The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-03

gloomy looking place. Ine "eaIlel
was very warm and the place seemed
to be swarming with negros, flies and
gnats. A few Federal soldiers were
stationed there.
From Hilton Head we were sent to
Charleston by boat, for the steamer
from New York could not enter
Charleston harbor. The depth of
water was not sufficient to float YES
sci so large. So We were transferred
to one that could cross the bar and
the trip was made in a few hours to
the bar. There we waited several
hours for flood tide so as to cross the
bar
The famous Fort Sumter in ruins
was viewed with considerable interest
| as we passed, as also Fort Moultrle
and Sullivan's Island. Quite change
had taken place since We saw them
last in April, 1862.
We landed in Charleston Saturday
evening, July 1st, and we're marched
from the wharf to the comissary de-
partment of the garrison and drew
about one days rations Of crackers
and pork. We spent the night at the
S. G. Railroad depot. The next
morning Sunday we boarded the train
for Orangeburg, the terminus of the
road then.
Sherman army had destroyed the
road oabove Orangeburg. Our train
reached Orangeburg in the afternoon.
We made enquiries and found we
would have to walk to Alston, S. G.:
The G.. & C. road was destroyed from
Columbia to that point, distance OF
twenty-five miles.
Our experience on this tramp was
rough. The weather was warm.
| Along the route we came all>was desc
late and in ruins. Sherman's senti-
nels, chimneys, standing along the
road showed where once was happy
families and prosperity, now ruin and
desolation. The destruction was COM
plete. Our rations were short, and
nothing along the road to replenish
with. Some green fruit was all we
could find.
We reached Columbia July 4th,
early in the morning and crossed the
river in boat where the Congaree
bridge once stood. At the c. 6 G.
| depot we rested a short time. 1t be-
ing national holiday the day was
celebrated with considerable noise.
We could hear the bands playing up
| town and wild cheering going on. We
| concluded not to take part-in the cele-
bration, as we were more anxious to
reach home.
We heard that the trains from Ais
ton to Greenville rnn up one day and
down the next. The next morning
| "wednesday was the day to go up.
We had to make it to Alston that day
and night or wait two days longer.
We followed the railroad track up the
river, making slow time, for we were
| weak and out of rations. The road
was torn up and washed away and the
bridges all gone. The day was warm;
no farm houses along the route to give
us help. We would go few miles
and rest. The twenty-five miles was
hard to make. -
When we reached Aston Tuesday
morning it was near leaving time for
| the train.
We called to the ferryman to come
after US. He was slow getting over.
When we were about half way over
the river the train pulled out.
$50 near and yet SO far.
When the boat reached the bank we
landed in short order. As we clam
bered up the bank the negro ferryman
was demanding his pay. We had no
money and no time to settle bills. SO
the ferry bill is still unsettled. The
train stopped at road crossing few
hundred yards from the river to take
on baggage. This delay enabled us to
| overtake them and board the train.
Captain Billy Smith, the veteran con-
ductor, was in charge and landed us in
safety at our destination in the after
moor of July 5, 1865. John Marion
Pruitt, L. K. Robertson; Gus Ashley
and John F. Williams were in the
prison with me. All are still living
except John Marion Pruitt.
The thirty-two years and more that
have passed since the Confederate
armies surrendered seems like a
dream. Many of the heroes are gone.
Those of US still living are classed
with the old men of the country.
e., Aa.n ,,nnn ,r;ll thin our