The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-09-21
Reunion Of the Confederate
Veterans Of Union Co..
INTBRES TING AND EXCITING
EXPERIENCES ON THE BAT
TIE FIELD TOLD BY THEs
OLD SOLDIERS.
BIG PICNIC AND sARBacgE DINNER.

One Of the most pleasant meetings il has
been my pleasure to attend in a long time
was upon the occasion Of the reunion of the
old soldiers of the late war from Union
County, who assembled with their famil es
md friends. aud their families, last Thurs
day in the teautiful and shady grove around
Barnctt's Springs, about miles north Of
Union. Tho crowd began TO gather about
10 clock, aud strings cf wagons, buggies
horses etc, c'uld be seen coming from
every direction. There was quite u large
number of the fair sex. They came by the
wag n aud buggy loads to show the old sol
diers that while they are too young to know
anything about the war except what they
have heard and read, the memory Of the
brave soldiers who dill such brave fighting
aud suffered 50 much privati,n for the sake
Of .heir homc', was cherished in their hearts
as well rs in the hearts Of the older ones,
the women who contributed 20 nobly, and
sacrificed 81 much for the lost cause, Tie
peers Of whom have never brcu known on
this continent. The crowd gathered so
thick and fast that serious doubts began to
be expressed that there would be enough
provisions to give them all dinner. There
seemed to have been some misunderstanding
about the arrangements, and it wa, thought
that there would be more carcaScs TO barba-
cue than there really was. aud it began to
look doubtful about feeding the crowd. 1t
wa, determined TO appeal to the women for
help as in the times Of yore when they al
ways 80 nobly responded, AMI Col. |. G.
Mckssick was made manager of the day,
and took the stand to tell of the grub stua-
ton, and he toll the ladies what was ex-
pected Of them, told them that it looked
like this crowd would for one day have TO
90 through with what he with his fellow
soldiers had to do many day while in SER
vice. that some would have to 90 hungry
unless the loving hands of the dear women
had anticipated this AMI brought enough
baskets to help out the dinner. The appeal
was promptly responded to, as has always
been the case, and the ladies said they were
prepared. One could almost hear the happy
smile that passed around, and the colonel at
once proceeded to add the following ladies
to the to the gentlemen committee, for the
preparation of the table Mrs. w. II.
Hames, Miss Josephine Smith, Mrs. Catha-
rine Buiew, Mrs. Frank Barnett, Mrs. j. II.
.,srtles, Miss Nelly Smith, Mrs. Adolphus
Gregory, Mrs. Sam Barnett, Mrs T. l.
Hames, Mrs. Henry Gossett. These Indies,
with The gentlemen Of the committee, went
towork to gather up the baskets, taking
them down to the long table forming hcl
low square, $50 or 400 feet around, which it
looked like it would take weeks cooking
10 Hi. "HHc lniS WAS SoluS ou IL was buk-
gested that there be some talks for the enter
tainmcnt of the crowd, by the old soldiers.
1t was pretty hard to get this started, for
while these dear old veterans never hesitated
to face the music while the bullets were fly
ing thick and fast around them ard their
comrodes aud loved ones were falling on
every side of them, they hesitated about
getting up before such a large audience and
telling their experience. But Gel. |. G.
McKissick, that brave old war horse, who
has weathered so many battles and who is
go we'll beloved by his whole command,
what few OF them survive, took the platform
and started the ball rolling by reoiting some
OF his experiences, iaLerspersing his re-
marks by several laughable Incidents and
jokes on some Of the boys who were present,
which brought these boys to the front in
reply, and they also told of many hard
fought battles, and good deal of fun they
had while in service. Some parts of the
talks were very touching and brought many
tears TO their eyes even, rs we'll as to the
eyes Of the audience. Semc Of them would
get SO full while talking of their beloved
comrades, and the way they fought and
bed and died, and the messages they would
send to their dearly loved ones at home that
they died at their post, that their voices
choked up and utterly failed them at times.
Col McK'ssick gave very graphic history
Of the battle Of Williamsburg and its capture
in September, 1862. How the command Of
400 or 500 charged the City about daylight,
putting the Yankees to fight. How the
ladies rcjoiccd at their arrival, coming into
the streets. some Of them in hshoJihc, to
cheer their friends, and thank God for
Their deliverance from the oppressive heel
of the tyrant which had been upon them
for . months. Said that the scene they
witnessed beggars description. lie de-
scribed the attack upon Fort Magruder
and said that when he with his little com
mand of 20 men, got through the pines, and
saw what was before them, with the dark
mouths of many guns looking then right in
tho face; he would have given a bLzzard q
large amount for the use of his wings. But
they all saw it would not do to turn back
aud with the usual rebel yell and spirit Of
daring they at once charged and put the
enemy to flight. 1t got 80 hot they could
not hold it when the enemy found what q
small handful of men had routed them, and
he told how young boy crptured Yankee
on the retreat, and made him double quick.
lie said that when volunteers were asked to
take the fOrt, many companies hesitated TO
90 into what seemed to be the laws Of death,
when he was askcd to try it with his com
pany, he stepped forward aud called his
men to follow him, the taismanic word he
used was "Boys remember where you came
from you ara from old Union, S. c." and
the men responded rs one man. lie said
that no deed Of daring bravery was tco
great for his boys when he told them "Re-
member where you came from
DR.. FAINT followed relating his experience,
he sail hc made all the fun for the rcgi.
ment he was u boy and full Of mischief, and
told mauy of the jokes he played OH his
comrades, and came near getting shot for
his fun. lie told how he got the name of
conjurer, by playing a trick on two negroes
with conf ur bail. Was in the Williams
burg capture. Told how the telegraph lines
had been cut. and how the enemy manou-
vcred to get the news on another wire, and
how they came near getting trapped by cut
ting the wrong wire. Soms cfhis words were
very touching, aud his eyes filed with tears
more than once. lie said he was sorry to
see 81 little interest taken by the rising gen :
GRAFTON in the history Of the c)nfedcrate c
war, and the valiant deeds done by the