The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-09-03

tallow, you would have concluded that we en-.
joyed it. / am sure our host and hostess though
so. They did what they could and VIC bid
them good bye, feeling rs much sympathy for
them rs they had manifested for us.
That people do some times leave South Caro-
lima, to try their fortune in some western State,
and settle down on land quite as poor as that
from which poverty had expatriated them, is a
problem that does not work according to the
rule OF common sense. An exceedingly dusty
country in dry seasons is sure to run to the
other extreme in wet seasons. This was true
OF Mississippi. There had been little rain in
Mississippi from the time we entered the State,
on the Goth May 1868, till we left Roberts
Mills, On the morning of the 9th August. Il
was raining when we marched out Of the camp.
The soil in that section Of that State w..
mixed with lime and when wet took good hold
on everything with which it come in contact
In going from our camp to Forest Station, o
distance Of five miles, the wheels of our guns
and caissons looked like huge wheels of mud.
We frequently stopped and dug the wheels out
of the mud in which they had become iucased
While waiting at Forest Station two of our
men, by joint stock arrangement, sta rtcd n
"chuck luck bank" with the puny sum of ten
dollars. Five of it was given for pack Of
cards. Some western soldiers passing by were
impelled, by that wonderful something, so
characteristic Of mans curiosity, to inquire in.
to the modus opcrandi of tho tempting game
On being told that pocket book and conscience
were the limit, one of them drop ped down q
twenty-dolar Confederate bill. The Macbeth
boys like Meade at Gettysburg, was whipped
before the battle vas fought. If the western
soldier wins, we have but FIVE dollars to pay
him and there will be row, here in n stones
throw of the officers. Such was the logic of
the bank owners. They concluded, however,
to risk the chances, and; like Meade at Gettys-
burg, unexpectedly won. They room had oil
the money the western boys had, and left
Forest Station with pocket full of money,
some seven hundred dollars, and were happy.
fuck, who was looking on ut the time, has an
animated recollection of ii now.
Our guns were put on the cars at Forest
Station, and the horses were carried by the
dirt road to Meridian. Securing Transportation
for our horses at Meridian, we ron down to
Mobile and went into quarters at camp Deulah,
in the western suburbs Of the city. It was a
lovely camp, OH clear, beautiful stream near
some paper mills, just In rear of the residence
Of Miss Augusta Evins, now Mrs Wilson. The
camp 60 near the homo of the author of Beu-
lah, suggested its name. We had o remarkable
easy time al Mobile. The enemy had ne. put
his ahhaiiomS& tsosd ua snx uf yie lr tia.
part Of the State, and the fortifcatioaS along
the Mobile bay guarded the water entrance to
the metropolis Of Alabama.
The only incident have any recollection OF
in connection with the Macbeth ut Mobile was
the killing of one Of our horses by lightning,
in a few yards Of our tents, during thunder
storm. Gen. Maury commanding that military
district, had but small force ut his command
and when it was supposed that an attack would
be made on Mobile, by the Federal soldiers
then starting on an expedition from rensecola,
Florida, it was necessary for him to have
moro troops, and among tho reinforcements
Sent was the Macbeth. 1t was in this way
that we drifted to Mobile. VIpI.