found in the
Savannah next morning among the cat
fish. We had scarcely gone a quarter of
mile when we struck the right fore
wheel of the wagon against stump,
breaking off the end of single tree with
a loud crash, severely jolting the whole
crowd. One member left the wagon on
the instant, and with considerable activi-
ty landed some ten feet from his seat,
exclaiming just as he struck the ground,
"fharw 1t was easy to see that this man
thought there had been an awful smash
up. Two or three of the boys seeing his
excited condition succeeded in quieting
him down, while the rest soon had the
wagon ready to move forward. Further
on a buggy came near capsizing from
running against stump, one of the oc-
cupants escaping with some damage to
one of his legs. A lantern carried in
front of the team from this point to the
Ferry disclosed an exceedingly rough
road. At the Ferry all hands dismoun-
ted from their seats, and commenced sug-
gesting and prospecting as to the best
mode of getting the wagon and team
into the fat. An incident or two hap
pened at this point which afterwards
created great fun in the crowd. The
bass drummer coming alongside the
wagon, suddenly the earth appeared to
open and receive him into some un-
known cavern. In no time he was lost
to view. Nothing was heard, now, save
the sound of falling turf and the splash
ing of discovered waters below. How
ever, he soon extricated himself, and was
again on terra frma. But a minute or
two elapsed until here came "Duke Bill" !"
Ia name, by the way, the boys gave him,
whether on account of his similarity to a
Duke, we know not.) He, looking up at
the driver on the seat above, with a
graceful gesture of the hand, exclaimed,
"Pll tell you what to do with those
mules" when, to the utter CONSERVATION
of the driver, he, too, was swallowed up
in that hungry chasm. He passed from
view, following, "Help! help! Take
my horn !" and with such look of de-
spair those who witnessed it never wish
again to see. But he soon struck bottom,
and the rattling of that great brass horn,
the noise of the waters below, told what
struggle was going on down there. He
was assisted in getting out, carried and
placed in a buggy, swearing his leg was
broken or dislocated, though afterwards
it proved to be a most tallacious idea.
After this we crossed the river, nothing
worth relating happening. Over we
started again, all hoping for better luck
with the roads in Georgia. And as no
accident occurred, drive of an hour or
two brought us into the town of Hart
we'll. We drove up to Mr.. Bobo's hotel,
alighted and the Band played; in time a
disconsolate and bewildered looking in
dividual or two came out; some later the
proprietor, who ordered the team put up,
and invited us in. We were now given
to understand that we would be made
comfortable. At = o'clock a. m. supper
was announced. We walked into the
dining room, and an ample collation. OF
good, warm victuals lay spread before Us
on the table, presided over by Mr.. and
Mrs. Bcbo, who also had corps of polite
servants on hand. Supper being over a
caucus was held, and decided to serenade
some of the prominent men of Hartwell
The editor of the Sun was the first
aroused by the dulcet Dotes of the Cornet
Band. He came out and after social
congratulations joined the crowd, and
made for the house of John B. Benson
ESQ.,; again plenty of music, but no one
came out. Next one visited was Maj
Shelton; more music, but it failed to in
duce any signs of life within. We now
returned to the hotel, and were shown tc
our rooms. Before we went off into the
arms OF morpheus, Jonu IL. McUHi
editor of that plucky little sheet, the
Hartwell Sun, called in and exchanged
friendly greetings.
When morning came, many of the
boys took stroll around town to see the
place. They found Hartwell pleasant
little town of some two or three hundred
inhabitants, situated in the midst Of
gently undulating country, with soil o
a sandy loan, timber for the most par
dwarf oak, intersperced with large pines
The town boasts of neat new Cour
House, and e substantial Jail, both o.
brick, dry goods, grocery and drug hous
es, an excellent hotel, one newspaper
ably managed by John 81. McGill, ane
blacksmith, wagon, harness and shoe
shops. Outside the square one sees mum
bers of fine private dwellings, built witt
architectural taste and surrounded witt
all the latest conveniences.
We now return to the hotel to find ou
host with an ample breakfast in waiting
Breakfast over, the boys gather up thei
Instruments and assemble in front th'