The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-10-22
NUMBER 42.

ture the pickcts, and in this way get large
force on the main land with but little trouble
and danger. Every point from wnuown to
White Point was guarded that night. Each re-
lief was instructed to fire on any pary coming
from suspicious direction. The same orders
given to the guard at picket headquarters.
Joe Leech duty when officer came
from different direction than that from
which he was expected Joe hailed him with
halt who comes therev Officer Of the day,
with the countersign,' was the reply. Officer
of the day, the HI you say. Maybe it's
officer OF the night = Joe replied. lie snid he
had missed the roa1. Joe told him TO advance
and give the countersigu. He came forward
and said Fort Sumter BY this time the whole
relief had their guns. Joe asked him who he
was Ii was Capt. -. Joe told him he did
not know him and he must go to headquarters.
lie sent detail to take this nocturnal visitor
to Lieutenant Melton, who sent him to Reg-
mental headquarters where he was identified.
AS the boat moved down tho river that even
ing, Smelling I'D Hbium, the military genius Of
Gen Evans aud Col Steve was at work. When
it reached LeGaro's mill four pieces oflight ar
tillcry were in readiness to salute it. The night
was nearly itch dark, rs the boat come gliding
along with its jolly crew who were, perhaps, ex-
uting over their work, and the annoyance they
had given the rebels that day. They were
singing and picking banjo, and everything
in high glee. When the vessel got opposite our
guns, standing on the bank under some large
shade trees, the order TO fire was given. All at
once the guns opened on the merry crew. The
f,st volcy WAS haru.less the balls passing over
the boat, or striking tho iron turrett, glanced
off. The range was too short for effective work.
Before the guns could be reloaded the vessel
was well past, and the nature of the ground
occupied by artillery was such n. to protect
the gun boat. Our infantry were not inactive.
Every port hole and other objects targets
for their rifles. AS soon as the crew recovered
from their surprise they put their guns to work
throwing shells, grape shot and canister, ut their
unexpected foemen. Bill Vaughn was on picket
post at Sand Bluff at the time. He was in
about half mile of our batteries when they
opened on the bont. AS they passed the post
he was on--one where we had kept picket all
the tmc-they filed tho air with grape shot,
but fortunately they hurt no one. From where
We could see the flashes from the eau
non, the sky redeemed one moment, the next
one we could hear tho report. The small arms
in the meantime kept up the music. The officer
commanding the battery was severely criticised
for not firing Oh the boat sooner. He knew his
| business too well and the character Of the work
| to bc dome, and soon the censure died out Men
arc too often se!fconstitutcd judges of things
| they know nothing about. This was no less the
case then than now. The most ignorant private
| we had could cricsc the official acts of the
best officers. Then, as now, those who knew
the most afterwards were the biggest fools be-
iorchand. l shall show u few instances Of this
kind, should live TO finish this work
That morning-lst June, 'G2,-Jas. a. Don.
aid and VIM. Good Fowler were on post at Pine
berry, when the boat came up and began shell
ing tie battery. 1t was the duty Of pickets TO
report a thing, being done, instead Of trying to
prevent it, particularly this kind of work As
the boat approached they fell back to the bat
terry. Their horses were hitchcd some distance
from the POST. The relief he'd taken to their
heels and left them to take care Of themselves
and their horses TO GO the same. They had To
| travel some distance on rice bank before they
got out of sight of the boat. When the boat would
fire Bill Good would fall and wait for the shell
| to pass, AMI then up and run again until he
would hear another shot, when hc would fall
| again and SO on until they got out ofreach. AS
| they assed the battery they wanted to go in
| and share the fate Of tue inmates but the Off,
| Ger in command told them to g further
When they got there Squire Donald's horse had
wound himself up in a limb and the halter rein,
50 that it was necessary to cut the latter to get
| him loose. The boat was throwing shell at them
| all the time.
| | forgot 10 tell about WeSs McKown jim Me-
Culloch aud myself going to Edislo ferry as cou-
| riers, where we killed TWO large cOons, which |
| had brought 10 camp and had cleaned and
cook,d-oli stephen Farr Superinended this
| part Of the work ! asked Capt Mckissck if he
| ddn want u try piece Of coon. lie said no,
don't want to eat that old poor coon, but if it
WAS big tat 'possum | might try aud worry
down small piece, provided my stomach would
take it, During our stay at Edisto Ferry rs
comicrs, we gathered sage ut Legare place aud
made tea i'll frying pan When we got back
to camp, Jim McCulloch told Capt. McKissick
we had found dish. What is it jim?
the Capt said, Fried tea, said, Jim How is it
made? In frying pan UNus.
| Z. -
| ABBEviLLE FARMERS EXCITED. Alb
| oavi.ic, Oct. l3.-Ihe farmers on the
Savannah S'dc OF the County are very
much excited over the sale Of cotton
IN the seed, and they have made up their
minds to put stop to it. y meeting was
held at Nj, Carmel yesterday to devise
sDmo means Of stopping it. Resolutions