The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-09-24

ehataCler q! our l)e, VINO nau taken ID til c
| marsh when they heard Us coming benin d
| them We found out from an old darkcy liv-
ing near our picket post that large body of
the slaves from the up county, rs II were, had
that night attempted to get TO the yankees, but
coming upon our pickets they wore stopped
Some of them, however. got past aud we're
taken on Edisto Island that evening. Some VIC
found, and others returned to their homes |
found my cap in the edge of the water, in the
canal, just ready to be taken off by tho rising
tide.
On another occasion before this, l was
on picket at the same place. Bill Savage and
Gillian Thomas were on post with me. We
were standing at the bridge which have told
you was about 200 yards from the Mathews
house. Tom Fowler, Qong hungry with the
rest Of the relief was in the house asleep. Ii
was as dark night as | ever saw, | think I'm
rear of the house, in little hut lived an old
negro who had little dog. Soon after we
went OH past the dog began to bark, and kept
it UP for ut least one hour. Our horses were
restless. The ducks and frogs kept such a
quacking and croaking, which, together with
the barking Of the dog made the night hideous
The bridge across the canal had not been torn
up. The night was 50 dark we could not see
ten steps from us. We brought q horse OH
post. Bill Savage watched the horse and
Gillian and watched the road in front. From
-thc-;sti0if- inc horse we found that the
trouble was in the direction Of the house |
told Bill and Gillian to mini the post, and
would 50 back and see what was the matter or
put the reserve on their guard When passed
around the house | found Il drove of "marsh
ponies picking about among the rose bushes
little Jack began TO bray, and this aroused
the men in ;hc house. As | returned to my
post passing the end of the piazza, | saw Tom
all OIL spoke to him. lie was like Zlcharah
-srcecAlcss. spoke again and he knew me-
lie said "who was that blowing that horn l
told him "it was that cavalry in the rear of the
house sounding charge
Bears Island could beat the world for ducks,
bees, "gorbers' and sweet potatoes 1t was
without doubt the richest land | ever saw.
Many kinds of game could be found on it,
Deer WAS plentiful. | don't expect there was
another section in the who,r rice county of the
same size that raised aU c,utl quantity of that
article. The first nigh: lever stayed on Bear
Island, Jack lson and myself were put on guard
at II rlacc where GOO bushels Of rice hal been
burned in one pile. We hiichcd our horses at
the base OF a straw pile TO protect them from
the cold Wind. The fog on the river WAS so
heavy we could see but Il short distance, not
half way across the stream. We climbed to
the top Of the straw stack, dug out holes,
wrapped our blankets around us and buried
ourselves i'll the straw up to our necks. Jack
had his face turned one way ani mine was the
the river the water laShed itself into n foam
col rain set in soon after we had got en-
ia our comparatively comfortable posi-.
tions. which ut times turned to slect. In this
position we spent long, cold January night.
Next msrning when we left, | could scarcely
ride, | was SO hcnumbcd, and Jack was in the
same x. This night contracted the 'pcu-
ritic affection, of which | have heretofore
spoken. 1t was not customary for one relief to
stand all night, but We had agreed - do So in
order to get relieved next day and night 1t
was no fault OF Lieut.. Thomas but or omn
roI,,ytu,, acts After wc ro,,,rncL ,o o,,r boo1
,u,rtcrs ,.xt ,,orrin,, vo r,rrl ou, man r,,
,,rocur.I = lo, IF honcv Tbo hoo, ,ro ,,;,,,
about in tie cold rain as though it Was June
Charley Fowler had captured the gums and
honey. We had nothing to eat with it but
.IorI ,,cL .,,l :, vo. .,,,,.
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