The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-04-24
THE HEAD OF THE ALLIANCE.
Col. E. T. ssackhousc, tho Successful Far
nlcr of Marion.
L 10 dn11htfn1i if INV no,


is entitled to higher praise, not for what
he has done for himself, but for the ex-
ample which be has given to the country,
than Col. j. T. Stackhouse; and it will
be to such men that the State will be
indebted for the position, which at her
present rate Of progress, she will occupy
in the near future.
As Col. Stackhousc is not so we'll
known in this part of the State as in the
Eastern counties, short sketch of him
may not be uninteresting.
The father and uncles of Col. Stack.
house lived in the upper part of Marion
County. They were farmers, of the class
known as good livers, and they were men
possessed of more than average intelli.
gence. They were Industrious, frugal
and hard working men, characterized by
honesty, sobriety, and a firm adherence
to conviction of duty-and from line of
duty, As they understood it, nothing
could move them. These characteristics
are possessed in high degree by the
subject of our sketch.
Tie Colonel had such educational ad-
vantages as the higher private schools of
that day furnished. But those who re-
member what many of the ante. bellum
schools were will not be surprised that q
boy possessed of good mind with the
energy and perseverance which be exhib.
tied from very early age should make
rapid progress,
Before he completed the course which
be had marked out, and while studying
and teaching, he met and married Miss
Anna Ford, one of The handsomest, state.
liest and most Intelligent women that
County has produced in the last half
century. And to her he is indebted in
no small degree for the success that has
crowned his life.
After marriage he settled on farm
which one of his uncles had owned and
which report says he abandoned because
the land was too poor to sprout COW peas.
Tt was poor but one would not think so to
see it now. Thomas began his crop With
a single farm hand-himself, and with
but one horse-old gray. But soon his
untiriug energy, directed by a mind
trained to study and investigate, began
to show itself in its improvement.
Some six or eight years later, and he
had several hands and several horses,
paid for with money made in farming,
aud the farm itself had become one of
the most productive in the County, while
a large and comfortable residence had
taken place of the dilapidated log struct-
ure which had been the dwelling.
But now the war began and e. T.
Stackhouse was among the first to res.
pond to The call. He had comfortable
home, q devoted wife, three loying chill.
dren, everything in fact to make life
pleasant, but duty called and with him
there could be no compromise. On the
organization Of the company raised about
Little Rock he was deprived of the honor
he sought, that of high private, by being
made captain of the company, which
became part of the 9th regiment, South
Carolina Volunteers, Col. Cash command
ing.
During The long struggle which fol-
lowed his cool, deliberate, courage, uni
ted with intelligence and quickueas of
conception, at home, soon drew upon
him the attention ofthose above him.
During his recent visit to this county
Judge ]. B. Kershaw related an anec-
dote Of Col. Stackhouse, which shows
how highly he was appreciated by his
superior officers and gives full insight
into his inmost character. While the
battle of fredericksburg was being fought
Gen. Kershaw found that creek which
debouched into the valley on the left of
his position could furnish concealment
to columns of the enemy not only till
they could pass our fanks, but until they
had reached position almost in our rear.
If the enemy should discover this creek
the day would be lost, and not only the
day, but the army, because owing to
their vast numbers we could not have
continued the. struggle, with our army
cut in two and attacked in front, flank
and rear. Our little force was already
stretched out over line far too long for
our numbers, aid we mad no troops to
spare to that position. Turning to
Stackhouse, wiz was then commanding
the Sth regiment, he explained the sit
uation to him. 'Now Stackhouse, take
your regiment and occupy that position
and hold it against any force that the
enemy may send against it" Later in
the day, as the enemy continued to
throw heavy masses of troops across the
river, and as those troops drew nearer
and nearer the creek, Gen. Kershaw's
fears lest they should discover the advan.
tages which the creeks bank would give
became so great that he determined to
visit the position. There he found
Stackhouse standing motionless on a
little rise in front of his line, his eyes
fixed on the vast columns of Federals
maneuvering on the plain in his front to
note their first movement in his direc-
ton.
The General said to him: "Stackhouse,
you must hold your position here" 81
will hold it, sir, as long as one of u.s.
with glance along the line of the old
Sth, is alive.' This was said, continu.
ed the General, not in spirit of brag-
gadocio, but in that cool, low firm, tone,
which be was accustomed to use in ordi-
nary conversation, but one had only to
look into those honest gray eyes to be
l. L j y