The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-22

some bridges that had been burned where
the road ran through a swamp, crossing &
stream some sixteen times within mile.
''You ask me to relate what I may re-
member of the fight at Dingle's mill.
son the afternoon of the 9th, as we were
approaching--as recollect it-a timbered
swamp, across which was built causeway,
our advance guard was fred upon from a
battery that had been erected on the oppo
site side Of the swamp and commanding the
causeway and the road.
"Our battery was soon gotten in posi- tion
to the right Of the road. which was an open
field, and returned the fire, while Colonel
Carmichael with his own regiment, the
One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York
and q part Of the Ffty-Sxth New York ef
fected crossing through the swamp and
captured the guns. Several of our men were
wounded and perhaps killed And of the
Confederates recollect seeing few dead
lying near the battery. l remember see
ing one lying dead, cut nearly in two by Il
cannon ball, and was told by some one
afterward that he was Presbyterian min.
lister living at or near Sumter LieuteEant
Mcqueen, son of the Rev d. McQueen).
81 think that all the Confederates en-
gagged were raw militia, and while the
action was that Of brave nen, their mex
perience and the wel!-discipllned force
they had to conterd with, made the contest
altogether unequal.
Il can give you little personal incident
of that fight. Twas sitting on my horse
Just over a rising knoll in the road from.
the causeway watching the firing, when q
ball from one of the guns of the Coafed-
crate battery that could be plainly seen Oh
account of its partially spent condition
and our being directly in its line, struck
the ground, ricochetted, and came directly
toward me, when Major Webster OF the
Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry called ont to
me dodge when I leaned over my horse,
lust escaping the blow that would in all
probability have prevented me from writing
this letter The bali was picked up abont
two hundred yards from us.
1T was only short march to Sumter,
where We arrived about dark. Inere the
was burned and several loco
motives destroyed, but I am sorry to say
that the destruction of property did not
end with that.
Notwithstanding that guards were care
fully posted, nearly al the stores IN the
town were badly ransacked during the
night. l know it was the impression at
the time.-and think correct-that but for
the feeling and excitement growing out OF
the unfortunate stand made by the militia
at Dingle'S .nili, most of whom were sup
posed to live in sumter, private property
would not have been molested. But such
was war
cat Sumter I was invited and accepted
an invitation to stay at house, as now
remember not far from the round-house,
where there were two ladies, one OF whom
had husband in the Confederate army.
accepted similar Invitation from some
Jewish ladies in Camden, South Carolina,
who lived in house fronting on the pub
lie square At both places l was treated
nicely and still remember the good meals
at table and clean beds to sleep in
things that were lrxurles then.
"As I had command of the engineer de-
partment 7 was permitted to do pretty
much as pleased while in camp. Hence
these pleasant Irregularities.
II have quite curiosity to see your ac-
count of the raid, and trust that will do
our boys full justice I knew most OF the
officers in the command and believe that
they were gentlemen even in the midst OF
war, but Of course there were always some
to be found in every command of whom
this could not be said.
"More than twenty-one years have
passed since the war closed. Much frlcti on
was necessarily engendered through new
civil relations of the people of the South,
and some problems remain to be solved,
but prosperity is rapidly reaching through
her hills and valleys, and common na-
tionality is becoming living reality.
No one has kindlier feelings toward her
people and greater pride in her pros
perity than the lieutenant of engineers,
who took an humble part in Potter's raid.
Glow sorely afflicted have many Of your
people been by the earthquake? But there
is one consolation in the fact that the SYM
pathy and relief so freely bestowed by the
people from all sections Of the country
strengthens the bond of our common na-
tionality.
"Of coarse have distinct recollection
of the circumstances of being 1T ex-Gov-
ernor Manning's mansion, but I can not
remember entering it with the other officers,
so your question can not answer.
II distinctly recall the flag of truce
soon after leaving the grounds. There was
great Joy among the soldiers on its receipt,
which was shown by loud cheering and
firing of muskets for some time.
Before that we had seen scarcely any
white men, but from that time on the road
sides we're lined with them. I remember
of thinking that they did not look very
pleasant or appear very communicative,
but thought that it was quite natural under
the circumstances.
II think that most Of the negroes who
followed in our wake Jon that raid went to
Charleston and Beaufort and other places
on the coast.
sI am very anxious to read your 'Recol-
lections of Potter's Raid So just as soon
as YOU can please send them to me. So,
again thanking you for the high esteem in
which you have held me for so many years
for the little act of kindness that I was by
fortunate circumstances enabled to do you
and yours, remain most kindly yours.
HARRISON L. WATERMAN"
My friend Waterman received what he
expressed such great desire to read, ard
said 1--WE all shall read them most carefully
and then will give you our opinions OF
them"
Repeated letters to him since their re-
ception have never brought reply. can
only surmise that his feelings were hurt
and he was mortified at the treatment re-
ceived after he bid US goodbye from some
Of his fellow-ofhcers.
1t would have been very pleasant tc me
to have kept up correspondence, but IN
it all never could have done too much for
him.
--e'
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