The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-26
ANDERSON c.. THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE 26 1884

!, & co.
was filled in with twenty camellias mad
I saw during the war were the soldiers OF
Gen. Williams, of Kentucky. Their
fine horses gave an air of invincibility to
the command, and the men were so stai,
wart and splendidly developed. l recall
a Young officer who was mounted on q
superb steed, glossy and black as night:
The dashing cavairyman, in his suit of
gray, with boots and spurs and floating
plumes, was a young Mars from his gold.
en- head to bis horses hoofs. They
looked-these Kentuckians-like ideal
soldiers, and we're brave and gallant
enough. If our soldiers were brave, so
were our women in high degree; but
to others 1 yield the graceful task OF
eulogizing Southern womanhood.
I know girl who rode through the
storm of winters night, many miles, to
give information to our soldiers when
Sherman was on his way to Atlanta.
The country far and wide was filled with
soldiers, and skirmishipg was of constant
occurrence. By her efforts many lives
we're saved, and as she returned home
wards the shot and shell were falling
thick and fast around her. Later, a
desperate encounter took place in her
fathers yard between the contending
armies, and her courage was wonderful
in assisting the wounded and in battling
INQUIRIES from the Yankee officers, who
made headquarters in her home. She
still managed to give important informa-
tiou, and deied detection. This girl is
of an ancient family, and soldier blood
is in her veins. Her grandfather YVES q
general in the United States service
many years before her mother was
grown.
UNBIDDEN GUESTS AT A FEAST.
A singular evening entertainment was
attended by me late in the war. A
young soldier having returned homo on
leave of absence, his parents gave him a
welcome, with all his friends, to enjoy an
evenings dance. Superb arrangements
for that time interested the family, and
the attendance was unusually large. Just
in the rear of the house where the enter
tainment was given Texas brigade was
encamped, and during the day many Of
the command in passing back and forth
discerned some excitement was prevail.
ing on the premises. Several soldiers
announced openly their intention OF
being present, and as the guests COM
menced to arrive, including the officers
of the brigade, the astonishment of those
present cannot be portrayed, when l say
the command also arrived. The beautl-
full grounds were filled by the soldiers,
and the entire house overhowed with
them. Their officers could not influence
them, or would not, and nothing remain
ed for the guests but to quietly await
their going. Many of them were under
the influence of drink, and the officers
assured the host the best course to pursue
was simply not to notice them. They
were perfectly respectful to the ladies,
and did not intrude into the parlors at
all, but remained waiting for supper they
said. The supper room was opened, the
supper vanished, and gradually so did
the soldiers. Among the guests were
number of quartermasters, &c. All these
officials walked home bare-headed, their
hats being exchanged. Many humorous
things occurred that will at present,
however, be too lengthy to detail. The
supper was not even seen by the gentle
men who were guests, but / fancy after
all it was we'll bestowed. Later this
was removed several miles out
from the city, and I had the pleasure of
service held at the eencampment.
There was something very impressive in
the hymns and prayers rising heavenward
from beneath the arching forest trees.
From the earnest listening faces one
would never have imagined they had
even dreamed of festivities.
1 rode some distance during the war on
one occasion to witness camp.meeting
far in the country, a novel spectacle to
me, and it was in section where all the
men, all the horses, all the mules had
gone s'to the war;" as the country people
expressed it. / mention this to give
some idea of how the people managed
some matters when left to their own
devices. In front of me was slowly NOV.
ing one of those old.fashioned high-up
carriages, with the interior steps all
folded up; the kind driven by our pa
rents and ancestry generally. A near
approach revealed that TWO little oxen
we're harnessed to supply the lack of
horses, and they leisurely strolled along
in snite of the repeated adiurations of
the superannuated daddy who drove
them; occasionally be would lie down
against the dashboard, to better enable
him to reach them with his whip. This
equipage was the property of a worthy
family that had gone heart, and I may
say purse, into the cause, and they es-
teemed it all lightly. These small mat
ters are scarcely worth mention, save for
this reason: They serve somewhat to
give an idea of what were the inconven.
fences endured by Southern women, who
freely gave their all to the Cause, aud to
prove how ingenious necessity will rem
der US in providing substitutes for what
was once esteemed absolutely indispensa-
BILE.
PREPARING FOR THE RAIDERS.
Not very long after this an alarm was
given our town by the report of a near
approach of the enemy's forces. Now
indeed 'sthere was hurrying to and fro," i"
and in every household panic prevailed.
The first night of the alarm tempest
ragged, and in the midst of pouring rain
my sister and myself carried large box
of silver to the remotest corner of our
large garden to secrete it safely in the
earth's deep breast. Well do recall
how difficult I found the hard frozen
ground TO impress, and it was only by the
binding flashes of lightning we could
see what we were accomplishing. We
alternated in supporting our umbrella,
which was dyed in some Confederate
discovery, and in the toll before us until
both were exhausted. Upon returning
to the house we discovered the rain had
so completely saturated the umbrella The