The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-12

II was apparent that the artillervme,
enuseo @ 1neir guns little every time the
nred. The funeral services were nn,; T
eiuded without any further AMMAN @
put just as my husband was closine th
organ another whiz was heard. than "
hash was seen, followed by tFemendon
explosion. A shell had burnt In The roa
or the graveyard. We were Glad 90 =,
hurry away, and week later ST Marv,
organ was smashed by shell.
A WALK IN SHELL DISTRICT
Occasionally the enemy would pra,
US period of rest, and sometimes f.
Gays no shells would be thrown into tbe
city. 1t was during one of these intnr
vals that l in company with a LADY ~,
TWO little boys and their nurse. undc,ion{
10 make tour Of the doomed portion -
the city. 1t would be impossible to ri
~ describe the narrowing feelings whict
came over US as we viewed the des. rmc
ton caused by the improved ordinonc,
OF civilized warfare. Large stores. with
pfick, stone and iron fronts. were tor
and shattered into shapeless wrecka
WINDOW panes of the greatest tbicknes,
were shivered to millions of pieces Will
orlcks and broken plaster we're scatterad
IN promiscuous confusion. The most
active business portions of the city were
the most battered; grass and rank weeds
were growing along the streets, while in
the cellars, rabbits and vermin founo
sGeiteE among the curious c.yn.o.an,;c
Piants and fungus growth that abounded
u" m5ther oHhs' tho large BAKERY ON
East Bay below Broad street, and as that
section was in better condition than
other portions of "Shell district Wa
turned our steps in that direction. On
reaching the place we found the bakera
at work, and learned that the baking was
done in the day time, as the danger was
less the Smelling being heavier at night,
Sixteen shells had already struclr Tho
building, but no one had been hurt and
the oven was still fit for use. One of the
shells, like Truth, lies hidden in the hot.
tom of the we'll. The master of the
establishment made us quite welcome
ahu as q token OF his appreciation pre-.
sented US with hot loaf of bread, ali he
hau 70 oner. On our return we sat down
on the steps of the Bank, at the corner
Oh East Bay and Broad streets, and ate
our dry bread with gusto more easily
imagined than described. How strangeI
now unlike those ante-6eilum times, when
our care was to guard against surfeit of
foreign and domestic luxuries.. I could
not refrain from remarking to my com.
panion when in after years we tell
our children that we sat on these stone
steps eating dry bread, for the want of
something better, they will hardly believe
u.s."
DAY NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
On the night previous to the evacua.
tion of the city by the Confederate forces.
the fiery glare of the gunboat, which
was being destroyed by fire, Mt the head
of Columbus street (Hampstead) and
that of the burning bridge of the Savan.
nah Railroad, redeemed the skies and lit
up the whole of the upper portion of the
city. The wierd, restless light, together
with the pervading silence, struck even
the bravest hearts with awe. For some
time previous to this memorable night
our homes were guarded only by women.
My husband was compelled to leave the
city, and my only brother was in the
army elsewhere. My sisters husband
vas With he regiment which had retreat
ed from Grahamville, while abe with
some other ladies were compelled to live
in box cars on turnout in the road,
their cooking being done in open air.
Fortunately in those days there was not
much to cook. Only short time prior
to the evacuation she returned to my
home and was, on the night above men
toned, eick in bed with dying infant
of only five days. My mother was suf.
feriDg agony with an affection of the
eyes, which finally terminated in total
blindness. Who but those that have
witnessed such scenes can imagine our
feelings? AS tho dawn of day came we
felt relieved, for we had spent an anxious
night with q fearful gloom and awe
hanging like a pail over US.
At 7 o'clock in the morning the last of
our brave, tried troops, hitherto station.
ed at James Island, were leaving the
city, and as they passed our home, with
firm and gallant tread. we bid them fare.
we'll, and turned away to hide the tears
which gushed from the fountains Of our
hearts.
THE CITY SHAKEN BY AN EXPLOSION.
|. As our provisions were exhausted and
we were Informed that the commissary
stores were being given for Confederate
money, I collected what amount we had
in the house and with my servant started
for the quartermaster's department at the
head of Columbus street. Before reach.
ing there tremendous explosion which
shook the city to its very foundation
brought us to halt. Crowds of fright
ened women and children, white and
black, came running towards us, some of
them saying Don't 60 there" "you'll be
blown to pieces" &c.
Scarcely knowing what to do or how to
act, we took our stand in front of the
railroad workshops on Meeting street,
and others Joined us. We had not been
there long before como one hurrying by
said: Ladies', how can you stand here
when those workshops are to be blown
up7" One Of the ladies who had already
been frightened ON hearing this rsn up
the street in wild alarm and we were no
less terrified. reached home and for O
while Was almost frantic. All of those
around me were panic stricken and help.
less. and the good Father F. was in
the next house in dying condition.
appeniei 10 Heaven for aid and at
once commenced preparations to have my
oick sister removed. There was no time
to be lost, for we were very near the
railroad shops, and should they be blown
up we would certainly be destroyed.
cent to an acquaintance who lived above
Line street, asking permission to remove
my family until after the danger. Her
answer came that the shops on Line
street were also to be blown up and that
she was preparing to fly. at this juno.
ture, while standing at the street door, l
saw the dignified Mother tt the
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