Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1883-11-22
For the Advertiser
History Of Company 3, Sixth 8.
C. Cavalry by Capt. j. J.
Bunch.

Bunch.
The writer having been solicited by some
of the members of Co. B, 9Th s. G. Caval-
ry, to write brief history of said compa-
ny, PARTIALLY committed himself to under
take this, to him very ,onerous task
onerous because he feels entirely incom.
petent to do justice to this command that
made for itself e name which it has just
cause to be proud Of.
We hope we will be pardoned ii we
here give brief account Of ourselves du-
ring the months Of the late war, prior to
our becoming member of Co B.
Early IN May. 1861, the writer proceed
ed, with the Edgefeld Hussars. Capt. N !,
G. Butler, as 5st Lieut., to Columbia s.
G., to Join and become part of the Hamp'
ton Legion. Remained with this famous
command until the May following. Our
term of enlistment having ended, and our
presence being much needed at home, we
returned. In the month of July follow
ing, found ourselves q member of Capt. j.
B. Holmes Co. of State troops In No
vember were ordered to Charleston. was
offered and accepted the position Of Or
derly Sergeant of said Co., which was let
ter C, of the 7th Regt. S. G. Reserves,
Col. lThos. G. Bacon. :. $sstz
This Regiment servedits term OF 30
days near Jaclsonboro, in Colleton Co.
The writer on the disbanding of this Reg
iment, offered, and was accepted. as mem
Der of Co. B, 9th S. G. Cavalry, Capt.
Lewis Jones. Capt. Jones is too well
known in Edgefeid to require any COM
ment from us. In the service of his
country, as in his State and County, he
exhibited that same firm, decisive charac-
ter, and to the writer was ever kind and
courteous. James ]. Gregg was lst Lieut..
Lieutenant Gregg held himself too much
aloof from his men to he popular with
them. He, however, spared no pains in
providing everything possible in the way
of equipments, clothing and provisions for
both men and horses. AMI hie own pleth-
oric purse was always accessible to the
humblest Of his men, for which he certain
lydeserved the gratitude ofthe entire COM
mand. And, like he..maternal branch of
his family, he had plenty of "pluck."
John Ward was ID Lieut., and was
suspended from tbs Company at the time
we joined it.
John Bausket was junior ID Lieut..
Lieutenant Bausket was member Of the
Edgeheld Hussars when we..were connect
ed with it, and we had tested his qualities
as soldier while Re was private in the
Russars. AS an officer he was frank, i'm
pulsive and gallant to fault. He was
very kind to his men and freely shared all
their hardships and privations. But We
expect hereafter, in these papers, to have
much more to say of him. Samuel g
Cothran was Orderly Sergeant; and most
excellent officer and gentleman he was.
On the 9th February, 1863, We, in
company with several others, reported to
Co. B. for duty, and was formally muster
Ell into service. At this time the Com
pany was encamped about one mile south
of Jacksonboro, station on the Charles
ton and Savannah Railroad, and few
a hundred yards west Of EdistO River. The
remainder of the Regiment were stationed
at or near Adams Run.
Company B. did picket duty at Bel
netts Point, at the junction Of Ashepoo
River and Mosquito Greek, the latter
stream of Edisto River. "The Point
was Is miles or more from camp. Six
teen privates and two non-comnissloned
officers composed the picket, who remain
ed on duty week st the time. The re-
serve picket were quartered at the aban-
doned residence Of Mr.. Mathews, called
the White House. and the plantation was
known as Bear Island" On the 4th OF
March. in company with Capt. Jones, 1t
Bausket and three enlisted men, ! made
my first visit to the white House. "
We went down the Edisto in small boat
to take rations to the pickets, found them
without provisions; they were roasting
and eating corn.
The land on Bear Island" not being
IN cultivation the year previous. had
grown up, unmolested, in the most lu1u-
rent and e1travagant manner, in weeds
and grass. The marsh grass was four to
six feet high. On our return to camp
next day, we saw heavy clouds of smoke
rising. and the greedy flames too mount.
ing high in the air, rushing madly on this
exceedingly combustible matter, pushed,
it appeared, willingly by a vigorous March
wind. 1t was grand sight and must
have been fair representation OF q fire
on western prairie.
On the Sth Of March was my first trip
to Benefits Point on picket. James
Briggs and l were on post from / o'clock
P. M. until IL at night. l quote from a
letter of the 10th written at the White
House" "a strong wind prevailed,
which caused the waters to be much agi-
tated, and during the long hours that we
were on watch we heard no sound save
the rushing wind and angry waves msdly |
washing the banks. At IL o'clock We
were relieved and tried to. sleep. but our
bed IA plank soon became very hard, and
the wind began to slacken. Then we were
oesieged by swarm of sand flies, 30 called
,ere. But they appear 10 be the same in
,ect that We call "blsck gnats," These
Insects were annoying in the extreme. One
night roll himself up in blanket. orany-
hing else, as close as possible, and they
yould vet penetrate and find his blood.