The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-09-24
"REc0LLRcTI0Ns"
OF THE
NJ CKISSICK RANGERS.
by A MEMBER.
NO. 4.

diligence Of your readers to pay my respects to
the "Consoript law" There we began to see
and feel its practical working On the coast
We had great deal Of fun out Of It. Frank
Milwood and his cousin Shelf Fowler furnished
ian Tor the command. Jim MCCULLOUGH took
no small part In 1t, too. These and many
other matters connected with it, will try and
bring in at the proper time and place. I
promised tho readers, though, that would
take them back on Bears Island.
This is not an Island, in its proper sense. It
is peninsula, lying between Pom Pom and
Ashepoo rivers, tho waters Of which are con-
nected by O canal. This canal had been used
by the planters to transport their products to
market. Roads were, in many places, thrown
up aud constituted embankments to protect the
rice farms. In some places horse walkiup on
1t would shake the ground for several feet
around. AS astragetic point it had no military
significance whatever. The roads from Jack
scarborough to the point at the head of st.
Helena sound was, for about four miles, under
cover of our guns at willtown battery, on
the opposite side Of Pom Pom river. This
river below Willtown was obstructed so as to
render the passage Of vessels impossible.
with these advantages in our favor the Con-
federate authorities discontinued the picke
guard on Bears Island, and in April, 62, they
were drawn in.
Previously our headquarters were on the op
Poslte side Of the river, little below Willtown.
About half way between picket headquarters
and the point was the Matthews place" at
which VIC had kept q picket guard since our
first occupation Of the Island. This was our
first picket headquarters. Between the Mat.
thews place and Mosquito creek We had torn up
oil the bridges. The same was done on the
road leading to the point Of Bears Island,
ihus our position was comparatively secure
from any advance the enemy might attempt to
make The section of country around the Mat
thews place might be compared to the desert
Of Sahara, only it was mud and water instead
OF sand. nan oasis stood the Matthews house
and outbuildings. On oil sides rs far as the
eye could reach was vast plain. The Mat
thews house was long building with q piazza
on one side and across one end. a dense thicket
OF shrubbery surrounded the house ON three
sides. In front OF the house, and in the direc
tion Of the enemy, stood our pickets. The post
was about 200 yards from the house at bridge
that crossed the canal, on the opposite side of
which the roads forked-one leading toward the
point and the other towards mosquito creek.
The house was high enough from the ground for
horse to stand under it. At the time we are
going to speak of. the bridge across the canal
had been torn up, aud our picket guards were
standing in the piazza. One night, about the
first of March, 80, while on guard with Jim
McCulloch, Frank Milwood and John Faucet,
ut this place, we were thrown into considerable
excitement. John Faucett and Frank Millwood
were standing in the piazza at the end of the
house. jim MCCULLOUGH and myself were in
the other end Of the house asleep. It was
just before daybreak. The crescent moon was
rising above the eastern horizon, and gave o
dim light through the foliage. pistol fred,
and in an instant another shot rang out in the
air. was aroused. heard Frank soy "men
to your post" John raised the yell and came
running to the door haloeing "fall in Company
d, fall in" alt. Foss deploy your skirmishers
and give 'em h-ll." 1 had bad been with
John before, and knew his tactics when he
wanted to play the "bluf.' / had this adysn-
tage Of Jim, but you need not think that either
of us went into ecstacies over our apparent
surroundings had gathered my coat for my
pants and stove my foot into the sleeve up 10
my knee. We had NO time to make light.
My pistols were out in the piazza without caps
on them. gathered my sabine and gun, threw
open the door, and prepared to shoot and cut
my way out All this was the work Of few
moments. We found the assaulting party was
in the rear Of the house, and between us and
our relief. How far John had succeeded in
blufing we bad no means of knowing. But,
whatever was done, must be done soon. 1t
would never do for daylight to come and reveal
our true situation. Our pistols were recapped,
and We felt secure against reasonable odds.
Our horses were sa ddled. The only way of
escape was by the road our enemie were hold
Ing. A caucus was held and the situation dis.
cussed, hurriedly. The conclusion was, we
must "gst up and get" Next was, "who will
10 forward" Like the invited guests oil made
excuses. At last "Stonewall Jackson" was
turned into the road at the gallop. So were
the others. Each rider with pistol in hand.
We had to ride by file. For some of us this
was perhaps TO be the last ride. As we drew
near the dark avenue, walled on each side with
dense thickets, 'Stonewalp' raised his head
and through dilated nostrils announced the
presence Of our enemy. Spurs pressed him
forward, and soon we had run The gauntlet and
were shooting like so many arrows up the
side Of the canal. prince dashed past like
parrot shell. My horse stumbled anl fell and
lost my cap. Before my horse recovered they
were all past me and go, down to hunt my
cap. One fellow says ."come on, they can kill
,us yet" could not find the cap, SO mounted
and rode on barshoaded with the others towards
our relief. John Faucet reported to picket
.headQuarters The rest of us stopped. tied