The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-09
LOADED THE FIRST CANNON.

ear Rome, Ga. He helped drive the
United States troops out of Fort Sum
ter. That, at least, is his claim, and
he supports it by very graphic and
oircumstantial narrative. He is re-
parted to be thoroughly truthful
and trustworthy man.
The veteran name is Thomas A..
Wheat. He has farm on the COSTA
naula River, and nine miles from
Rome, where he has lived since he
left the army. Physically he is a
magnificent specimen Of manhood.
Six feet high, broad-shouldered and
sinewy, he is as good a fighting man
to-day as when he was soldierin the
Confederacy. Although in his fifty
sixth year, he does not look to be
mere than 40.
So devoted is Wheat to the lost
cause that he still wears the gray
overcoat of the Confederate service.
He has guarded this precious relic so
carefully that to-day it is complete
and scrviceable garment, capable OF
protecting the wearer against cold and
fit to be worn in another campaign.
He is ready to begin the war over
again, and if such thing we're possi-
BILE it would see the veteran coming to
the front in his coat Of Confederate
gray like tbs ghost Of the last genera
tion.
The other day Wheat gave a sketch
of his life and it's most momentous IN
cident-the time he helped to fire on
Fort Sumter. He also sat for his
photograph in his Confederate coat
and was told to look as he did when
he was watching for the effect OF the
shot which was to start the biggest
civil war in history.
/ Wheat was born in Middle Georgia.
Just after his twenty-6rst birthday,
which was on Christmas day, 1860, he
left home for Augusta.
"The boys" he said, got after me
to 90 with crowd of them down to
Charleston and fight the Yankees.
II was strapping youngster, and
the recruiting officer took my name
very readily and was attached to a
South Carolina battery and stationed
on Sullivan Island. 1 had heard a
good deal Of talk about war, but Bob
Toombs and other fire eaters had
taught us to believe that war would
not be more than breakfast spell and
that we would whip the Yankees so
easily that if fellow did not keep
right at the front be would not get a
chance to share in the fun.
"I found out better later on. Al
ter the Star Of the West affair We
knew that there was some movement
on foot, and were not surprised when
the long roll sounded just after mid
night on the morning of April IL,
1861, and we were ordered to take our
places at the guns.
cit was my business to load the
6rst cartridge for the 10-inch mortar,
and while our commander, Captain
Hallenquist, took his station near the
gun, I measured out the powder, load
ed the cartridge and cut the fuse.
ssIt was just growing light and the
fog hung heavy on the water between
our position and Fort Sumter. We
could see the dim outlines Of the old
fort, and back to the landward, as the
mist thinned, we could see figures
moving to ana fro along the battery
in Charleston. 1t was the crowd
gathering to witness the attack on the
fort.
Suddenly the signal was given just
as the fog lifted, and revealed the out
lines of the fort, and, springing back
ward, uCapt. Hallenquist pulled the
lanyard. Bomb! the shot rang out,
tand was echoed from shore to shore,
and the frightened water fowls flew
shrieking in every direction. 1t was
like clap of thunder from clear
sky. but in a moment the wild cheer
ing of the crowd along the battery was
borne across the water.
"My blood was up, and in moment
another charge was rammed down the
black throat Of the old mortar, and l
was permitted to fire the second shot,
and had known all it meant then, l
might not have been SO eager tor the
honor, but | was young and my blood
was hot and was ready for anything
that might turn up.
'.The firing, of course, became gen
eral, and the guns from old Sumter
answered our challenge. | was kept
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