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

they will recognize the picture at once.
1t is copied from the Knoxville (Tenn.)
Tribune:
The man Of ripe years perhaps never
enjoys himselfmore than when he revefts,
TO the scenes, incidents and reminisceEceb
of his boyhood. Often in his sobefcst
and most solitary moments, smile, or
even a fit Of laughter, will overcome him
by recurrence 10 some juvenile freak
or boyish prank rerpetrated in days OF
the long past.
Fifty-fye years ago the writer was g
lad of thirteen years, living in tho 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 NAV be regarded as good, for the times
consisting largely fthehardy backwoods.
raan-frontiersman and Indian fighter of
an earlier period. In word, it was
sturdy yoemanry, embracing the rustic
in all OF it's types, from tho wellbred,
well.informed, we'll to do farmer, grading
10 ignorance Of low degree. In such o
population the martial and heroic spirits
was naturally prominent. Indian ".Skrin-
ages" during tho earlier set.lements, the
battles Of tho Horseshoe, and Emucfaw,
the campaign Of the Floradies, Gtnerdl
Jackson aud the battle Of New Orleans,
werc topics Of conversation at most of
the public gatherings, social and other
wise.
Nor could such spirit we'll slumber
at such time, for the law re-
quired the entire militia, subject to duty,
20 be organized and drilled twice o. year.
We hGd the company muster the batal-
lion and regimental musters, recurring
spring and fall. The latter Of these,
known as the general muster, was truly
grand occasion, as it brought the entire
militia of the county to the county seat
once year.
Not only so, but the veteran of stcrner
military scenes was wont to be out in
in their teens, whose patriotism and de-
votion to the country burned as fervently
rs that of the fathers and brothers, also
graced the OCCASION in goodly numbers
The darkeys also had respite from dolly
tolls, and took al airing on the muster
field. To him twas not merely an Occa-
sion for festivity and hilarity, but in
many cases it was made an occasion to
turn penny and to put in his pocket
few nine pence and four pence ha'penny
pieces, sucn being current coin of tho day.
TO that ind for days previous he was SO.
locting some nice apples, preparinga keg
of sweet cider, or brewing from the per-
simmon little domestic beer and as to
cookies, cake, gingerbread and pies he
laid up good store; also the chinquepin
and chestnut range was ransacked TO get
up supply Of that dolectable edible that
town boy and ruetic nike MUNICH with
such gusto. It will be underatood that
this was anterior to the civilized cgas.
thatintroducedt the peanut, alias "goober."
Armed and equipped as above, Sambo
and his cart was suro to bo found In the
grand procession to the muster field.
Furthermore, tie good creature"
known in some localities rs "over.joylhl,"
but recognized under p'Iny aliases, and
known in the youthful days cf the writer,
as "bald- -face"-dubbed Captain" per-
haps by the more polite-was On ever
present actor at these military displays.
Whether at that early period, and during
these gay, good times, tho Captain was
"contraband Of war" il 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 20 general thing he was DOM
Aciled in out of the way stables, back sheds
and other places incog. All this may be
did not wish to be disturbed in their
, privacy while greeting and caressing the
Captain. II
With preparation thus complete and
anticipation on tiptoe, the morning OFFS
general muster dawns bright and prouiist
ing. The scene now becomes indescrib.
able. Imagine that at 8 O'clock Of !thia
beautiful morning you see them poufing
otit from the mountain coves and gorgea
coming up from the lowlandso Of the Big
rivers and little rivers, turning out from
the creek knobs and highlands, moving
by the highways and by-ways in wagons
and carts, on foot and horseback, old ard
young, male and female, black and white
crowding in till the street ofths village are
literallysfilled with apromiscuous crowd
containing nearly everything 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 larger mum.
Der of merely curious spectators. Pre-
cisely at 10 O'Clock an orderly bawis out {:
30 yes Ol yes; all that belongs to
Capt. B.'s company parade here. Fall
into line" In less than o minute this
hoarso bawling is heard oil 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 ere 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 |
hiliocks aud trees are literally covered by |
what might seem camp-followers, but |
they were mere observers Of the transpi.
ring panorama.
However interesting the military eyo.
lutions within lines, the feats outside |
were none the less so. Such occssiono |
were looked to as O proper time for dis !
playing feats of agility and manly exer-
cises; and asa generalthipg. scene in the |
way Of wrestling matches, foot races,
jumping, three jumps-hop, skip and |
jump handspring summsrsault, &C., took |
place. Such "a would be pretty stunning |
70 the average boy of the present day.
.hsticuf'' would come off in which the
blond and fl. s=.e,.!d 81. BIT aiwayo ON /
anch happenings the bystanders would |
enforce fair play till one of the belliger-
ents would cry ''enough," then o separa-
tion took place at once, and as n general |
thing treaty ofpeace was concluded on
;he spot Such coWardly and unrnanly
conduct as resorting to those civilized de. |
vices Of knife and pistol was not thought
ot IL shc=o good oiiI2 dhys.