The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-15
ANDERSON S. c., THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1884

ANDERi
of the attacking force consisting of two
old iron guns of small calibre which had
been used for many years to fire salutes
on the glorious days of our Republic
NV father had died only two months
previously, and the brother who hao
taken his place in the large family was
in the ranks with his townsmen. The
| position of the Arsenal, surrounded witt
dwellings, with the town close at the foo
of.the, hills, would have necessitateo
fearful bayoc among our houses from the
use of artillery. Fayetteville had beer
burned up twice in the business life o.
my father, but common homemade
fire, thoug fearful enough in itself
would be rendered hell with flying shot
and Kissing shells added to the horrors oi
the scene. So thought and felt our wo'
men on that eventful morning. The men
all professed TO be confident that the
place would be surrendered on demand
by such large force as we proposed to
send up the hill. Nevertheless they
looked serious, and probably during the
four years of Lhe war never was morn
ing of greater suspense endured than on
the eventful day when the Arsenal was
taken."
The mention of that day excites a
smile now in Fayetteville. 1t appears in
the light of burlesque upon war; but
our sufferings were mono the less real at
the time. have always regretted that
we did not turn out to see our band,
twelve hundred strong, as they marched
up the hill, but at our house the elders
. thought it advisable that the women
should keep quiet at home, and we miss
/ ed the imposing sight. There is very
deep cut in the road at the steepest part
of the long hill, however, and from the
top of the bank on either side good
view of the advancing host was had by
the Hill people near BIZ, whose terror
was overcome by their curiosity. But as
we lived more than half mile further
on we saw nothing of it. Doubtless as
the Home Guard passed irreverent girls
were found to laugh. It is not often in
this world that any situation of affairs
can be found where school girls will not
find something to laugh at. "Dear me
how much fighting can these old men
do9" "Do look at old MIR. -. He
looks as if feather would knock him
overp' Lawyer - looks as if he
thought himself Napoleon himself; and
I'll venture to say he's tired half to death
now" "Don't you know some of them
are scared? p" "Goodness Lucy, let's 60
home; suppose they should send volley
of shells right over here ?" and 30 on.
!: THE CAPTURE OF THE ARSENAL.
But the regiment passed on its way,
and arriving at the proper distance,
halted and sent in flag of truce by the
hands of the Generals staff, demanding
the surrender of the Arsenal to the forces
of the State cf North Carolina. Lieut..
DeLagnal was in command at the time.
He observed the proprieties of the occa-
sion with becoming gravity. Gen.
Draughan with his staff conducted him
under the flag of truce to survey the at
tacking force and he was convinced that
it was useless for him to contend against
such odds. He asked of the captain of
one company show many rounds of am'
munition his men had 2"
"Three," was the answer.
"Do you consider three rounds sufi-
cient to go into battle with 2"
"When that is gone, sir, we'll club our
guns"
It was warm day for the season, and
the new soldiers were veSy thirsty and
saw no reason why they should not re-
fresh themselves with drink of water
while waiting to hear whether or no that
hour might be their last. But one vail
ant captain who had worked himself up
into the proper frame of mind for the
stern realities of war, thought doubtless
it was very unsoldierly to be complaining
of thirst after so short walk under an
April sun. He sternly informed his men
that they did not come there to drink
water, but to die. After much parley
and what seemed an almost interminable
delay on the part of the waiting and
anxious women, it was agreed that the
Arsenal and all its contents were to be
given up to the State troops on condition
that the garrison should be allowed tc
salute their flag before lowering it, and
should have the liberty of returning to
Washington with their baggage in safety
DeLagnal being the only officer availa.
BILE, considered it his duty to stay by
them till they were put in charge of the
proper authorities. So the Arsenal was
taken.
The salute was fred first, the Stars and
Stripes were lowered, then our meu
marched in and raised the State flag and
saluted it. The United States troops left
the old flag behind when they went away
and some of the ladies afterwards con.
verted it into a Confederate flag, when
the Stars and Bars had been settled upon
When Col. Childs, with hia company o.
Confederate soldiers, evacuated the place
before the march to the sea overwhelmed
it, he carried off the old Gag, and the
final fate Of it was to be tom in strips
and distributed among his lady friends al
mementoes. I have one of them still ir
my possession.
In the meantime, in our little neigh
borhood on the verge of the Hill settle
ment, half a mile from the Arsenal, ane
! half that distance from the main road
we were cut off from sight of the hill
summit by groves of trees, and could no
see the flag, nor hear anything that wa
| going on. We were very quiet at ou1
house and tried to 60 about our usua
employment, but the servants were
! frightened half out of their wits. Will
wild eyes the middle.aged cook came in
"Mistis," she said, with trembling lips
~ hearn them people was gwine tel
throw a bum over dat way and one over
dis 'er way, befo' dey give up de Ars'nal
and jis come ter tell you [ was gwint
down in de boiler"
We heard afterwards that the gulley:
in the hillside were lined that morning
with the frightened negroes.
Our nearest neighbor was near rela
| Jx.- LII e I'll,