The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-14
VISION Of sudden DEATH.
William Evans, a Gallant Confeder'
ate, Who Drew a
WHITE BEAN AND THUS
Escaped Death at the Hands of Sher-
man Brutes, Dies at Ills Home In
Fairfield County.

The Ridgeway, Fairfield county, cor
respondent OF the News and Courier
says that on the I'd of this month MIR.
William Evans, a gallant Veteran, died
at his home near the Kershaw county
line. His funeral was attended by a
large number of friends and old COM
rades. The death of Mr.. Evans recalls
an incident of the late war that should
be recorded in history. 1t will, for all
ages to come, fully portray the charac-
ter of the great leaders on either side,
viz: Gen. w. T. Sherman and our
own Wade Hampton.
On the 18th of February, 1865, Sher-
mans army entered and burned the
principal portion of the beautiful city
of Columbia; next day marched north,
towards Winnsboro, destroying the
railroad; thence to Wateree River and
on to North Carolina. Hisline of march
was traced by the smoke of the homes
he destroyed. Along the line OF march
he made prisoners of all the old men and
bows. together with all the sick
and manned soldiers at home on fur
loueh. Of this number Mr.. Evrns was
captured with several others from this
immediate neishborhood. They were
treated in the most inhuman manner,
reviled and cursed, made to walk knee
deep in mud behind the wagon train,
often had nothing to eat but little
corn that they would pick up, left by
the horses fed in the camps as they
marched by. It rained every day,
poured down in torrents at night; with
no fire. with wet clothes and thoes, they
were chilled to the heart, suffering from
the papgs Of hunger, the inclemency OF
the weather, and grieving oyer the des-
olation of their loved ones at home.
All along the march there were bum
mers or stragglers Intentionally left be-
hind to do their horrid work. On sew
eral occasions they met with awarm re-
ception at the hands OF Confederate
scouts, who left their worthless bodies
in the big road to tell the tale.
It was reported to Gen. Sherman
when near Cheraw and he at once is.
sued an order to retaliate upon the
prisoners in his charge. The modus
operandi was as follows: All of the
prisoners were formed iL.o line. sur
rounded by o company o. Infantry. An
officer read Gen. Shermans orders:
That some of his foragers had been
killed, and one prisoner was to be e1-
ecuted for each one OF his men killed by
the Confederates.
4 small box containing pumber oi
beans was presented each prisoner to
draw one; white pean was life, black
bean was death. Mr.. Evans and others
around here drew white beans
and their lives We're saved fol
the time. A good old man near
Mr.. Evans drew O black bean; this
told him it was death. He replied, 81
am an old man, I have never been IN
the army, have never shouldered 9
musket; 1 would not repine to die IN
front of battle, but it is cowardly to xii
an unprotected prisoner. l have foul
sons in the army, and believe they art
right. l have been deacon of the
the Presbyterian Church for thirty
wears. Goodbye, my friends. l vii
trust in God for the future.
They marched them off In twenty
minutes The sound of musketry
told that they had paid Sher
mans brutal debt. On the mex
day Gen. Wade Hampton's letter tt
Sherman was received, (which the News
and Courier has published on former
occasion), Gen. Hampton wrote Sher.
man he had been informed of his bruta
orders unknown to civilized warfare,
ane that if any more of his soldiers
were killed he would at once retaliate
two for one. officers preferred.
This stopped another bean drawing te
be had next day. All honor to our no
bic, fearless Hampton.