The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-15

and as they walked quietly along without
fife or drum,I thought they looked very
poky and humdrum, not near 80 martial
as our volunteer companies on the glorl-
Gus. Fourth, parading with their cleaning
bayonets,' gayy-uniForms and plumed hats,
to the music of band playing HAL
Columbia p We, thought very little
more lof. them at the time, but the day
came when theyibecame suddenlyinvest-.
ed with a fearful Importance in our
inexperienced eyes, ~, :,
The winter wore on, as winters WILL
always, whether mems hearts are heavy
or light; the spring came and with it the
Inauguration Of Abraham Lincoln, and
the proclamation. The character OF our
people being such as I have described, it
is not surprising that like the border
people generally they had hitherto, ,hesl-
tated at taking the serious step of sepa'
rating from the Union, but when
"Abe's proclamation in 2 twinkle,
Stirred up the blood Of Rip Van Winkle,"
they sprapg to arms as one man. 1t will
be remembered how North Carolina then
went out of the Union without any
ceremony, and companies were ralsea
and, equipped, and regiments formedy
before the State had time for the formal
secession, which took place on the twen-
tieth of May. Fayetteville had two
companies, fully equipped, in Raleigh
before that day. We had already two
holiday volunteer companies, of not
more than forty or fifty men each.- They
proceeded to fill up their ranks, and soon
had over hundred each on their rolls.
The women were as anxious to do their
part as the men, and there was plenty for
them to do. The volunteers were to be
fitted out, and there were miles of sewing
to be done, to get all the needed garments
put together. But before we got well
started with our needles Governor Ellis
sent orders to Gen. Draughan, who
commanded the county militia, to call
out his men and take possession OF the
Arsenal, before the authorities at Wash.
ineton could send in reinforcements.
All then there was hurrying 10 and fro.
Monday was the day appointed for the
great undertaking. / have forgotten the
exact date, but it was about the middle
of April. The ladies had been at work
fixing up hats for the volunteers. 1t had
been decided that all the superfiuous
ornaments should be removed from the
coats of the old members of the compa-
MES, and these garments put on war
footing. They were now 10 be put to a
different use from that for which they
we're originally made. The fanciful
helmets, with their bright colored plumes,
were to be exchanged for soft hats. But
we thought that soldiers must have
plume in their hats, so it was decided
that black feather would be the correct
thing with which to 60 into real war, and
there was call for contributions OF
feathers, which came in from the ladies
in abundance. It was in the midst OF
this decoration of hats that the order for
our rnen to take their first march up to
the cannon's mouth was given. 1t was
necessary to 90. to -work K after service
Sunday to get all the hats ready in time
for next days work. Cartridges, too,
could be made by the women, and all
hands were busy. :.
All the county militia were put in
reaaisition for the deed of daring, and
early next morning in every direction
they were coming in. Young and old,
rich and poor, focked to the place OF
rendezvous. There was "a. company OF
aHome Guards" formed for this special
occasion, comprising the citizens over
age, and every man in town that could
shoulder gun, except the preachers, was
under arms. There;Whs our middle aged
physician, who stood at the head of our
faculty" and was generally believed by
US to be the first doctor of the age,
mounted on a prancing steed, with a
feather in his hat, on duty as stat
officer. There was we'll known portly
old lawyer, pompous but true hearted,
marching as private in the ranks by the
side of white haired merchant whose
spare form held heart beating with the
resolute blood of the Scots. Bald headed
presidents of banks, and grizzly bearded
clerks walked side by side, resolved to do
or die. Few of these old gentlemen
probably had shot squirrel in thirty
years, or taken as long walk as the
distance from the rendezvous up hill to
the Arsenal, but they swelled the ranks
of the mighty army, and doubtless help
ed to convince the handful of men who
held the stronghold that resistance was
useless"
MORNING OF GREAT SUSPENSE.
But would there be any resistance on
the part of the forty drilled and discip.
lined soldiers who comprised the garri
son? That was question which filled
the hearts of the women with fear, fol
there was not house that did not have
one or two men in the field that day
Breyet- Major Anderson, the captain o
the company, had already resigned hi
commission, but had not heard from
Washington. He was sick in bed more
over, and Lieut.. De Lagnal was in com
mand of the men. The Lieutenants
predictions were not so we'll known
The orderly sergeant had deserted will
the intention of joining one of our com
panies whenever safe opportunity shoulc
arrive and was in hiding, some of oul
young men could doubtless have tole
where. The relations previously existing
between the garrison and towns-peoplt
Lbad not become strained since the prep
arations for war set in. The officers
went and came to the hotels as usual
where they boarded with their wives
OF course it would be folly in a handtu
of men so far from their base, and in tht
heart of hostile country, to resist, as
eventually they would be obliged to sur
render or die
But should they consider it their duty
to destroy the Arsenal or resist its cap
ture, with their superior discipline ant
their artillery within the shelter of The
walls, they might NOW down hundreds o
our raw militia before they could b.
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