The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-09-15

al vi ILL ! II oSoili 49,
direction Of Stoncy Creek, saying that
the enemy had broken our lines, and
a heavy force of Cavalry was moving
up that road, and would soon be there,
closing IIampton's outlet from Arm.
strong's and capture his trains packed
at the school house. | took two guns
and went at a gallon to Gravelly Run
Bridge and swamp, three-fourts of a
mile (or perhaps half 4 milc) south on
Quaker road, and sent remaining guns
to Hampton with message of what |
had done. Maj. r. +. Barker was at
the Cross Roads, and | asked him to
send everything he could find as sup
ports. Capt. NJ. J. TIough, Of the 9th
Cavalry, brought his company, and
some d]ismountcd Cavalry also were
brought in, and with these I protected
my planks the guns held the bridge
until Hampton had retired from
Ilatchcr's Run and the trains had got
await.
j think Grcgg's Cavalry Division
must have been held here from two to
three hours, for / moved out before
sunrise and it was ~ o'clock before he
got to the Cross Roads at Dabncy's
Mil. Young's Brigade came in be-
hind my guns and enabled me to get
away. See Gen. Grcgg's report, War
Records, Vol. ~, part l also Col. C..
II. Smith, commanding Gregg's lst
Brigade, same volume. They both lie
like dogs when they say they charged
and carried the position, and that it
was held by a large force don't
think l had over 125 men, all told,
during the fight, and with Young
help, the guns were retired when the
end was accomplished for which | car
ried them there. [ was shot just before
they were withdrawn.
Yours truly,
JAS. F. HART.
The following letters shows that We
had heroes to die at home as well as
on the battlefield
CAMDEN, S. c., Aug. 10th, 1897.
Cart. Il. l.. Brooks, Columbia, S.
C.-My Dear Sir; Your telegram re-
ccivcd yesterday, and I write as early
as practicable. The tragedy to which
you refer, as reported to me and as
given in an account Of the affair pub
lished by the commandant of the Pro-
vost Guard, occurred under the fol-
lowing circumstances I'm Februa-
ry, 1865. while Shcrman's army was
passing through South Carolina, Gen.
Francis p. Blair, commanding the 18th
Army Corps, caused twelve citizens OF
Chesterfield County to be arrested,
and required them to cast lots, to de-
tcrminc which one Of the number
should be shot in retaliation for a
Federal trooper who had been found
dead in the woods. 1t fell to the lot
Of James Miller to die. His compan-
ions stated subsequently that upon
their expressing regret that he should
have to die, he said it was hard, but
that it was doubtless best that it had
fallen to his lot, for he was prepared
to die, and he feared that not another
of the party was. lie protested to
Gen. Blair that he was an old man
with a large aud dependent family,
and that while in sympathy heart and
soul with his country, he had not
borne arms, except when called into
service under the conscript law as a
member Of the reserves. Blair could
not be moved. Mr.. Miller then asked
to see his wife and children this
privilege was granted him and his
family, living some miles distant,
were sent for. His last interview
with them was most touching, but
without demonstration he asking
that they control their grief. he
gave directions as to the management
of his affairs and the conduct of his
children. took leave Of his family, and
was led out Of sight, but not OF hear
ing, and shot by the Provost Guard.
Before being put to death, he told the
officer in charge he had some requests
to make, to-wit:
1st. lie did not want them to tie
him, for he was not going to run.
2nd. lie did not want them to blind
fold him, for he wanted to look at
those who killed him.
3rd. lie did not want them to shoot
him in the face, for in all his life he
had never done anything to be asham-
cd of. (Sublimcly heroic, vast notD
His requests were granted. And so
died James Miller, who is buried at
Five Forks Church in Chesterfield
County, half way between Lancaster
c. II. to Chesterfield C. H.. and there
is in all South Carolina no holicr spot
than in the country churchyard where
that brave man is buried. 1t was
afterwards ascertained that the Fed
cral trooper was killed by a negro be-
longing to Mr.. Wm. Sowcll, Of Ches-
tcrield County. Mr.. Sowcll had con-
ccalcd his horses and mules in Lynch
cs' Creek Swamp, and left the negro
to feed and water them they were
discovered by the trooper, who rclulr-
ed the negro to take such Of the ami
mails as he wanted and 60 with him.
1t had been raining for some days, but
the sun was shining, and the trooper
complaining of being tired and sleepy,
said to the negro that he would lie
down and take a nap while he (the
nccro) looked out for him. While the
fellow was sleeping, the negro killed
him with a lightwood knot, and taking
his masters stock and the troopers
horse returned to his place in the
swamp. and saved all of them. This
is the story as told to me by the peo-
pie in the immediate community.
Wish he had mere James Miller !
Ilurricdly, am
Most truly yours,
W. ID. TRANTHAM.
In August, 1861, IL Infantry was
in the trenches at Petersburg, and
with SO much practice the men on
both sides had become excellent marks
men with artillery as well as with
small arms. So expert were our
friends. the enemy, with biz guns that
they could throw 4 shell with almost
81. much onn,rcov 1s an nyDcrt Oltchpr