The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-14

OCl 1CS VlA al " We lie
and neighbors dashed into camp in
which there was force twice as strong
as their own. They fred, and the de-
moralized enemy, after wild fusillade,
broke and ran, while Beatty's men re-
loaded and then dashed back to the Point
Of Rocks. The other Confederates ran in
the direction of the firing, leaving the
road to the north open.
One Of Captain Beatty men, aneigh-
Dor named Campbell, was killed, and
young Hugh, the lieutenant, had bull
let in his right breast The brave fellow,
with the blood frothing from his mouth
and nose, kept on till daylight; then he
fell on the trail and begged his friends
to 20 on and save themselves. The old
mans first 1arn was stricken down, and
his youngest born was already dead, yet
he still retained his courage and calm
ness, still kept to himself the terrible
agony at his heart, still was resolved to
do his duty by the living and to his
country till he was called himself.
Making stretcher of a blanket and
two poles, young Hugh was laid on it,
and men were detailed to carry it. This
interfered with their progress, but
though they knew that the lieutenant
could not live for many days, OF even
hours, they bravely determined to stand
by him till the last and to die by him
if need be.
The enemy followed close behind.
The Kentucky line at daylight was only
20 miles away, and Captain Beatty
hoped that the Confederates would not
follow into that territory. About the
middle of the afternoon they were in
i Kentucky, but to their surprise they
found the men in gray ahead of them.
Here death came in mercy to young
Hugh, and at the base of rock directly
on the border, his kinsmen and neigh
bors followed a grave with their knives,
wrapped him up in his blanket and laid
him to rest, It'll sich times as the good
Lord will let the livin tote him back to
Batty's crick, /" said the old man as he
arose from his knees beside the grave.
.'Hit was like drivin knife into my
heart to leave Hugh thar said the old
man, with a suppressed sob, as he told
me this part of his story. He was a
son, and a brother, and friend, all
rolled into one. He was so when he
died, but he allus called me dad, and
he was never sot on doin thing that I
opposed. BE never gin me crost word
nor angry look. He was allus my boy,
even whin the great Master sent him
boys of his own. Hugh wasn't tso ID
pious ez some folks, but he had clean
soul, and I reckon thar wasn't a stain
on it ez his blood shed for the old flag
wouldn' wash clean ez rain and pure
ez the snow on the hilltops. The angels
guardin the gates of heaven will be KEEP
right busy a-lettin souls in and a-bar-
rim souls out durin this wah, but whin
they seed my Hugh they didn't chin fo'
long, but jest swung the doah wide open
and said: Enter, ole feller. This is the
place built since tie foundation Of the
world and glorifed by the blood Of
Jesus Christ, jest fo' 1aen O. yo'r build. >"
Captain Beatty had heard Of Ken
tucky's neutrality" to him very
vague word, but he had an idea that it
meant that armed men from Tennessee.
could not or would not enter that state.
He knew nothing of the doings Of Zol--
licoffer and Albert Sidney Johnston, nor
did he try to reason out Why General
Thomas of the Union army should have
established camp over near Danv1lle,
which had then continued to be for
more than year the rendezvous OF the
mountain Union men Of Kentucky and
Tennessee.
Leaving their own state did not bring
rest or safety to the men from Beatty $
creek, and they soon saw that the men
who wanted to break up the Union
under the plea of state rights had no re-
spect for state lines. They entered Ken
tucky at the southeast corner Of Wayne
county, and here they were joined by
little parties Of refugees who increased
the force to about so men. The new
comerS were Cn1OnlStS ana all uouu-
taineers, and Camp Dick Robinson was
their objective point. These men knew
or had heard of old Hugh Beatty, and
one and ell were ready to take service
under him.
eve uns amt huntin no fight yet,
boys. Efsso he the ID rebs will
keep out Of our way and let we uns go
up to Camp Dick Robinson, thar won't
be no shootin to hurt, but if so be they
wants to stop us then we uns'll give
'em the best we has. +"
This was Captain Beatty's advice to
the new men, and they agreed with
him, as they were ready to do if he had
proposed to hunt up the enemy and fight
him. But there was no need to hunt for
the enemy. He was all about them, and
from the time Captain Beatty's men
crossed the line till they reached the
Cumberland river, on the 1st day of
January, 1862, there was not an hour
when they were not fighting or within