The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-28
AsKETcH OF EARLIER E DAYS.

present II TO our leaueIs, Couuuou' .uo'
they will recognize the picture at once.
1t is copied from the Knoxville (Tenn.l
Tribune:
The man of ripe years perhaps never
enjoys himself more than when he reSerH
to the scenes, incidents and reminiscenees.
of his boyhood. Often in his soberest
and most solitary moments, smile, or
even fit of laughter, will overcome him
by recurrence to some juvenile freak
or boyish prank perpetrated IN days OF
the long past.
Fifty-fye years ago the writer was .
lad of thirteen years, living in the ad-
Joining county Of good old Blount, which
was the scene of the following narrative,
which includes hero, of course.
At that time it contained population
that may be regarded as good, for the times
consisting largely ofthe hardy backwoods,
man-frontiersman and Indian fighter OF
an earlier period. In word, it was
sturdy yosmanry, embracing the rustic
in all of its types, from the well.bred,
well.informed, we'll to do farmer, grading
to ignorance of a low degree. In such
population the martial and heroic spirits
was naturally prominent. Indian "Ssram-
aces" during the earlier settlements, the
battles of the Horseshoe, and Emucfaw,
the campaign of the Floradies, GsneraI
Jackson aud the battle of New Orleans,
were topics of conversation at most OF
the public gatherings, social and other
wise.
at such a time, for the law re-
ouired the entire militis, subject to duty,
to be organized and lfdrifledsAHice d ayssr.
We had the company muster the batal-
lion aud regimental musters, recurring
spring and fall. The latter OF these,
known as the general muster, was truly
Z q grand occasion, as it brought the entire
militia of the county to the county; seat
once year.
Not only SO, but the veteran of sterner
military scenes was wont to be out IN
force; the lad, the hobby-hoy, and lasses
in their teens, whose patriotism and de-
svotion to the country burned as fervently
as that of the fathers and brothers, also
Z praced the occasion in goodly numbers.
The darkeys also had a respite from daily
tolls, and took an airing en- the muster
field. To him twas not merely an occa-
sion for festivity and hilarity, but in
many cases it was made an occasion 70
turn a penny and to put in his POCKET
q few nine pence and four pence a;penny
pieces, such being current coin of the day.
TO that end for days previous he was So
lecting some nice apples, preparing q Eeg
of sweet cider, or brewing from the per-
simmon little domestic beer and as to
cookies, cake, gingerb bread and, pies he
laid up good store also the chinquepln
and chestnut range was ransacked to get
up q supply of that delectable edible that
town boy and rustic alike MUNICH with
such gusso. It will be andeItood that
this was anterior:to the ciyitized ;efa!,; !,
thatintroduced the peanut, alias "goober.' :
Armed and equipped as above, Sam6o
and his cart was sure to be found in the
grand procession to the muster. field. -,
Furthermore, the ssgood creature"
known in some localities as "over.joyfui," !"
but recognized under many aliases, and
known in the youthful days of the writer,
as "bald-face"-dubbed captain" per-
haps by the more. .polite-was, an 3eyer-
present actor at these military displays: " !:
Whether at that early period, andduring
these gay, good times, tho Gsptan was
stcontraband Of war" is matter of doubt
in the mind of the writer. But of one
thing he is sure that the Captains ser.
vices were in demand, and being secured
in brown jugs, wooden canteens and big;
: bellied gourds, was always on the ground
subject to duty. BUTT is fair to acknowl-
edge that as general thing he was DOM
iciIed in out of the way stables, back sheds
and other places incog. All this may be
owing to the fact that social parties
did not wish to be disturbed in their
,privacy while greeting and caressing the
Captain. III
With preparation thus complete and
anticipation on tiptoe, the mornilg ofs&
general muster dawns bright alAspro,hl
ing. The scene now becomes naescr5h-
able. Imagine that at 8, O'clock OF ibis
beautiful morning You see them poHfs1gg b
out from the mountain covesand gerges
coming up from the lowlandaef fthtbig
rivers and little rivers, turni9gout from
the creek knobs and highlands, moving
BY the highways and by-wsys in wagons
and carts, on foot and horseback, old and
Young, male and female, black and white
crowd;ng in till the street ofthe village are
literallyssflled with apromiscuous crowd
containing nearly every thing in the shape
of the animal homo. We have now in
this rather ungainly mass Of human be-
ings about eighteen captains companies
of militiamen, and perhaps a larger num-
Der of merely curious spectators, Pre-
cisely at 10 o'clock an orderly bawls ont:
"Ol yes; OF yes; all that belongs to
Capt. BIS company parade here. Fall
into linep In less than minute this
hoarse bawling is heard all over the town
eighteen of them are shouting the same
thing at the top Of their voices. A per-
feet bedlam Of commotion ensues; but
eventually the companies are formed the
regiment in column moves to the field, a
mile away to drill. Pickets are put out
in true military style. And while this is
going on, the surrounding fences, adjacent
hillocks and trees are literally covered by
what might seem camp.follouers, but
they were mere observers of the transpi-
ring panorama. -.
However interesting the military evo-
lutions within lines, the feats outside
were mono the less SO. Such occasions
were looked to as proper time for dis
playing feats of agility and manly exer-
cjses and as general thing, scenei in the
way of wrestling matches, foot races,
Jumping, three jumps-hop, skip and
Jump handspring summersanlt, &C., took
place. Such as would be pretty stunning
to the average boy Of the present day.
OCCASIONALLY real rough and tumble
ssisticuf'' would come off in which the
blood and fur would fly. But always on
such happenings the bystanders would
enforce fair play till one OF the belllger-
ents would cry "enough," then separa.
ton took place at once, and as general
thing treaty of peace was concluded on
the spot. Such cowardly and unmanly
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