The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-01
DUR WOMEN IN THE WAR.
OLD CONFEDERATE DAYS.
HOME OCCUPATIONS OF SOUTHERN
WOMEN.
,fsy C2au,iinc Rhen. Of Charleston, S. c., in
Charleston Weekly News.

All those old days how the memory
Of them cliDgs to us, and halo of 70.
nance and passionate regret surrounds
them with setting glory. We triumph.
cd and wept, and lived great deal du.
ring those four years of war. The deep
c,t sentiments of our souls were stirred
by the Joy of victory, the ardor of en-.
dcayor, and the heart wearying struggle
for patience under defeat.
MARTIAL SCENES IN CHARLESTON.
[ was in Charleston all through the
autumn and winter of l860-6l, when 80
much agitation preceded secession. The
yery air seemed to be charged with cleo.
lrici.y by the approaching storm Of con-
test. You could not walk more than a
few steps down any thoroughfare without
meeting young men wearing conspicu-
ously on their breasts blue cockades or
strips of plated palmetto fastened to
their button. holes, which attested that
they were minute men," all ready for
duty. Flags tiuttered iu every direction,
and The adjacent islands were converted
into camping. grounds. Companies drill
ed and paraded daily on every open
square in the city, and bands of music
nightly sercnade1 distinguished men, and
strains of "Dixie" and the "Marseil-
laise."
In December South Carolina scceied
from tho Union, and shall never forget
the evening that the Ordinance of Sc.
cession was signed, by the Delegates of
each District of the State, at the large
Institute Hall, on Meeting street, which
was afterwards burnt in the great fire.
The scene was one of extraordinary i'm.
pressiyeness, and the enthusiasm and ex-
element spiritstirring. There was
scarcely standing room in the big hall for
the eager crowd Of witnesses; and the
galleries were packed with ladies. AS
the Districts were called out in turn by
Mr. Jamison, the chairman Of the con-
ven;on, and delegates one by one went
4 up on the platform and signed the Ordi.
4 nance, the cheering was vehement, and
a the ladies waved their handkerchiefs in
token of approval.
Never was an act performed with more
4 unanimity, and never did one meet with
! more general and hearty appreciation.
4 1t has become the fashion no,u to say that
none Of us wished to secede, and that the
4 State was made to withdraw from the
q Union by one or two politicians, without
the knowledge or consent of the people.
4 This statement is most assuredly All in
! correct one, fUf not ii member of the
i large convention refused his signature to
4 the Ordinance, and no voice was raised
7 that night, save in acclamaton. No one
4 living in Charleston, then, can say that
q he was ignorant of what took place and
4 of the public acquiesence in the deed,
4 unless he was blind and deaf and dumb.
i Major Anderson surrendered Fort
q Sumter to our troops on the 18th of
a April, and although l had many relatives
and dear friends ON duty at Fort Moul.
trie. the Iron Battery and other posts
u during that historic engagement, can't
! relate anything that occurred on the oc.
casion, having been absent at the time.
4 We all know that it was the first fight of
4 the war; that our success was q great tri-
Il umph, and was hailed with delight all
over the country.
8 DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FOR TIE FIELD.
4 In the following month Kershaw's
q Regiment, the I'd South Carolina Volun-
teers, took the field the Palmetto Guard,
y which was color company of the regi
ment, leaving here for Virginia early in
May, and the Brooks Guard, of the same
aregiment, about ten days later. These
were the first Charleston companies which
3 went to Virginia. Tho lst Regiment
aSouth Carolina Volunteers, under Maxcy
4Gregg, had already been there some
months, but that regiment had gone from
aColumbia, our men having been occupied
aaround the harbor. The departure Of
S this first contingent of troops for the
grand old Army of Northern Virginia"
e was serious and important era in our
& lives and the history of our cause. My
Sisters and myself drove up to the rail
g road depot to see the Brooks Guard off.
q II close my eyes the scene comes back
asaate .ne as distinctly as if they had only
Ieit US yesterday. II was 8 O'Clock in
the evening and the station.yard was
brightly lighted up by gas lamps aud
pine torches. After waiting awhile the
command came marching up, escorted by
eever.l other companies, and a band
cheerily playing "Dixie." "a few short
speeches were made and responded to,
esand then the ranks were broken and the
Uniforms intermiDglcd in the hustle and
fontusion of getting the baggage stored
AWAY and the men on board the train.
hey were all very gay, but .ce we're sad
aened by the thought that many now
Weaving home would never return. at
Just the whistle blew, aud my brother ran
put to say goodbye to us; one or two
sords were spoken, then he resumed his
place amid that gallant band Of heroes,
and the slow moving wheels bore them
away, whilst we followed with tear dim
ned eyes the trail of the fast inding
samoke of the engine. Thus began the
train on heart and nerves, which daily
rev stronger and deeper, until the bitter
END was reached.
A HALcYoN DAYS.
&s4s The first battle Of Manassas was fought
IN July, and shout of joy and triumph
vent up from the hearts Of the people OF
zAhe South. It is delightful sensation
20 feel that you are joyful, in company
sfith six millions of happy hearts, to
s fnow that perfect unison exists between
you and all those whom you may meet,
;s'pt least on one point. These wero the
,alcyon days of the Confederacy.
a little later on, that summer, the 1st
regiment South Carolina Volunteers was
feorganiZed and once mors returned to
Virginia, and my youngest brother went
Tith 1t. He had only recently returned
from Europe, where he was educated,
iaving acquired during his FIVE years
esidence in Dresden, Leipzig and Paris
much Of the cultivation and charm Of
manner which is derived from early ad.
Fantages abroad. Before joining his
on its way to Virginia, he
paid US flying visit at Aiken, where We
Fere then staying, to bid US goodbye.
N.Y. was last farewell, for he fell the sue