The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-17
EVACUATION CHICKAMAUGA.
Interesting Story of the Move Of the LIST s.
@. Regiment.
Special to Columbia State.


dertaken the narrowing ordeal Of
moving can partially appreciate the
plight we have been in in the pas
week. The quiet Of camp life, with
its routine, has been interrupted ano
we have been in hurry and in rush
Not even now has order been restored
but daily everything gets more and
more homelike. This partially ex-
plains why I have not before written
to the State, much as / would have
liked to have acquainted the people al
home with our surroundings, for
know that there are many in Carolina
who are interested in the regiment.
But, as in moving, there is no time to
write.
Wherever We go, we shall always
think Of Chickamauga most pleasant
". For there it was that our regi-
ment was weaned away from home and
thrown upon the world, which fortu-
nately treated us with utmost respect
and kindness. There it was that we
began to show to the world the stuff
Of which Carolinians are made. There
it was we saw some of our poor fellows
droon awav and die. There it is that
some are now languishing upon fever
ed pillows. Our hearts ever turn
fondly to Chickamauga. So rapidly
have events passed, in kaleidoscope
succession, that we can remember but
few details Of our stay, but we think
Of them with pleasure always.
The last day of our stay, however,
is somewhat of nightmare which
mars and renders indistinct the rest
of the dream. The day had been raw
and showery and the ground was
damp. The boys hourly expected or
ders, but not until after dinner were
they sure Of the programme to be pur-
sued. At 4 o'clock orders were issued
to get ready to march. Yelling while
they worked, the boys sprang to the
guy ropes and soon every tent was
down. The poles and pegs were placed
securely inside and the canvas tied
securely in roll. Then forming the
regulation roll, Of blanket, poncho and
dogtent, with knapsack, gun and cup
strapped around, the soldiers stacked
arms where once were the company
streets. The folded tents and other
baggage were placed in pile ready
for removal. Then it was that the
announcement was made that we would
begin the march at 2.30 am. The
boys never worried about where they
would sleep. They were either too
tired or too animated. Those who
were tired dropped down on their
blankets with nothing between them
and the sky but the leaves. Those
who were animated over our early de-
parture built bon fires and spent the
few remaining hours Of our stay in
talking Of those things nearest SOL
dier's heart. The clouds passed over
that night. That weird woodland
scene will long be remembered. Go
ing south! It thrilled every heart,
but still we were loathe to leave and
took many a long, lingering look at
the place where really we had lived
quite happily. The Pickering Of the
bonfres against the fretted ceiling Of
foliage, the stalking shadows and the
grotesque grouping Of many phantoms
of darkness rendered weird picture.
Promptly at 2 o'clock the following
morning, while the world was still
wrapped in sweetest slumber, the
weary soldiers were awakened by the
bugler's oficious "Can't get EN- up,
or reveille call. After snack Of hard
tack and corned beef the companies
were formed in line. There was con-
siderable delay in getting the baggage
started, but the second battalion
finally left camp at $3.50. Not long
afterward the first battalion filed out.
Our wagons ran short and others were
kindly offered by the Twelfth Mime
sofa and Ninth Pennsylvania. The
last wagon left about z o'clock. The
third battalion, under Maj. Earle,
marched away just as day was break
ing. Capt. Sawyer's company was the
last to leave the field. The last pic
ture of our camp. Desolation. Lit
tie trenches surrounding square patch
,es Of dry earth where once had been
our homes. The glow of the last few
embers of the camp fire, refusing to
die until we had gone. The heavy
smoke hanging over the forest gloomi-
ly. The clouds had drifted away and
as we wheeled to the left down the
Alexander road we caught a glimpse