The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-22


Of those present memories Of the days
Of the Civil War Mingled with
those who witnessed such stirring
scenes for the first time, were veterans
of the war. The former listened
eagerly, while the latter .cvclcd in
"reminiscences, az they waited for the
train that brought the boys from the
Barracks.
In the crowd was Major Harvey
Salmon, of Clinton, Mo. Friends
were gathered around him Stran-
gers, jostled by the surging mass of
people, prickcd their ears to hear war
stories.
II was youngstcr at the outbreak
Of the war Major Salmon was heard
to say. eve Missouri boys who
wanted to join the Confederate army
went in very different manner from
what our brave lads are going to day.
We had to steal our way through the
lines in the dead of night, on horses
that we picked up wherever VIC could.
Many a fellow was killed before he
got into the ranks across the lines,
and years after his bones were found
bleachcd to snowy whitencss in the
spot where his body was thrown by
those who had shot him down. We
found all that was left Of nephew of
mine in an old bouse. Rats had
gnaWcd the flesh off his bones, only
clothes identified him.
"My first engagement, you say?
There were so many OF them | could
not tell just now which was the first,
but | had an experience in the early
part of the war that will never for
get. l was with General Price at
Lexington, Mo-, when he drove Multi
gan inside the Notifications in Sep
tember, 1861. The Fedcrals had for
tilted the town and it was rumored
about our camp that they intended to
surprise and rout us. The most siren
uous picket watch was kept night and
day. was called out Of sound
sleep shortly after had retired one
night in September and told to 60 out
beyond the second picket and keep
close watch. My instructions were to
shoot down the first man who hove in
sight and then retreat to the second
picket. 1t was one of those hazy au-
tumn nights common to that part of
the country. There was no moon,
but the stars twinkled through the
gloom, and every now and then one
fell, trailing thin streak of light be-
hind.
Gone hundred and fifty yards from
camp clone and on mission that in
volved the utmost vigilance was the
easiest task for youugster. My
brain was on fire with excitement.
walked up and down slender path,
from where had an excellent look
out over the country, fine, timbered
section, near Lexington.
"My eyes were strained out Of their
sockets almost, and my ears must
have stood away from my head, so ea-
ger was l to catch the slightest sound.
The leaves rustled in the wind, and
now and then branch cracked under
tho weight Of slumbcring bird. l
imagined all sorts of things. The war
was young then, and We wcrn't sea-
soned and hardened in experience. a
fellow Imagination gets very vivid,
and he is liable to see all sorts of
things that he is expected to see and
watch out for.
Gloss of sleep, unusual excitement
and feverish desire not to be caught
mapping made me all the more fearful
of being trapped. just as l was
turning at the end Of the beaten track
l saw man coming toward fence
l levcled my double-barrel, ready to
do as | was told, when the fellow set
his foot on the fence. l expected to
sec him jump over the next minute,
but he seemed to hesitate. He may
be watching me, thought, looking
steadily at him and covering every
movement he might make with my
gun. Ilcfrained from shooting only
because | did not want to raise the
commotion which my shot would en-
tail without being absolutely sure of
my business.
1t seemed to me that stood for
hours glued to the spot. There was
that fence, that man with his foot on
it, ready to swing his body over, that
intense longing to shoot, yet sort of
sober afterthought bidding me to wait
until he made another move. The
move never came.