The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-16

| the previous day. took us Tor yankS anu
prompted by the inspiration Of an ardent love
of country, lost time in debating the man.
ner Of her going but with her dress to her
knees, to expedite her speed, tho good woman
went in oil haste to make known our approach
to Gen. Bonham, Of South Carolina, who was
| then in command Mt Manassas. \ Tennessee reg-
| ment reached Manassas during the night and,
! like kemper battery, which was already there,
knew nothing of GnEGG'S nocturnal visit to
derly promptness, as we'll. perhaps, rs to in
| dulge joke, the long roll was beat, and when
| We came in sight those two commands we're in
| line of battle ready to give US an inhospitabe
| reception. We halted long enough to make
| ourselves known. and then marched to our
camps under Il flag of truce. Regiments were
now daily coming from the South and our regi-
ment, being pioneer troops was advanced to
Centreville, seven miles nearer Washington
We found company of Nirginians at Centre
| vile, and saw no better looking soldiers dur
| ing the war, 1t was commanded hy Captain
Marr, man of fue appearance, a graduate of
the Virginia Military School and looked every
inch soldier. When we took up quarters at
SeulTcNlllC, Napt hlTT nONcu his COfnInanu 10
Fairfax c. H., seven miles still nearer wash
ington.
There were no events Of interest during our
stay at Centrevillc to relieve the monotony of
camp life, save occasional false alarm, fol-
| lowed by beating the long roll and marching
out of our camps TO meet an enemy that did
not come until after we returned to our
hpn in Snrth fnrn . horn fl,nft
measles began its devastating work and filled
more graves with Confederate soldiers than did
the bullets Of the enemy. One of our number
fell victim to lit, ravagcs. and VIC laid him
| away with military honors in the church yard
of little Episcopal church on top of the hill.
The next excitement grew out of the news
that Capt. Thomas, of the Federal army. had
dashed into the town Of Fairfax, wounded Col,
afterwards Gen. Ewcll and killed Capt. Mari.
Capt. Thomas was native Of Virginia and
afterwards commanded the Federal forces at
The battle of Franklin, Tenn c.see. The body of
Capt Mari was brought to Centrcvllc the
morning after the fight, and it had depressing
effect on our men. Col. Gregg sent our com
pauy that evening to Fairfax c. H., in answer
to COL Ewels call for help. lie drew us up
in line and read the words he had written Col
| Ewoll and thcy were. in effect if not the very
| words, IL have sent you q company in whose
courage and stcalines you can depend We
arrived after dark and found sumptuous sup
supper awaiting us at the hotel, given to the
company by tho citizens Of the town. We
slept that night in n church, and never heard
that anybody stood guard. The next morning
| rc mol IN nj ('nnt hut in
n few days Col. Gregg advanced his whole CON
mand TO Fairfax G. II.
We were six months volunteers, and our
term Of service drawing to a close : but it
was foreign to COZ. Gregg. ambition to return
to South Carolina without the smell Of battle,
and no doubt, lie believed tho same spirit ami
mated the bosom Of each member Of his regi-
ment. So. on the morning of the second day
after VIC went into camp. Fairfax &. H.,
with three days cooked rations in our havcr-
sacks. and reinforced by n section of Kempcrs
battery. we star; ell for DrancSvilc. where we
were told the enemy had crossed the Potomac
nnl we would there meet focman to try our
| grit. As were marching out of town hen
came running SO dangerously near our company
| that Lieut.. JosEru +. GIsr, with the skill of
! practiccd fcncer, took off her head-prophctiC
| of what became Of tn. imaginary enemy at
| Drancsvillc. Tho Licuts havcrsack was full
of we'll cooked meats, and he left the hen
| tluttering where she fell
| D~anesvillc was an moons dcrablc little place,
! twenty miles north of Fairfax e. II. We ar
| rived there about sundown, worn and iaded and
no enemy with whom 10 measure arms. We
knew nothing of the importance of outstanding
! our resources. Indeed our improvide nee was
50 great tha: three days ritions were consumed
or wasted in twcnty-four hours. The next
mornnglwc fell into line to rctrace our steps,
hungry anil detected. | do no, know that it
was in the original programme to return by
| another route leading several miles nearer
Washington ami by little station on the rail
roai between AlcXan lra AMI Fairfax c H.,
| bearing the name of Vienna. or il may lave
| been that fresh trli; Of the cncny WAS tho
! temptation tha, now induced Cpl. Grceg to
| make call at Vienna. At any rate,
noticed that we were detecting to the left of
the road came, and were told that Vienna
was our objective point. and that the yanks
were there repairing the rail road As we
nearcl the station silence was cnjoincd. and
we slipped down through the pines TO the sta
! ton as cautiously rs the hul tsman would pur.
sue n flock of wild turkeys. As usual. disaps
! roinmcnt was the coin in which were paid
! for our trouble The command now tur n ell to-
ward our camps hut ere we had marched
, three hundred yards. we heard the train Of the
onl IN