The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-16

prompted by the inspiration Of an ardent love
Of country, lost no time in debating the man
ner of her going, but with her dress to her
knees, to expedite her speed, the good woman
went in oil haste to make known our approach
to Gen. Bonham, of South Carolina, who was
| then in command at Manassas. A ATennessee regi.
| ment reached Manassas during the night and,
like Kemper battery, which was already there,
knew nothing of GnEaa's nocturnal visit to
Bull Run. To stimulate the practice Of sol.
dierly promptness, rs we'll, perhaps, rs to in
dulge joke, the long roll was beat, and when
We came in sight these two commands we're in
line Of battle ready to give us an iuhospitable
reception. Wo halted long enough to make
ourselves known, and then marched to our
camps under q fag Of truce. Regiments were
now daily coming from the South and our regi-
ment, being pioneer troops, was advanced to
Centreville, seven miles nearer Washington.
We found company Of Virginians at Centre.
vile, and saw no better looking soldiers dur
ing the war. It was commanded by Captain
Mari, q man of fine appearance, a graduate Of
the Virginia Military School, aud looked every
inch a soldier When we took up quarters at
Centrevilc, Capt. Marr moved his command to
Fairfax c. H., seven miles still nearer Wash
iugton.
There were no events of interest during our
stay at Centreville to relieve the monotony Of
camp life, save an occasional false alarm, fol-
lowed by beating the long roll and marching
out of our camps to meet an enemy that did
not come until after we returned to our
homes in South Carolina. II was here that the
measles began its devastating work and filed
more graves with Confederate soldiers than did
the bullets Of the enemy. One Of our number
fell victim to tits ravages, and We laid him
away with military honors in the church yard
Of little Episcopal church ON top of the hill.
The next excitement grew out Of the news
that Capt. Thomas, Of the Federal army, had
dashed into the town Of Fairfax, wounded COL,
afterwards Gen. Ewell, and killed Capt. Mari.
Capt. Thomas was q native of Virginia and
afterwards commanded the Federal forces at
the battle Of Franklin, Tenn essee. The body of
Capt. Marr was brought to Centreville the
morning after the fight, and it had depressing
effect on our men. Col. Gregg sent our COM
pany that evening to Fairfax c. H., in answer
to Col. Ewelrs call for help. lie drew us up
in line aud read the words he had written Col.
Ewsu and thsy ware. in effsoi, if not ths -e-y
words,-"I have sent you company in whose
courage and steadines you can depend We
arrived after dark and found umptu Gus sup
supper awaiting US at the hotel, given to the
company by the citizens Of the town. We
slept that night in church, and never heard
that anybody stood guard. The next morning
we returned to our camps nt Centreville; but in
q few days Col. Gregg advanced his whole com :
mand to Fairfax C. II.
We were six months volunteers, and our
term Of service was drawing to close but 1t
was foreign to Col. Gregg's ambition to return
| to South Carolina without the smell of battle,
and no doubt, he believed the same spirit ami
mated the bosom of each member Of his reg-
ment So, on the morning Of the second day
after we went into camps At Fairfax C. H.,
with three days cooked rations in our haver-
sacks, and reinforced by section Of Kempers
battery, we started for Drnuesville, where we
were told the enemy had crossed tho Potomac
and we would there meet q foeman to try our
grit. As we were marching out Of town hen
came running 80 dangerously near our company
that Lieut.. Jossrn F. GIsr, with the skill of q
practiced fencer, took off her head-prophetic
Of what became Of the imaginary enemy at
Dranesville. Tho Lieut's haversack was full
Of we'll cooked meats, and he left the hen
futtering where she fell.
Dranesville was an incons iderable little place,
! twenty miles north Of Fairfax C. II. We ar
rived there about sundown, worn and jaded aud
no enemy with whom to measure arms. We
knew nothing Of the Importance Of husbanding
our resources. Indeed, our improvde nee was
20 great that three days rations were consumed
or wasted in twenty-four hours. The next
morninglwe fell into line to retrace our steps,
hungry aud detected. do not know that IL
was in the original programme to return by
another route leading several miles nearer
Washington and by little station on the rail
road between Alexandria aud Fairfax C. H.,
bearing the name Of Vienna, or it may have
been that fresh trail Of the enemy was tho
temptation that now induced Col. Gregg to
| make o call at Vienna. At any rate, we soon
noticed that we were DETECTING to the left Of
the road we came, and were told that Vienna
was our objective point, and that the ysnks
were there repairing the rail road. As we
| nsared the station silence was enjoined, and
We slipped down through the pines to the sta.
| ton as cautiously rs the hua tsman would pur.
sue flock Of wild turkeys. As usual. dissp;
| pointment was the coin In which we were paid
for our trouble. The command now tur ed TO-
ward our camps; but ere we had marched
three hundred yards, we heard the train Of the
enemy and scarcely had time to double quick
back to our position on top Of the hill oyel
looking the station and Gadberry's company ts
deploy as skirmshers to line Of woods 800
yards In front. The train Was shut out from
our view by woodland on our left. Boom