The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-26

Virginia State troops. No inforfiSatic n
uld be obtained from him as to his
anteoedents or his present purposes,
othor than that he had "come South
to enlist in the cause Of South Caro-
lima" Without much ado, Capt. Wal
ker had him enrolled in his company
and put on duty. While serving as
private in the company, Neal, Tor as
such he gave his name, had but few
intimate or personal friends, was silent
and moody, keeping as much apart as
possible from the other membcrs of
the command. BY some he was con-
sidered u crank, " others O lunatic,
while tho most generally accepted
theory was that he was q Northern
spy.
After tho fall OF Sumter part of the
troop around Charleston re-enlistod in
inc Contederate service and wcro
transferred to Virginia, Richmond
thon becoming tho seat OF war. The
other portion were either disbandcd
and returned to their homes or else re.
enlisted in the other regiments then
forming throughout the State. In the
changes and confusion incident to the
disbanding Of the troops Neal dis
appeared rs mysteriously as he had
come.
The war wore on. Battles wore
fOught-sOmo won, some lost. Lee
had made his disastrous campaign in
Maryland and was now lying in front
OF fredericksburg, facing Burnsides.
While resting In our many camps, or
during long marches, passing aud re-
passing columns of troops from every
State in the South, ] had never seen or
heard one word from my silent. mys-
terious comrade Of Morris Island. But
during the memorable battle that was
soon after fought, Kershaw had been
ordered to reinforce with part of his
command, Cobb and his brave Geor-
gians, who were then struggling for
existence behind the 3tono wall that
ran just below and around Mayree's 8
Hill, Col. Nance, OF tho Sd S. G. II ,
was directed to occupy tho crost OF tho
now noted Mayree's Hill, seemingly
the objective point for which both ar
mics were contending. AS We were
rushing down the road leading to that
point at breakneck speed, the enemy
pouring in deadly fire OF sholl and
solid shot, the bullets from the sharp
shooters on the housetops falling like
hail in our ranks, q solitary horseman
came dashing up tho pike in our di-
rection. His horse was white with
foam and apparently ready to fall
from the desperate strain he had be On
under. AS no came near | discovered
it to be the long lost Neal, dressed In
the uniform OF O Confederate major.
How are you, Fort Sumter ?' "rake
care Of yourself" And away he goes
us on the wings OF the wind" l saw
no moro OF him for time. All en-
quiry for HIM proved unavailing.
Grim visaged war" with its brs-
tied front still ragged, aud in its wake
ruin and desolation. Early was in the
valley, playing hido and seek with
Sheridan. The battle Of the 10th Oc-
tober had been fought, and Sheridan
lay hehind his works at Fishers Hill.
The morning of the 2lst, Gordon, with
the stealth Of the red man OF the for
est, made the circuit over tho Massa-
| nutten and fell like an avalanche on
Sheridan's left, while Kershaw, plung-
ing til rough the Shenandoah, assaulted
| the battlcment on Fishers Hill. The
| attack was SO sudden and impetuous
| tn at the enemy became panic stricken
and Ged like herd of cattle stamped
ed. Men rushing pell nell from their
tents or their places in the cntrench-
ments, hatless and shoeless; horses
galloplng riderlcss wildly oyer the
| plains; cannons, caisOns, wagons and
vehicles of all kinds driven like mad
through the heeing throng of panic
stricken troops, trampling under foot
everything that came in the way,
while the Confedel'ates, now in pos
session Of the enemy's works, were
pouring a deadly fire in this struggling,
seething mass of humanity. For six
miles the COnfederateD, now almost as
badly disOrganized as tho enemy, fol-
lowed at tho heels Of the flying enemy.
The wealth and treasures of the aban-
doncd camps looked to the half starry
ed, half clad Confederates as the treas
ures Of the lncas did to the Spanish
soldiers Of old so throwing aside all
order and discipline great portion
gave themselves up to plundering and
foraging, leaving but O corporal's
guard to follow the enemy.
The wave recedcs. Sheridan is met
on his famous ride from Winchester
and equally famous command, "rurn.
boys, turn. we arc going back" A
feeble advance is made, and now the
Confederates are routed in turn. Arms
are thrown aside, wagons and artillery
left standing on the pike or tumbled
together in u grand "smash up" can
noneers and toamsters desert tn cir post
and join in with the routed infantry
all now in one mad chace to avoid cap
ture and to place themselves beyond
tne protecting waters OF The Shenan-
doah. All order is discarded, each and
every man struggling to forge ahead
ol his fellOw-man. Grape and can
Mister rake the field, while the heavy
tramp of the enemy's cavalry could be
heard laundering down the pike. !
was just nearing the skirt of thicket
beyond the road, passing over the dead
and dying that lay in every direction,
the result of the morning fight, when
heard my name called. Hello Fort
Sumter" cried Neal, for to my aston
ishment, it was the voice of my mys-
terious friend Of years ago. AS near
ed him he reached out his hand as if
to grasp mine, and said in q faint,
faltering voice, "Good-bye, Fort, Sum.
ter, good-by. 1t is all up with me at
last" Then pointing to his uniform,
which was that of q Federal officer, he
said This looks strange, but it Is
all right. Take care of yourself or you
will be Lost" Then RECLINING his head
upon the dead body Of his horse that
lay mangled at his side he motioned
mo on. There was no time for cx-
plantations, and 10 the heavy tread of
the approaching cavalry told too plain
~ my danger | followed in the wake