The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-10-01
"REMINISCENCES
OF THE
MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY.
ny ONE OF THEM.
No. 13.


are more interesting and attractive than the
prairie land, where no upheavals of nature re-
heve the monotony Of the scene, or mountain 8
without their connecting links of valleys-so
it is the ups and dows in life that give interes.
to human history. That variety is the spice
of life, was demonstrated thousand times
over during the war of Secession.
Soldiers arc naturally discontented beings :
and during the war it was noticeable that even
in the midst of comparative ease and plenty
they always received the news that summoned
them to another field with demonstrations of
JOY. Not that the prospect would be more
pleasing or their surroundings more favorable.
but on the general principle that variety in
diet gives tone to the appetite, 80 change in
scenes attracts the eye and variety in music
plesses the car. The writer remembers that
during the active campaign in Virginia and
Maryland, in the summer and fall of 1862.
when Lees army was the march day and
night aud subsisting, for the most part, on
green apples and corn, that it was the men who
had been loudest in their acclamations of ioy
over the prospect of getting into on active field,
who then pincd most for place in some dis
trict whore opposing armies were disposed to
remain in statu quo. and men could lie down Mt
night get up in the morning at decent hours,
and eat their food at walking rathcr than a
gallopinS speed. After going beyond and pretty
much over the Confcderacy. the Macbeth found
that quiet place on the coast Of South Carolina
But eight months of inaction, in the mid.t of
scenes that had become stale, made our men
for a.,
swapping the witch for the devil. 1t was now
spring time AMI we were already feeling the
heat o: approaching summer and were anxious
to get away from it SO it is easy enough to
imagine that the order summoning us from
the lowlands on the coast, in the hot season of
the year, to the balmy air of the 'land Of the
skies was news thrice gladly received.
1t was carly in May, 1861 that we were or
dered to report to Col. Palmer at Asheville for
duty. Ashe7illc was new field to the com.
rany and in the midst of grand and beautiful
surroundings Could we have had our own
choice in the selection of q new military field,
de ssat know that there another place in The
Confedrracy to which We would have preferred
going. Then, additional argument in favor
Of Ashcvillc, and one, too, that gave it unusual
interest was the fact that the route there wa,
through the very heart Of ihe county in which
most Of the members of the Macbeth lived Our
rejoicing over this new field was not because wo
imagined it was one of comparative case. In
anticipation of fight the Macbeth had been
sent from Lees army in Virginia TO Kinston,
n. c., then to Wilmington, Charleston, Misss-
sippi, Mobile and back to Charleston again.
OF course we imagined that the order summon
ing the company to Ashovlc was based on a
like expectation.
On reaching the South Carolina Depot in
Charleston our guns were dismounted and
placed OH the cars. Lieut.. Porter the writer
and most of the men accompanied them TO
Union. Capt. Jeter Lieut.. Munro and enough
men to care for the horses took the dirt road for
Union. Members of the company living in
Camden, Chester and Laurens were switched
oil OH branch roads leading to their respective
counties, with n verbal furlough to report at
Union and Spnrtanburg in ten or fifteen days
Perhaps the day the Macbeth left the City by
the sea for the Land of the skies will be the
ono longest remembered by the men as richest
i'll prospective pleasure. Those of us who left
home before Capt. Jcter and the dir, road trav-
elcrs arrived. Hours Of JOY are as feet as the
wind. We passed the time in fcasting anI TAX
ing in all the pleasure that our pent-up natures
now unstrung, were capable of enjoying. As
we now revert to those few days, crowded with
events cf happiness and our lives then so free
from cures, pensivc feelings invouutary
steal over us. Where indeed, is the man who
can contemplate that picture then so beautiful
in all that made young life happy, and not fc cl
sad
The Macbeth was made up largely from
Union County. and our citizens regarding the
men rs at home, overlooked the fact that quite
anumhcr of the company were from Chester
Laurens and other counties, away from homo
and any military post where rations could lie
had. Mr.. Wcsly Sanders then proprietor of
the Unionvilc Hotel was thoughtful enough to
get up family basket Of provisions, and with
his good wife came to camp the day before
we left Union and treated the soldiers TO one
good square meal. Other things may be for.
gotten, but that generous act on the part of Mr.
Sanders and his good lady will ever linger
with those who partook of that dinner spread
by patriotic hands, among tho pleasant rccollcc
tions Of the war.
Many Of the fathers and mothers. and some
of the brothers and sisters who contributed to
the happiness of those days, have passed away
And. ala! ! what changes time has wrought il
the appearance of those who have survived III,
cventiul years since May, 1861. The youth.
who had just entered on the stage of young
manhood and womanhood are now with silvery
locks, travelling down the western hill of life