The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-30
REMINISCENSES
OF THE
MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY.
No. 2.
BY ONE OF THEM.

In my previous communication J. NJ. Cad
berry's company was made prominent, becaus,
1t was the gem Of the Macbeth Light ARTILLERY.
The six months it had served was nothing
more than training school. One that was
In measure, to Union County what the Cit,.
del Academy was worth to the State, and wo rth
as much to South Carolina and the Confederacy
a' II each member Of the company had killed
his man on q score Of battle fields. Gadberry' s
Company was made up largely of intelligent
men, who had now seen enough of service to
appreciate the advantages of being an officer.
Hence, II was the nucleus for the forma-
tion Of several other companies aud regiments
In fact, the relish for office was so great that
more companies were attempted to be raised,
than Union County could supply with men.
The prospect for success with so many embryo
companies in the field, was not encouraging
1t, nevertheless, ncted as a stimulant, and so
inspired the zeal Of those interested in the sue
oess Of each prospective company, that it be-
came almost q grab-game. There wa. activity
In every direction Men might have held them
selves at premium. Like the seven pretty
sisters, each prettier than tho other, and nu-
u
fertilizer than the other, 50 each Of these pro-
spectivo organizations had better inducements
to offer than the other. The trouble with oil of
them was, thore were too few offices to fill in
proportion to the number of men wanted. Tho
happy thought of raising an Artillery Company
ond naming 1t in honor Of one Of Unions most
popular sons. was stroke of policy that lead
to the organization Of the Macbeth Light Artil-
lery. The oompsuy, however, was not made
up exclusively Of men from Union County.
Spartanburg, Laureus, and Chester, each con-
tributed handsomely to it's organization. And
Camden and Charleston were both rep esented.
But oil the commissioned and most of the non.
commissioned Offices were takcn from Cad
berry's old company. With complete organ
ization, we quietly left Union on the 10Th Of
November, 1861, and on the evening of the same
day, went into South Carolina Camp of iustruc-
tion, at Light-wood-Knot Springs, seven miles
north Of Columbia, on the Charlotte & Columbia
railroad. We found several newly organized reg
iments already there, and interspersed among
them were men from GreGs's old command. who,
with the cadets from the citidel, were busy pre-
pairing these raw troops for ga place in the pic
ture near the flashing Of the guns" At first wo
had no cannon and our drilling was confined ex-
clusively to the infantry tactics. But in course
Of time we received brace Of superannuated d
guns, worth just as much. however, for learn
ing the detail Of the artillery drill, ss il they
had been bran new pieces out Of the moulds
Of the latest modern improvement. We mancu-
vered around with these ancient looking guns,
the commands now ringing in our ears,-"load
by detail, 'load, one, two, three, four, spunge,"
and "men to the 'front.' and "men to the rear"
until the drill became as monotonous as a pro-
tracted summer drought is to a croaking far
mer. We ought to have been proficient soldiers
In the details Of artillery tactics; for, in addi-
ton to the one duty of drilling day in aud day
out, our camp was situated in the midst Of a
barren waste Of glaring white sand, and nothing
Of interest, SO far rs ever knew, in the sur
rounding country for miles to divert us from
our military duty. We were the last troops
ordered from Light.wood-knot Springs. And
when the order came for us to 60 to Charleston,
the wekin was made to ring with acclamations
ofjoy. On arriving Mt Charleston, tho COM
pany went into camp at Half Moon Battery, on
tho north eastern suburbs of the city, and over
looking the confluence Of the Cooper River
Our surroundings were vastly improved, and
we enjoyed some Of the spice of life. Variety
was added to our diet, books nnd daily news
papers TO our scanty reading matter, and some
whole-soul patriotic citizens, living contiguous
to Half Moon Battery, sh1rel with us their
noble hospitality. The kindness and consider
alton shown us by the NOVEL; and Manigault
families, will ever remain, like an oasis In the
desert, fresh in the memory of the officers ofthe
Macbeth Light Artillery. The change from the
,sand hills north OF Columbia, to Charleston,
where attractions were numerous. aud whisky
sand sweethesrts convenient, was Of such a de-
became necessary. But L have never seen a
discipline SO exacting, or sentinels so sovigiaut,
.that man thirsty for drink, or that which is
unore lsudible, to see his sweetheart, that the
Arink was not found and the sweetheart not
wonder if friend Nicholson could. not
~ . .musing accounts Of the stratagems
.,,;,,, +. r..d In Guiding the sentinels and
slipping the lines, in 'fuor 10 WIS" ms lady
love, who was at that tin. living In Charleston.
A short time after going into LUIS camp we
were furnished with battery of 81 guns ana
Lieut.. Starks W. Porter was Immediately as
patched to upper South Carolina, to buy horse'
for II. He returned in few. weeks, with
choice lot OF horses, having evineed excellent
judgment in purchasing them, as we'll as show
ing the judicious selection Capt. Boyce had
made of a man for that duty, Drilling with
horses, was more exciting and interesting,
than the detail aud practice Of firing stationery
guns. SO our drilling was more animsting. and
we were enthuiastic over the change for awhile
The Inconvenience Of going mile 10 the race