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

dark or foggy nights and the tins of tide
which would help them most. Coming
in they had to trust to luck very much
and just make rush across the danger.
Gus bar. When the captains kept cool
and were wary, they managed TO elude
pursuit, and ! have heard that Capt.
Lockwood, who came and went continu
ally, never lost a boat, but some of them
got so excited when they were chased
that they would keep up their speed,
even after they were perfectly safe and
protected by the guns of our forts, and
more than one blockadc-runner was
wrecked upon the Sulivan's Island
breakwater or shoals within the harbor
after escaping all the perils of the sea.
Late one evening l was in row boat
with some friends, and blockade steam
er passed close by us, on her way TO Mas
sau. She looked like the veritable phan.
tom-ship of tradition as she glided past.
No ghost could have moved more silently,
or looked more mysterious and we all
felt sort of mystical enchantment aa
we watched her rapid, stealtby progress.
She was painted a smoky gray color, and
could scarcely be distinguished in the
light mist which enveloped her. Not
lamp cleaned aboard no sound could
be heard, except very faint echoes from
her revolving wheels, and no smoke
seemed to be thrown out by her engine.
Everything to ensure n successful trip
had been carefully studied and prear.
ranged. She passed like spirit through
the midst of the blockading squadron,
and twenty-four hours later dropped
anchor in the sparkling tropical waters
of her Nassau haven. Three requisites
were needful in this dangerous traffic TO
ensure success these were, bold cap.
tain, swift steamer, and noiseless
crew.
THE SHADOW OVER THE SOUTH.
The years rolled by and the war
dragged its weary course to conclusion,
while the dark gloom of hopeless effort
overshadowed us more and more. Our
ports were closed one after another, the
people at home lost heart, and the armies,
which from the first had been half
clothed and fed, were at length in rags,
and the men and their horses hardly had
enough provisions given them to keep
life in their bodies. Yet they fought on
gallantly to the end, contending ever
against tremendous odds and terrible
privatious. At last Gen. Joseph L.
Johnston was replaced by Gen. Hood in
the command of our forces near Atlanta,
and the Army of the West" was
marched away into Tennessee, where it
was cut to pieces. AS the waves Of the
sea dash madly against rock bound
coast only TO recoil broken and spent, 80
that valiant army WIS hurled upon the
tremendous Notifications of Franklin,
soon to retreat with shattered ranks and
grief.stricken souls. Gettysburg and
Franklin were the great disasters Of the
war, the heart. breaks Of the South
Meanwhile, Sherman having no one to
oppose him marched his army down to
Savannah, aud thence through our de-
voted State, carrying the torch TO subdue
the women and children whom they met
in their manly course Of devastation.
The track of this noble army could he
followed at a distance of twenty miles
with the naked eye by the columns of
smoke which ascended from every home
stead, village and town it passed near.
Ashes and charred timbers were the un-
varying tokens that these modern Van
dals left behind them, while the house.
less children shiyered in that bitter, in
clement January weather. cannot un-
derstand why Sherman should deny that
his men burnt Columbia, when there are
60 many living witnesses of the fact, and
hundreds who can testify to their having
remorselessly burnt every house and vi!.
lage in his line of march, from the Sa-
vannah River 10 the boundary line of
North Carolina. Where the truth is so
evident don't see the object of telling a
falsehood.
FLYING FROM THE INVADERS.
When this invading army entered
South Carolina, my sisters and myself
sought refuge in Eufaula, little town
situated on the Chattahoochee, in South
Alabama. At the time that the downfall
of Jerusalem was foreto.d 1t was said,
"Pray ye, that your flight be not in the
Winter" Ours was just at that season,
and the coolest, most rainy Winter ever
remember. We reached Augusta in a
pouring rain, and found the depot and
adjoining street under water, heavy
freshet in the Savannah having partially
flooded the city. From Augusta we
went on the cars to place called Mays.
field there we found that Sherman had
had the rails torn up for distance of
forty miles. We rested here two days at
a friends house, and then set off to cross
this ''gap" in q rickety old ambulance
drawn by two mules. The remnant Of
Hoods army was at this time retreating
over this road, and the wagon trains and
artillery had cut furrows foot deep in
the mud. The sun now shone, but the
weather was intensely cold. Even run.
ming water WAS frozen, and great icicles
hung from the wheels of several corn
mills which we passed near. Every jolt
OF our crazy, open vehicle seemed almost
to dslocate our joints, for the ground
was frozen as hard as iron. Our mules
walked whenever the road was tolerably
smooth, but tore frantica!ly dowc every
Mill, whilst the high-perched conveyance
rocked and pitched wildly about, threat.
ening to upset at every bound of our un-
ruly steeds. One OF my sisters had
little baby month old, and she was still
feeling weak and delicate, which made
this journey particularly distressing to
us. 1t is almost wonder that she sur
vivcd it. Another had such severe
sore throat that she could scarcely speak.
Regiment after regiment passed by us,
with their glorious smoke stained tattered
flags, and after awhile we saw the veil
known Palmetto buttons on some of the
grey coats. "What command is this ?"
Carolina Brigade" and presently Col.
Irvine Walker came stepping briskly
along, splashed with mud, but looking as
soldierly and erect at the head of his
men as If they were returning from q
holiday parade. Many of tho men were
barefooted and had their feet tied up
with a few pieces of rag. remember
one boy, who did not look more than Is