The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-01
OUR WOMEN IN THE WAR.
OLD CONFEDERATE DAYS.


OLD CONFEDERATE DAYS.
HOME OCCUPATIONS OF SOUTHERN
- .s.5s9 WOMEN.
Miss Cqaudine RheH, of Charleston, S. c., tn
Charleston Weekly Neaus.
All! those old days how the memory
Of them clings to US, and a halo OF ro-
nance and passionate regret surrounds
them with a setting glory. We triumph
ed and wept, and lived great deal du'
ring those four years of war. The deep,
est sentiments of our souls were stirred
by the Joy of victory, the ardor of en-
deavor, and the heart wearylng struggle
for patience under defeat.
MARrIAL SCENES IN. CHARLESTON.
I was in Charleston all through the
autumn and winter of lS60-6l, when so
rnucl, agitation preceded secession. The
very air seemed to be charged with elec-
tricity by the approaching storm of con-
test. You could not walk more than
few steps down any .thoroughfare without
meeting young men wearing conssplcu'
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 futtered in 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 serenaded distinguished men, and
made the old houses echo back the
strains of of5"Dixie" and the "Marseil-
laise."
In December South Carolina seeded
from tie Union, and / shall never forget
the evening that the Ordinance OF Sc.
cessions 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 ire.
The scene was one of extraordinary i'm
pressiveness, and the enthusiasm and ex-
citement spirit.stirring. 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.. Jamisop, the chairman of the con-
yen,ion, and delegates one by one went
up on the platform and signed the Ordi.
nance. the cheering was vehement, and
the,ladies waved their handkerehiefs in
token of approval.
Never was an act performed with more
unanimity, and never did one meet with
more general and hearty appreciation.
It has become the fashion noao to say that
none of us wished to secede, and that the
State was made to withdraw from the
Union by one or two politicians, without
the knowledge or consent OF the people.
This statement is most assuredly al IN.
correct one, for not member of the
large convention refused his signature to
the Ordinance, and no voice was raised
that night, save in acclamation. No one
living in Charleston, then, can say that
he was ignorant of what took place and
of the public acquiesence in the deed,
unless he was blind and deaf and dumb.
Major Anderson surrendered Fort
Sumter to our troops on the 18th OF
April, and although / had many relatives
and dear friends on duty at Fort Moul-
trie. the Iron Battery and other posts
during that historic engagement, can't
relate anything that occurred on the oc-
casion, having been absent at the time.
We all know that it was the first fight of
the war; that our success was great tri.
umph, and was hailed with delight all
over the country.
DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FOR THE FIELD.
In the following month Kershaw's
Regiment, the I'd South Carolina Volun.
teers, took the field the Palmetto Guard,
which was color company of the regi-
ment, leaving here for Virginia early in
May, and the Brooks Guard, of the same
regiment, about ten days later. These
we're the first Charleston companies which
went to Virginia. The lst Regiment
South Carolina Volunteers, under Maxcy
Gregg, had already been there some
months, but that regiment had gone from
Columbia, ol. men having been occupied
around the harbor. The departure of
this first contingent of troops for the
grand old "Army of Northern Virginia"
was serious and important era in our
lives and the history of our cause. My
sisters and myself drove up to the rail.
road depot to see the Brooks Guard off.
II close my eyes the scene comes back
to me as distinctly as if they had only
left us yesterday. 1t 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
several other companies, and band
cbeerily playing "Dixie:" A few short
speeches were made and responded to,
and then the ranks were broken and the
uniforms intermipgled in the hustle and
confusion of getting the baggage stored
away and the men on board the train.
They were all very gay, but aOe were sad
dened by the thought that many now
leaving home would never return. At
last the whistle blew, and my brother ran
out to say goodbye to US; one or two
words 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
med eyes the trail of the fast fading
smoke of the engine. Thus began the
strain on heart and nerves, which daily
grew stronger and deeper, until the bitter
end was reached.
HALcYoN DAYS.
The first battle of Manassas was fought
in July, and shout of joy and triumph
went up FROM the hearts of the people OF
the South. It is delightful sensation
to feel that you are joyful, in company
with six millions of happy hearts, to
know that perfect unison exists between
you and all those whom you may meet,
at least on one point. These were the
halcyon days of the Confederacy.
a little later on, that summer, the lst
Regiment South Carolina Volunteers was
reorganized and once more returned to
Virginia, and my youngest brother went
LII Il He had nnix recentlY returned