The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-29
ANTE BELLUM DAYS.
An Interesting Talk about Old Militia
Days In Anderson County.
TuaALoo, S. c., May 25, 1895.

UayS ln RnueTS0n Cuuhty'
TuaALoo, S. c., May 25, 1895.
Editors anderson Ltelligencer
Iwas looking through some old rub
bish the other day, thing I like very
much to do as opportunity offers, and
came across a list of names that in
terested me particularly, but 1 was
unable to determine the age or char
acter of it. Investigation showed it
to be list Of men liable in ante bellun'
days to patrol duty in which is now
Fork Township Of Anderson County,
and it's age to be at least ffty-fve
years. In the old militia regime there
were two regiments of infantry in An
derson County-the Fourth, whose
muster-ground was at Varennes, and
the Forty-second, whose parade-ground
was first at Minton's Old Field, near
Sandy Springs, and later at Craig 8,
also near Sandy Springs. Each Of
these regiments was made up of two
battalions, and that embracing the
Fork held it's musters for many years,
dating as far back as 1880, at what was
known as Harrison's Old Field. This
muster-ground was a mile or so east Of
Seneca River, and nearly opposite Ce-
dar Grove Church in the Fork. In the
opening years Of the century some of
the Harrisons and Earles operated an
iron foundry at that point on the river,
and large area Of land was cleared to
get fuel for smelling the ore, much of
which was dug from the same land.
The land was put into cultivation, and
on wornout portion Of it the Second
Battalion of the Forty-second Regi-
ment s. G. NJ. had its rendezvous.
Later the underground was chang
ed to Bruce's Shop, on the Pendleton
road where now stands Mt. Tabor
Church, and where it remained until
the collapse Of the system as result
of the war. I was present at what
was no doubt the last battalion muster
held there. Itwas in '62 or '63, when
was a lad of eleven years, and the
memory Of it is rather vague. My
father acted as Adjutant and formed
the battalion in dress parade on the
road leading out to what's now CAN'T s
Mills, on Eighteen Mile Creek. The
now venerable Col. 7. 81. Russell was
Major. Mounted on splendid horse,
and clad in the glittering uniform Of
the old-time militiaman, he made to
the men as they stood on parade a
ringing speech on the issues Of the
war, and appealing to their patriotism
he wound up by calling for volunteers.
The first blush of the ardor Of the con-
Aict had worn off by this time, and /
do not know but what the half-dozen
men who, with firm tread, marched
three PAGES to the front in response to
the Majors appeal, exhibited higher
degree Of patriotism than did many
who were swept into the ranks by the
enthusiasm that marked the early days
+ of the war. I wish I knew the names
Of those men, and I trust that i they
are living they may see this and write
me.
The Beat Companies were required
to drill four times year, and the Bat
talon met for drill once a year. The
General, or regimental muster, oc-
Cured once year and lasted two days,
the first day being devoted to drilling
the Observation-Disclosures and non
commissioned the evolutions to be
performed by the full regiment on the
second day. The Governor reviewed
the regiment once every two years.
These muster days, from petit to
general muster, were great occasions.
It is true many Of the men, especially
the older ones-the muster age wasfrom
eighteen to forty-6ve-went through
the performance in a sort Of perfume
tory way, and returned directly home,
but with very many they were gala
days, and the "fst and skuller' was
in his glory, and always made day
of it. Nobody wore uniforms, except
the officers, and the men furnished
their own arms, running in style all
the way from the three-dollar shot
gun past the London twist double
barrel and the long-barrelled rife that
challenged in heftiness an ordinary
feld-piece, to the old-time government
musket with it's big smooth bore and
flint and steel lock.
The law authorized the appointment
of a Sutler at these musters, and there
was usually considerable competition
for the place, but the Sutler's s stock
never extended beyond a full supply
Of straight corn liquor, which he serv-
ed to the thirsty patriots at seven
pence (124c.) a quart from board ex-
temporized between two trees. The
vendors Of ginger-cakes and cider
usually women-were always out in
full force, particularly at Battalion
and General Musters, and it was the
custom of such Of these props OF the
military renown Of their State, as were
fathers, to carry to the expectant lit
tie fellows at home one or 80 OF these
ginger-cakes tied in his "red ban
danner.
Long ago Camp Muster was insti-
tuted at Pickensville, within mile or
so of the present town of Easley. The
purpose in this Camp Muster, which
was held once year and lasted a week,
was the training Of the officers Of An
derson, Pickens and Greenville Dis
tricts. But the scheme appears to
have been unsatisfactory, and was
abandoned after few years.
As have said the old list Of names
was the patrol list for the Fork Beat.
The year was probably 1889, certainly
not later than 1843. The Fork Beat,
which was co-extensive with what is
now Fork Township, was subdivided
into four sections or patrol districts.
These districts were in charge of Cap.
tains of Patrol, who we're appointed
by the Captain of the Beat Company
to serve three months. These Cap
tains, with the militiamen in their re-
spective districts, were charged with
the duty Of patroling or policing the
slaves. They mac regular rounds in
their districts, usually at night, and
if they caught slave off his MASTER s
do n