The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-08-09
Truth Stranger Than Fiction.

The following taken from the Mays
Landing Record, Of New Jersey, relates
one of the many sad but interesting in.
cidents which have happened since tile
war. As our townsman. Mr. A. H.
Osborn, WAS the principal party in the
correspondence, it will doubtless interest
our readers:
There are sacred grcis and painful
experience in our lives, which we would
| laln hide away in the profoundcst ,lcpths
o! iorg'tiulness, but they come from their
| hiding places unhidden aud stand before
US face to face. The dark days Of lha,
unnatural rebellion that filled our land
with blood, and our homes with grief
during iour years Of bitter hatred and
strife, long since gave place to smiles
and songs. Mothers hearts were healed
| albeit the great ridges showed where they
had been laccrated and torn, and father,
were wont TO talk OF the sacrifices they
made for the saving of their country ;
out there come to us now and then pain
iul reminders OF those terrible days, and
the greatness Of the sacrifices we have
made to preserve this great country oi
liberty for our children and their chill
drcn's children forever.
On February 26th, 1864. Harrison
Wilson Joshua Gorton, James Clark.
Joseph Smallwood, William ID. Hoover.
Lewis S. Smith, James Smallwood and
Joseph Alexander enlisted in Company
+ Of the 10th Regiment of New Jersey
Volunteers. These eight men enlisted
ut time when the Federal aud Confcd.
crate armies realized that the great aue.-
ton of victory or defeat was To be decid.
ed, and they were engaged in some of
the fiercest and most holly contested bat.
Ties fought during the war. And never
before bad the world witnessed greater
valor than was then shown by the con-
tending forces. The Confederates. with
the energy of despair to save their cause
almost lost, and the Federals, with n
purpose of sacrifice that knows no fail.
ure. to defend and keep intact the land
which had been consecrated to freedom
by the blood Of our fathers and that 1.-The
Union must and shall be preserved" )"
Four of the eight brave men, after en- u.
during the fatigue and dangers of the
battlefields and disease and death, we're
so fortunate as to return to their homes
at the close of the war The other four
fell on the battlefield. Joshua Gorton
died OF disease in the hospital james
Clark and Joseph Smallwood fell by the
bullets of the enemy in battle. Joseph
Alexander was wounded, but served out
his time and was discharged honorably,
but ultimately died of his wounds.
James Smallwood was lost at sea, or
supposed 10 be lost, about the same way
az the Wilson brothers were Dst last fail j..
William d. Hoover and Lewis Smith
are living among us. But Harry Wilson
was reported missing, and for nineteen
long years, made up of Spring, Summer,
Fall and Winter, that terrible word
missing" has rung in a mothers ear ard
filed mothers and n fathers heart
with anguish.
On Tuesday, May 10Th, there came to
the Mays Landing post Office a letter
addressed to the Post Master. containing
the following:
T. M.-Wiii you please deliver this
letter to the nearest relative-fathor or
mother, If living-of Harrison Wilson OF
Nays Landing, N. j., who belonged to
the New Jersey Volunteers during the
late war.
Respectfully, ect.,
A. II. Osborn.
ANDERSON c. H., s. c., May II, 1888.
would be glad TO hear from YOU i'm
reference to Mr.. Harrison Wilson, Of
Nays Landing, n. j., vino during the
war. belonged to the y. J. Volunteer,
no. Of Regt. not known). This man, /
have reason to believe, was either killed
or probably wounded III a certain battle
Would be glad you would communicate
all you know In reference to him.
Respectfully, etc,
A. II. OSBORN.
To this letter the father, anxious for
all the particulars. replied AZ follows:
MAYS LANDING. May Is, 1888
MR.. OsBORH-DKAR SIR: Ycur letter
requesting Information concerning Har-
rison Wilson was received TO- day by his
father, who would be very grateful to
hear anything concerning his son. He
lelft homo February 20. 1884. and was
missing at the battle Of the Wilderness.
May 8, 1854. Since then we have had
no tidings OF him. Harrison Wilson be.
longed to the 10th Rcgt OF New Jersey
Volunteers, Company e, under Capt
Scott. He was In his Path year when he
left home. His family still lives at Mays
Landing. Please let US know as soon as
possible If you know anything whatever.
Enclosed you will find picture of him.
which was true likeness Of him VIXEN
he left home. Please direct your letters.
Capt. Joseph Wilson, Nays Landing,
Atlantic Co, New Jersey.
p. s.-We always thought Harry was