The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-07

Inc annualsCOu Va w.
federate Association. held this week
SinSthe historic City Of Charleston, has
revived memories Of my last visit to
3 that typical Southern city. It was
during the last few days Of the siege,
and everything around indicated that
there had been "a hot time in the old
town.
The historian has finished his ac-
{ count Of the civil war, and the soldier
has written his book Of peril and ad-
( venture IN the field, but so far no one
has told the full story Of what Charles
ton suffered and endured during the
long years Of strife, nor how Sumter
was was held and defended in manner to
excite tie admiration even OF those
most earnestly engaged in the attempt
s. TO possess her.
When the war began the citizens OF
Charlestor divided with the Confede-
rate Government; within year they
divided again. Before the war was
two years old silverware was being
melted up, church bells sent to the
cannon foundry and every family max
ine sacrifices in some direction.
When t;N,e Confederate Government
wanted lead the water pipes of Char
lesion were torn out Of house and
street tie, and contributed to the extent
4 sof 4, 900 pounds. When iron was
{ wanted the gas pipes we're cheerfully
parted with. Every house was tenn
porary hospital, and every household
felt it duty to divide its provisions
and bedding with the men Who were
fighting for the Confederacy. The
rich of Charleston did not speculate
81 On y the misfortune Of the poor.
Instead Of buying in clothing and
3 provisions to sell again at an advance,
l -
they dubbed together to fit out whole
companies Of soldiers and batteries Of
artillery. Richmond took up the rails
of street car lines and sent them to
the Confederate foundry, but Charles
s ton stripped herself Of everything and
rave IL no the cause she espoused.
One blockade runner took s85, 600
worth Of ladies jewelry to Nassau aud
exchanged the lot for s32, 900 worth Of
shoes and clothing for Confederate
80 soldiers. Valuable watches. diamonds
! and jewelry Of all kinds were sent
North BY secret agents and were ex-
changed for drugs for sick soldiers.
Bedding, carpets and crockery were
taken from the finest houses and sent
to equip Confederate hospitals, and
that without a demand having been
made for even a blanket.
The FIRST she'll from Gilmore 8
Swamp Angel" located Eve miles
away. struck q building near the Post
Office and exploded with crash that
: turned 1000 people out Of bed. Those
who heard the; horrible screams Of the
great shell as it came over the waters
Of the bay will never forget the sound.
In Eve minutes second one came,
but this one failed. By the time the
third one arrived all Charleston was
awake and full Of alarm and horror.
That was the beginning Of siege
which mas no parallel in American
warfare. Day after day. weeS after
week, month after month, with only
intervals Of a few hours at time for
Che, guns TO cool or some more to be
made, the bombardment continued.
Grant Gid not care to injure Peters
burg. Gilmore would have wiped
Charleston off the face Of the earth If
he had beer able.
The FIRST nights experience was
enough to arouse the city to action.
Not a building in the lower part OF
Che city was safe from the big shells
loaded with Greek fire. Under the
advice Of the chief Of the fire depart
ment every house kept ready supply
Of water on hand, in barrels and other
vessels. In some districts bodies OF
minute-men were formed who would
rush to the spot where she'll fell and
quickly subdue the flames in case o
fire was started. The business streets
were all paved with cobblestones.
These stones were taken up and
dumped into the sea, and it was wise
precaution. Scores of shells fell upon
the streets and buried themselves in
the sand and exploded withou. dam.
age.
By and by the people became USED
to the situation, and seemed to go tc
bed without any more fear than woulo
have been shown in New York. While
the street cars ceased to run, all othel
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