The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-10

| Nttllau ulll pOhu ohd VI oofa
and we had sharp encounter with Il
in the afternoon. had the dam Of the
pond cut 50 as to Hood the low ground
and check Blair's advance. We de
pl0yed along the ridge in front OF the
railroad station and Kept up the tign
until dark, losing two men killed and
| several wounded. The loss inflicted
on the enemy | had no means of ascer
tanning, except some prisoners cap
tured by nv scouts. Next morning we
marched toward WinnsborO, via DokC
(now Blythewood) and Rdgeway.
suppose General Beuuregard, and,
| as for that matter, all Of us, assumed
that Shcrman's next objective point
was Char lotte, N. G. Consequently, af-
ter halt of day at Winus5oro,
where 1t became my painful duty to
have destroyed eighty dozen Of Gov
ernor Aiken's line old wine (sent up
from Charleston for sa'ctyl to pre-
vent its falling into the hands of the
enemy and tickling their thirsty pal.
ates. | was ordered out to Gladden's
grove for convenience in getting for.
| age, watching Sherman's right Hank,
while tho remnant Of Hoods army,
with Wheoler's division Of cavalry,
continued up the railroad. General
Hampton directed me to rid myself Of
wheels, move around Sherman's right
flank and join him at Lands ferry on
the Cataw ba river.
accordingly ordered my wagons and
artillery towards Charlotte, and with
the mounted column started from
9ladden's grove in the early morning
OF my second day there, by the near
est road leading towards mbia: in
tendlng to pass between Sherman's
Il w. had 4
vanced far before running into the
Fifteenth corps. This corps and the
Seventeenth composed Shcrman's right
fl 1nk, and tho Fourteenth and Twen-
ticth his left. After sharp fight with
the Fifteenth corps, continued long
enough to develop the strength Of the
enemy in my front, and finding |
could not overcome SO strong q force
on that road, | moved to my left 90 as
to get into tho river road, the only one
left open between my column and the
Wateree river. This, too, the enemy
had occupied in force. Late that al
ternoon an incident occurred which
satisfied me that Saerman had changed
direction TO the right and was Dot
moving on Charlotte. A prisoner was
broug ut to me who said he was au artl-
icer OF the reserve ordnance train OF
had been ordered 10 camp that night
at Rocky Mount, on the vatcree river.
This would throw the Twentieth corps
entirely out Of the direction Of Char
lOtte, and convinced ma for the lire:
time That Sherman would move across
the State toward Cheraw, at right an
giles with the course he had becn
marching, and | sent a dispatch, at
once, to Generals Bcauregard and
Hampton Notifying them OF his change
OF route. THIS necesSltatcd change
in my contemplated movement, u. |
could not get around between :5her.
man and tho river. | therefore moved
up through Beckhamvtlle inte udlng to
pass the river at some convenient
crossing higher up. DR.. Cloud, Il ven
cradle Old gentleman of 50 years OF
age, resided at Beck namvlllr, and the
only two msmoers Of his family with
him were two yOuug ladies, his grand
daughters. He requested me TO have
our ANIMALS all Tod IRON his we'll stored
barns Of forage, and notified mo where
he had concealed his valuables.
afterwards learned he had been strung
up by the neck twice By Sherman's
soldiers to coerCe him into disclosing
the whereabouts Of his silver ana
valuablas. In this they failed, as |
also learned, but his negroes betrayed
tho places Of cOncealmeut, and the
silver and jowelry fell into the hands
OF Shcrman's officers and men.
We moved from ckhamville to Fish.
ing creek, and bivouacke ed for the night
at Anderson's mill. That night we
could trace the line of Sherman's
camps by the glare Of incendiary fires,
lighting uD the horizon for miles above
and below us. | had been ordered to
drive ahead Of us all the work animals
possible from tho country, to prevent
their falling into the hands Of the enc
my. We carried away with us nine
or ten very fine mules of Dr.. Clouds
and three or four OF DR.. AndersOn's,
and alter the surrender at Greensboro
| directed tnem to be returned to their
owners, but whether any of them
reached their destinations | cannot
say. learned that | was soundly
abused for taking the animals away.
lf their owners had been aware that
VAS acting nDder orders, and how much
trouble they caused me, they would
doubtless have spared me.
Next morning we moved from Fish.
ing creek towards Gouche's ferry, on
the Catawba river, and as the people
living on our line Of march could give
me no information OF "a ford, | deter
mined to ferry over the men and equip.
ments in the ferry boat at Gouchcs,
and swim the horses. Tho Twentieth
and Fourteenth corps were closing In
on US above, and the Fifteenth and
SeventC onth below, 90 the chances of
getting out en- the west side Of the riv-
er werc cut OF.
had one squadron u1jaddled and
started a man on IL strong horse ahead
with the loose horses following to swim
across. The mounted mVn had almost
reached the opposite bank with the
lOOsc horses following clOscly on his
heels, whcD, Tor some unaccountable
reason, the loose horses turned and
SWAN back to our side Of the river.
They drifted with the current some
distance down, and struck the bank
below the landing, and IL was only by
prompt and na-d work we managed to
draw them up the muddy, stoep bank
and save them.
The situation looked athor 8quaily.
fortunately had sent scouts up and
down the rivor, as wo could learn moth.
ing from the citizens OF tue neighbor.
uooo, with Instructions to examine all
VIC crossings within ranrh 'rpnso