The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-09-24
VOL. XVII.-NEw SERIES
"RECOLLECTIONs"
OF THE
M c kISS SICK RANGERS.
-C:o:C--
by 4 MEMBER.
NO. T..
by 4 MEMBER.

dulgence of your readers to pay my respects to
the "Conscript law" There we began to see
and feel its practical working. On the coast
we had great deal Of fun out of it, Frank
Milwood anil his cousin Shelf Fowler furnished
no small part in it, too These and many
other matters connected with it, | will try and
bring in at tho proper time and place.
promised the readers, though, that would
take them back on Bears Island
This is not an Island in its proper sense. 1t
is peninsula, lying between Pom Pom and
Ashepoo rivers, the waters Of which are con-
nected by canal. This canal had been used
by the planters to transport their products to
market. Roads were, in many places, thrown
up aud constituted embankments to protect the
rice farms In some places horse walking on
it would shake the ground for several feet
around. AS a strngetc point it had no military
significance whatever. The roads from Jack
scarborough to the point at the head of ST.
Helena sound was, for about four miles, under
cover of our guns at Willtown battery, on
the opposite side of Pom Pom river Thi,
river below Willtown was obstructed so as to
render the passage of vessels IMPOSSIBLE
With these advantages in our favor the Con-
fcdcratc authorities discom,;atied- the -picKet
guard on Bears Island, and in April, G2, they
were drawn in.
Previously our headquarters were on the op-
positc side Of the river, Il little below Willtown
About half way between picket headquarters
and the point was the "Mattlcw's place. ut
which VIC had kept picket guard since our
first occupation OF the Island. This was our
first picket headquarters. Between the Mat
thews place and Mosquito creek we had torn up
oil the bridges. The same was done Oh the
road leading to the point of Bears Island.
Thus our position was comparatively secure
from any advance the enemy might attempt to
make. The section of country around the Mat
thcws place might DC compared to the desert
Of Sahara, only il was mud aud water instead
of sand. q nan oasis stood the Matthews house
and outbuiIdings. On all sides us far rs the
eye could reach was a vast plain. The Mat
thcws house was long building with piazza
on one side and across one end. \ dense thickct
Of shrubhcry surrounded the house on three
sites. N front of the house. and in the Gircc-
tion of the enemy, stood our rickcts The post
that crossed the canal, on the opposite side of
which the roa'ls forkcd--onc leading toward the
point and the other towards mosquito creek
The house was high enough from the ground for
horse TO stand unIcr it. At the time We arc
going to speak Of, the bridge across the canal
had been torn up, aud our picket guards were
standing in the piazza. Que night, about the
first of March, ~, while on guard with jim
McCuloch, Frank Mllwood and John Faucett,
at this place were thrown into considerable
excitement. John Faucctt and Frank Mllwooi
were standing in the piazza at the end of the
house. Jim McCul!ouch and myself were in
the other end cf the house asleep. 1t was
Just before daybreak. The crescent moon was
rising above the eastern horizon, and gave a
dim light through the foliage. a pistol fired.
and in an instant another shot rang out in the
air. | was aroused. | heard Frank say .men
to your post. John raised the yell and came
running to the door hallociug fall in Company
b, fall in. alt. Foss deploy your sliirmishers
and give EN- h--ll. had bad been with
John before and knew his tactics when he
wanted TO play the "hluIl. had this advan-
tage Of Jim but you uccl not think that either
of Us went into ccSiacics over our apparent
surroundings. | had gathered my coat for my
pants and stove my foot into the sleeve lip t.
my knee. We had time to make Il light
My pistols were out in the piazza without caps
OH thcm. gathered my sabine and gun, threw
open the door. and rrcI arcl to shoot and cut
my way out. All this was the work of n few
moments. We found the assaulting party was
a.. 9 4
our relief. How far John had succeeded in
bluilng We bad no means of knowing. But,
whatever was done, must be done soon. Ii
would never 10 iur daylight to come and rev ca
our true situation. Our pistols were rccapped.
md we felt secure against reasonable odds.
Our horses we're 81 ddlcd The only way of
escape was by tho road our cncm;c were hold
Ing. caucus was held, and the situation dis
cusscd, hUrricliy, The conclusion was, we
must get up and get. Next was, ''who will
20 forward. Like the invited guests all made
excuses. At last "Stoncwall Jackson" was
turned into the road ut the gallop. SO were
the Others. Each rider with pistol in hand
We had to ride by ilc. For some of us this
was perhaps 10 be the last ride As we drew
near the dark avenue, walled OH each side with
dense thivk"tS, "Stoncwali raised his head
ani thrC ugh dilatcl nostrils announced the
presence of Our enemy. spurs pressed him
forward, AID soon VIC had run tie gauntlet and
were shooting like so many arrows up the
side of the canal. prince dashed past like
parrot shell. My horse stumbled AMI fell and
lost my cap. Before my horse recovered they
were all past ne and got down to hunt my
cap. One fellow says "comc on, they en- Kill