The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-01

a great favorite in Charleston, be receiv-
ed many attentions and was handsomely
entertained in spite of the "hard times" F."
Ball and parties of all kinds were given,
and social intercourse was made particu.
larly pleasant by large numbers OF
strangers who were stationed in the city
or vicinity. a number of very agreeable
| Creole gentlemen were on Gen. Beaure.
CARDS staff and in Legardeur's Battery,
on James Island, 50 that French at that
time became as much the language of
society as English, for most of the ladies
Of our community spoke that language,
more or less, we'll.
Expeditions to Fort Sumter were very
popular, and any review of the garrison
First Regiment South Carolina Regular
Artillery by either Gen: Beauregard or
Gen. Ripley was sure to be attended by
many of their lady friends. A steam
boat would carry down the general off,
Ger, his staff and crowd OF spectators
from the city. When the review was
over the fine regimental band would play,
and while those who liked dancing
waltzed in the casemates, Others who pre-.
ferred "al fresco" pleasures walked
around the parapet or chatted with their
friends upon the big guns. Then a col
lation would be served in the mess'hall,
and afterwards the pleasure seekers
would bid adieu to the old fort and the
handsome regiment and return gayly
to their homes by the light of the moon.
The apparent strength of Fort Sumter
and the magnificent drill and discipline
of the garrison presented very martial
appearance, and gave US great confidence
in their powers of resistance in case of
an attack upon Charleston by sea. The
spirit of the men was high, the cannon
were heavy, and the walls looked strong
enough to resist the world, to our mex
perienced eyes but, alas those high
and broad ramparts were destined to be
knocked to pieces in few weeks time
over The heads of their brave defenders.
THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER.
On the 7th of April the long expected
fleet of ironclads attacked Fort Sumter
and was defeated and driven of, badly
crippled by the fire of that fort and the
batteries around the harbor, as we all
know. This was great victory for old
Charleston to win in the teeth of all the
skill and money which had been expend
ed on these gunboats to make them de-
structive and invulnerable, and we were
overjoyed by our success. Looking back
upon the events of the past, am really
surprised at the calm composure we all
showed in view of this anticipated fight,
as every Yankee newspaper for months
before its arrival had told US that this
irresistible ironclad feet was to "take
Charleston" We went about our usual
avocations as quietly as though our for.
midable antagonists were not expected to
appear off the bar any morning.
After this attack we were left in quiet
until the 10th of July, when the fighting
for Charleston, which was to continue
almost to the close of the war, began
again on Morris Island. Our anxiety
now grew terrible, as Morris Island was
fought for aud then evacuated, and Fort
Sumter was tom to pieces by the cross.
FIRE which was brought to bear on her
from the immense guns the enemy
mounted on Morris Island and those of
the feet. We knew that there we're 140,-
900 pounds of powder in the fort, and
that the First Regiment Regular Artil-
lery, which was shut up there, had no
bomb proofs or any protection from the
rain of shells which fell around them.
AT THE CITY ON THE coNGAREE.
We were sent off to Columbia at this
period, being non-combatants. On Sun:
day no newspapers were published, and
dreadful reports circulated wildly about
the streets from our capital. ga reliable
gentleman" had invariably "just arrived"
with wonderful budget Of inventions,
so that we actually became afraid Of the
approach of this day of unrest until we
learnt to be too incredulous to believe
anything we heard outside Of the church
eS.
There were votaries devoted to three
occupations in Columbia at this time:
The "Sewing Society for the Soldiers"
which met during the morning hours;
prayer Meetings every afternoon at the
Presbyterian Church." aud Surprise
Parties" at night. Oh the tcdium of
these last mentioned entertainments: l
yawn at the bare recollection of them !!
They were conducted in this way: About
fifty girls would meet at some friends
house, where they would be furnished
with piano and room, but no supper.
Ten or twelve cadets from the Arsenal,
belonging to the youngest class of the
State Military Institute, would join
them and if it was favorable occasion,
surgeon from the hospital, and quar-.
terrnaster, would also appear or per-
baps couple of recruiting officers, and
some young man on furlough. If one of
the latter ''rara avis" happened to lie an
acquaintance, and talked to you more
than FIVE minutes the eyes Of the forty
nine girls became so fixed upon you that
your only desire could be to get rid of
him as soon as possible. As for the little
cadets they resembled each other so
closely that I never could distinguish
one from another, and was obliged to
adopt the plan of calling them all by the
same name. A rather aggressive youth
said to me one evening in an aggrieved
tone: II have been introduced to you
three times, and l don't believe you
know me yet" ~ really don't think l
do," l replied, in calm despair. Per.
haps if I had been less anxious about
Fort Sumter might have liked dancing
with the other girls to bad music, or have
concentrated my attention upon the ca
diets, so as to be able to know them oc.
casionally; but under the circumstances
l found surprise. parties weariness to
the spirit, and infinitely preferred the
prayer meetings, where the Rev. DR..
Palmer used to offer up the most beauti
full prayers that can be imagined.
"REMINISCENCES OF BLocKADE-RUNNI
Blockade-running was subject which
interested US deeply, for as the war pro-
gressed all the muskets and equipments
which were furnished to our troops came
to US in this way. One-third of every
cargo brought in by John Fraser & Go.
belonged to the Confederate Government,
which had no ships Of its own. When
y