The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-16
Written for the TINES.
"REMINISCENCES
OF THE
MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Written for the TIMES.
BY ONE OF THEN.


the war | read all tie official reports of the
battles in which it took part, aud many remi-
niscences since, and if any allusion has ever
been made to the company it has been my
pleasure TO zee it. am induced to write out
my recollections Of it, more with the view Of
drawing out others, than any hope Of interest
ing the general reading public.
That the efficiency of the Macbeth Light Ar
tillery may be better understood, l deem it
worth while to speak briefly Of the first Com-
pany that left Union in defence of the ordinance
OF secession, passed Goth Dec. 1850, by the
representatives Of the people Of South Carolina
assembled in convention at Columbia. In an.
ticipation Of that Act, company had been or
gauized in Union with that fearles, soldier,
j. NJ. GADBERRH rs Captain. As soon as the
ordinance of secession wa, passed he left the
convention, of which he was member, and
Immediately proceeded with his company to
Charleston, where preparations for war was
actively going on. The company was assigned
duty on Sullivans Island and became one cf
the ten that composed Cor. MAxcY GREGGs fret
South Carolina regiment. Cor. GREGG's com.
mand was soon transferred to Morris Island,
where it remained until after the fall Of Fort
Sumpter. The infantry on the surrounding
isanIs were witnesses, rather than partic-
pants of the bombardmcnt that humbled the
stars and stripes and hoisted the Palmetto q ag
over Fort Sumpter To us the war now seem
ed over, and our thoughts were Of going home
without military glory. A few evenings, how
ever, after the fall of Sumpter, while the regi-
Il a..
. speech, telling us that camc to Charleston
to fight the enemy, that we had been disap-
pointed, but there was still n chance for us.
The enemy had invaded Virginia, and Gov +.
Fletcher asked South Carolina for help.
Shall he call in vain ? All who are willing to
g step four PAGES to the front. More than
three e-fourths Of company stepped to the
front and contrasted most favorably with the
other companies, which were pretty equally di-
vdcd between the front and rear lines. After
we returned TO our camps, patriotic appeal
was made to the company by our worthy md
popular orderly sergeant, CHARLES. w. BOYD.
in his easy flowing style and with few c1ccp-
tions, those who did not volunteer at dress
parade now wheeled into line. The next day
we were transferred to Charleston and took the
train at the North Eastern depot for Rich
mond.
Uvation., fcastng, patriotic speeches, love
making were in order at stations, towns. and
cities along the line Of travel. The war spirit
had set aside the etiquette or formality Of an
introduction, and company, being composed
largely Of young men. love making at first
sight, was to them the most interesting feature
Of those patriotic demonstrations. We hal
some young married men in the company, who
were very much in the way Of the blushing
youths who had no experience in the ar: of
courting The former sent cupidS darts direct
to the hearts of the girls, while the latter
thought 1t necessary to approach them as Grant
did Richmond by circumlocution. Many have
since learned that directncss was quicker il
not the better plan The trip from c harlcston
TO Richmond was an enjoyable one. anl long to
be remembered.
On reaching Richm on Il we were assigned
quarters at the Fair Grounds. Oar camps
were thronged daily by the citizens Of Rich
mond, and we were lionizcl as much ne if we
had swallowed Fort Sumptor. Maj. Anderson
and his men We did not think it necessary
to dampen their admiration for u.s. by telling
them that in taking Fort Sumptcr we were sol
diers ata distance. In n few weeks our de-
lichtful stay in Richmond ended, and we took
the train for Manassas Junction Pretty much
the same scenes were enacted along the line OF
travel that we had witnessed in our trip to
Richmond.
We heard great deal about Manassas rs n
strategic point, and imagined that it was n
city OF some Importance. aud that We woull
have q delightful time there, as We hal had in
Richmond You can well imagine our dsap-
pointment when we found ourselves cmpticd on.
in a barren old field with scarcely a house in
view But there was nc time for lamentations
over the contrast between the uninviting field
Of Manassas and the happy home that gli1cd
go swiftly by in Richmond. We we're now
living amid stirring times. War clouds were
now gathering thicker and darker and the eI-
citement more intense. have no diary for
refreshing my mcmcry, but it was perhaps,
the next day after We reached Manassas, that
Cor. ELLSWORTH invaded Virginia entering the
State at Alexandria, and captured u company of
Virrinians stationed there. As Ellsworth de-
sccndei from the hotel with the secession h'S
that floatcd from the dome, he was shot deni
by Jackson, the proprietor who in turn was
himself shot and hayonctcd to death by the
federal soldiers. Such was the exciting news,
ten times magnifcd, that refugee and escaping
soldiers brought on tho first train from AIe1an'
dria, while reports that the enemy were march
ING OH Manassas were rife the livc-long day
AS n precautionary measure, ! suppose, Col