The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-30
AHaersut. gHtelligsHtst.
Confederate Buttons.

Confederate Buttons.
In 1865 Gen. A. Fl. Terry was in COM
msnd in Richmond, and occupied JET"
Davis mansion in Shocko Hill. Many
of the Rebel officers found themselves
with no other clothes than their uni
forms, and NO money to buy any, so they
were compelled to wear their uniforms
at all times. This irritated Gen. Terry,
and he issued an order that no person
should appear on the streets in Conted.
crate uniforms. The wearers protested
that they had nothing else to wear and
could not go naked. Much bitter feel.
ing was caused by the order, and the
newspapers worked up strong feeling
of efopposition, so much SO that more men
than before wore their uniforms, as it in
defiance of the order.
Gen. Terry then modified his order 80
chat if black buttons instead OF brass
were worn it would answer his purpose.
This brought more opposition and ridi-
cule. They said they had no money to
buy black buttons. He then ordered
that all brass buttons be covered with
black cloth. This was also resisted, for
as the people saw no way OF enforcing
such an order, they simply laughed at it.
Gen. Terry was always known as
man of extraordinary resources and de-
Termination, and when he Issued that
order he. certainly intended j. TO DO
obeyed., I'wss then g sergeant in an in
fantry regiment stationed at Camp
Wider or Jackson (afterward called
Camp Grant,, ana one day an order WAS
issued from Headquarters TO furnish an
extra guard of one zsrgeaht, ten corpo-
rails and thirty privats*fof exsrs duty at
Libby Prison.
I was detailed on tho first OF; these
guards, and on reporting at Sibby Prison
Was instructed by an officer from' .Eerry'a
headquarters to station q corpCsai' and
three men at ten different points "a 5he
city. As I remember nov, one war at
the spo.swood House corner, one sH
Main and Ninth streets, one at Cary and
Eighth streets, one at the Mayors office,
one at the post Office, and others scat
tered over the town. Each guard Was
supplied With pair of scissors, small
file and basket. The Instructions were
to stop every man wearing gray coat
and brass buttons, cut off the buttons aud
let him 90. If he resisted he was to be
locked up in Libby. The file was to cat
the wire that it was expected some of the
buttons would be sewed on with.
The first man who happened along
after the guard was placed at Main and
Eighth streets was Pollard, the editor of
the paper most rabid in its opposition.
He was grabbed, and made a terrible
fuss, but OFF came his buttons. When
the guard brought in the result of the
first days clippings, there were over nine
pecks of good braes' Stttons, which were
taken to Gen. Terry.
This was continued fo-' three, or per-
haps four days, and the citizens we're
fairly wild with rage. Pollsrd's paper
was SO bitter against Terry thas Ar. Pol
lard was given the tip to stop: One
newspaper, I believe, was seized Outright.
I was detailed for this guard agaf1 on
the fourth or fifth day. We marched I'd:
files of two on the sidewalk all the way
down Gary street to Libby. We always
had difficulty at this time in marching
through The streets, as the citizens would
form in crowds Of six, eight or ten and
block up the sidewalks, not allowing us
to pass without difficulty. Our instruc-
tions we're to push them off the walks if
they did not give way. We had no diff
Guilty this morning until We arrived at
che corner of Cary and Eighth streets.
When ne saw crowd of twenty-five or
thirty men standing on the downtown
corner I expected trouble, and ordered
the ranks closed up for q strong push, if
necessary. But Just as We were in the
middle of the street the crowd moved
back up the hill to give us the walk. I
could not understand this, as it had
never been done before.
An old soldier marching alongside me
said: "There is Bobby Lee" l had
never seen Gen. Lee, but standing back
from the corner facing us WIS nan
that, once seen, would always he remen'>
bered, and from the picture had seen
of him l knew who he was. By this
time I was opposite him, and, stepping
back, / gave the command to che guard
to shoulder arms and brought my hands
up to the salute. He took of his hat
and returned the salute. As the guard
PASSED along I brought them back to the
right shoulder-shift, marching down
Cary street without solitary Individual
bothering us on the road, and placed' the
ten guards as usual.
That night when the guard was Te!s
ie7ed the whole ten only had two but.
tons. The salute vas reported over the
town like lightning, and the evening
papers took the matter up. Though thst
guard was posted for ten or twelve days
after that day, there was not another
button cut off rebels coat. They all,
with one accord, accepted the situation
and covered their buttons.
As soon, however, as had my guard
posted, an orderly cames praacing down
from Gen. Terry's headquarters with an
order for me to report to the aajutant
general at once. T explained to the
orderly that could not leave my guard
until relieved.
he went TO regimental headquarters
and o sergeant was sent to relieve me.
WIZ, r orr;1a1 CT hoodon rtoru rpou