The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-04-17
Recollections of Potter's Raid.
GY REV. wM. ". MOOD.

April morning, the Sth OF april, was nlSu
in the heavens before anyone from the
town visited the parsonage after Potters
ne gro army marched out of the town to-
wards Sumter heard steps cautiously
made up the front steps, and then Mrs.
Charlotte DuBose (Aunt Charlotte) stood at
nv bed room door. She had came across
the street from DR.. H. H. higgins, with
whom she lived, the family kindly caring
for her. She looked in very cautiously, as
if there was some doubt OF finding me
there, and when she was assured that l
was there uninjured, she began to weep
and then to praise the Giyer of all good at
finding US all in safety. She told US that
not word had been heard of US since Mrs
NJ. had early IN the evening visited the
Doctors, and had asked General Potter for
guard. That they had ali been IN the
greatest distress about US all night. That
various reports had reached them; first that
had been murdered, and then that I had
cen carried off as a prisoner. She ex-
pressed the greatest delight that the par
sonage had not been burned. it having
been so positively told them that would be
fir ed The dear old lady lad remained s.
long that her hostess became uneasy and
she came over to see after her. can never
forget her look of pleasure and satisfaction
at finding US all in safety. It was now our
turns to ask qoestions: What damage
have they done? s'No damage at ALL" We
had the General and several of bis stiff and
they allowed us two rooms for our family,
supposing that the General being in the
house we'd fare we'll But they asked tor
nothing; they took the house, the kitchen
furniture, the table service everything
and what silver we had, and what provis-
ons were left they destroyed or distributed
to the many WHO had followed the army.
Everything they borrowed was never re-
turned. We found, however, great guam
tity OF writing paper IN the room occupied
by the General" and they have not in
jured the town." "Oh, yes, the fires are
yet burning. Carpenters large hotel at
the corner, the Jail and our beautiful court
house (Dr. Charles Taylor on looking at
this building GA his return from China,
said it was among the most beautifully
proportioned public buildings he had ever
seen in all his trayels), and large qua'i-
ty of cotton is destroyed. That part OF the
town has presented the widest confusion
the entire night" What deliverance it
has been to us; we. knew nothing of it. 1t
would have greatly increased our alarm.
having been told so positively that our
homes would be fired. The visits OF these
two ladies has never beeu forgotten. Aunt
Charlotte has passed away. She Was lborn
IN Sumter county, 5. o., IN 1888, anu died
III Manning at DR.. Auggin's January ],
1875. She had been an humble, fervent
Christian and member of the Methodist
church for seventy-three years. In all her
teebleness, her intense love and interest
in the church never abatei, and to the last
her faith never wavered. She never forgot
to express her gratitude for the kindness
Of DR.. b. H. Higgins and his devoted
wife and children to her. SO Rev. j. Is.
Platts her pastor at the time Of her depart
ure, writes Of her.
After these ladies had returned to their
homes, said to Mrs. NJ: Let US have
now our usual prayers, which have been
interrupted, and you'll please read the
Scriptures" Reaching the Bible she said:
I'll read just where the Bible opens, and
she read slowly the 55th Psalm. There
seemed to be great emphasis in every verse
she read. 1t was singularly approrlats to
oursurroundings, as my readers will See. Our
next visitor was Brother John II. Hodge.
very tender-hearted man. He wepted as
he shook my hand. Il feared to come.
have brought you the only chicken l
have left, thinking you'd need it." He
made no reference whatever to his losses.
l never learned how his family had been
treated for several duys afterwards. They
They literally stripped him. But he has
long since entered into rest:
mo rude alarm Of raging foes;
No cares to break the long repose."
Brother b. had lett Us but short time
when buggy was announced ct tie gate.
With the announcement the startling cry
Of Mrs. Rachall McCuUley. IN my room.
(On her retreat before Potter from Will
liamsburg District, she had deposited some
valuables (tactory thread) with US for SAT E.
keeping.) She was now returning. There
was no necessity tor asking her the cause
Of her startling cry, for she repeated with
her hands thrown above her head and her
bonnet thrown back: The Yankees have
met our men; they have had fight and
We have whipped them back; they are CON-
ing and bArnlng every house on the road.
They have burned out SO and So" And
then, with increased agitation, pointing
through the window, "They are here and are
burning the academy" (Ihis large un-
finished building was short distance
above our home in an open feld.) Sure
enough, the flames were leaping from the
windows; every part Of the building was in
flames. Fly, Mrs. NJ. Fly, Mr.. NJ, and
III take the babe away for you" All this
was startling news. 1t was all, however,
a mistake; not that there had been fgk:
there, but that there had been at Dingles
Mil, few miles from the town of Sum
ter, and our forces were forced back. (This
fight was going on about the same time
that General Lee was surrendering to
Grant at Appomattox court house, Va,
Sunday, the 9Th April, 1869
The burning of the academy building
was from the fire set by Potter's soldiers as
they retired. In this time it had smould
cred, bursting out at the same roment that
Mrs. Nc. was giving vent to her alarmed
feelings. The lurid flames and the volume
of dense black smoke gave much coloring
to the terrible statements she was making.
1t was late IN the day on Monday before
had another visit from either OF my ply
sicians. Then it was that DR.. John l. In
gram called.
Sumter, S. c.
10 be continued
YOU'VE NO IDEA