The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-11-12
"REMINISCENCES
or THE
MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY.
BY ONE OF THEM.
No, 16,

We returned from our last raid into Tenn essee
with DR., Becker under arrest. He was of that
temperament that made him as restless as the
waves OF the sea and rowing as a wild beast.
whether in camp on O march it was matter
OF chance If he was with the company when
| needed. Colonel Palmer was o rigid disci pima
rian, and bis orders against struggling and dep
! relations were strict and strictly enforced. DIR.
Fscksrgysrr~,aouu uuc- OF rne5e orders aud was
placed under arrest. The army regulations re-
quired charges to be preferred against the SOL
| diers Of the Confederacy within nine days after
the arrest. DR.. b. bore his confinement with
unusual patience; but the moment his watch
clicked off the hour that ended the ninth day
he mounted his little gray pony and went dash
ing up Main street, bowiug and saluting every
body, right and left. Col. Palmer had forgotten
oil about the arrest. and on meeting the Doctor,
he said, 81 forgot to issue the order for YOUR
release. Will do SO as soon MS return to my
Office"
| "Put yourself to no trouble, Col, carry the
regulations in my pocket" and on he went.
The Doctor was in his hsppiest mood when
discoursing music for the benefit of others.
After much practice in vocal and instrumental
music, he gave two concerts at night on Battery
Porter. The two buglers. Joe Bennett and Jno.
| Roger, with selection from the best voices in
| the company, made music to the satisfaction of
| the large audiences that honored the company
with their presence on these delightful occa-
| sions. l can now see the men, dressed In their
military costume, as they sang the then popular
Southern airs with spirit and animation.
| remember, when enchored back, with what en-
phasis they repeated:
| "Up with the bars and down with tho stars
For Lincoln and his hircns crew never whip tho
believe it was from the last concert that DR..
Becker CHANGED to see young lady homo, who
| had gotten lost from her escort The Young
man took umbrage at what he regarded as On
interference on the part Of the Doctor, and
declared vengeance. Some Of the Macbeth
heard the threat and followed the young man
into town to see that the Doctor was not harmed.
They were reported to one Mr. Gibson, an ad-
Jutant on Gen. Palmer's staff, who felt hi, i'm
portance far more than Genaral Loo diA L
guard house. On returning to the camp the
Doctor passed the guard house, and finding
| some of the Macbeth had gotten into trouble
because of the interest they had taken in him.
took it upon himself to release them. some
caustio letters passed between them. The DOC
tor was threatened with puuishmentif il he again
meddled with affairs outside Of the medical de-
partment.
Notwithstanding it was October, that prince'J
month Of the year, when the season Is mos
in,iporatinp and the Dir mild and exhiliaratini
had passed away, and winter, real aud earnest
lbsd act in, and we were alternating in our win
went steadIy uh:+ -i1erk Rf human m destruction
oppression were cutting nearer and nearer N
'"a's OF the Confederacy, aud the young nation
porn amidst adverse circumstances woo anna,
entity tottering to its fall. But our soldiers ,vo,
." IIgiaht' active, resolute and honef,,
n'ou' forter and the writer had Put I'D snuo
N''e c"oln on the Battery Porter hill, and wers
as cozy during the chilly blasts of winter a. :,
We had been in some lordly palace. The mon
were all o0rrespondingly comfortably we'll off
ou'uoor amusements had been driven within
aoors' ana the young ladies Of Asheyille had
oegun 70 give parties to which tho oficers ~
the macbeth were generally invited. The fro,
party we attended broke up about one o'c,ocL
at night, that is, the officers returned n tbo;,
'"'"p a' tnat hour The next day il was wbi,-
pered on the streets that the officers ~ ,ho
Macbeth were lacking in gallantry: that ,be
young ladies at the party had no escorts and
were left to get home as best thew o,rId MI.
Impression had been made on our minds that
Tue young ladies would remain all night. and
nenoe our action. The matter was fully dis
'ussed among US, and on starting to the next
party, week or so afterwards, il wa, oore.d
mat tn" motion To adjourn ahonId con,a g..
'ne iadies. That night the ladies had gone 70
spend the night with the young lady who gave
the party. Imagine, IL you can, tho patience
oi 'he ohcers OF the Macbeth as they waited |
from one o'clock till the rcyeille summoned |
'hem from the party to the COMPANY ro,,-oo
the next morning. The street talk that fol,ow.d
the previous party was the rock of offen,e ovsr
"n'oh we stumbled into this, u worse predica-
ment tthan the first. We had watched the dial of
lime as 1t registered one, tsp, three and four
clock, and wondered g. interest tba, bs,d
ne party together SO III so well. When
lay came we left, in answer TO reyeille al c,mn
esre'ing that, instead Of redeeming ourselves.
'e had given occasion for more criticism. I
IL was nots great while before we had nm I
ther opportunity to right ourselves. The rar,v {
n'S a"e was at the widow Patton's, and a
anaSome entertainment il was. The evening b
'as not only an enjoyable one, but we had the L
ieasure Of seeing the ladies to their respective
ONES. Then followed a delightful evening at Il
nr friends. the Middletons. r
among other friends In Asheville that we can b
ever forget were DR.. and Mrs. Chapman. "
ne DOCTOR was warm-hearted Christian min. n
'er' whose wisdom Of words and genial spirit h
"de his society source Of pleasure and ds- In
kll. nd hia i