The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-04
A CONFEDERATE.
How N. 8 n. Bowen. of Y orkville, S: g.,
Was Captured.
Nc,cs and Courier.

.the war between. the States have been
recorded, and for the simple reason
that to tell os even reasonably large
Der cent Of them would DO an almost
endless task. But Notwithstanding
this fact there are instances in con-
nection with those trying times that
have never appeared in print, that are
both interesting and worthy.
Mr. N. j. II. Bowen, Of York Coun-
ty, and who now lives in Yorkville,
was one Of the principal actors Ia the
affair. TIe vss 9. member Of the La
ffayette Artillery. ard it is from him
that yyur correspond snt has gained
the iinformation Gu which the story he
relatesSis based.
During the months Of January and
February, 1865, while Sherman was
forcing his way through Georgia, the
Federal navy was bombarding Forts
Sumtor and Moultrie, and at the same
tine trying to get a foothold on land
between Charleston and Savannah IN
,ayder TO capture Charleston by inland
.ntr.nce. The Confederatcs were
grarding. every point and resisted the
Yankees with that stnbbornness which
had CHARACTERIZED them during the
entire war, and, as is we'll known, dc-
feated the Federals>at Bees Greek
and Honey I'LL.
Sherman was still moving onward
toward Savannah and finally waved
the Stars and Stripes over the city,
and us sr .n=i,s hin in touch with
the r,ed.rai saw. and land forces,
Shesr,au aten moved up the east side
of the Savannah River and Forester
the west side, placing somr cf the
Confederate troops in exceedingly
close quarters, more especially the
Beaufort aud Lafayette Artillery,
which had given them good drub-
sbing, with the aid of the 32d Georgia
infansry, at. Bees Greek and Honey
Hill not many days before.
In relating the story Of what hap
pened subsequently, Mr.. Bowen said:
4 81 do net recollect exactly when or
how the Beaufort. Artillery got away
from their position, butI will never
forget how the Lafayette Artillery got
away from Bees Creek.
Zone night, on or about February
II, Capt. John T. Kanapaux got orders
to get his battery out of Bees Greek
Notifications if possible The Yan-
KEGS had about succeeded in cutting
him Of. It was impossible for him to
go up the road to Coosawhatchie, as
the Federals would reach that point
before he could. He knew that the
enemy was advancing up behind him
from Grahamville. His orders pro-
vided that if he could not get his bat
terry and horses out, to get the men
out anyway.
ssThe troops above US at Coosaw-
hatchie and Pocataligo had fallen back
and we we're in close place. Things
looked rather squally about this time.
The battery consisted Of six guns and
,seventy-fve horses and, Of course, we
did not want to leave them, but VIC
hardly knew what to do.
s'Finally Tom Ellis. and Joe Walls,
0othmembers Of the battery, and whose
homes were in that section, suggested
that by some nasd work and good
driving we could get both our battery
and horses out, By cutting timber and
bridging over floodgates across the
rice field The suggestion met with
Capt. Kanapaux's approval, and after
pulling aud prizing wheels out Of the
mud, and working nearly all night, we
did succeed l.. saving our battery ind
horses, and got out Into the road Lead
ing from 'Coosawhatch:e to Gillson-
vile a few hours before daylight and
got a little sleep.
SAT roll-call next morning 1T was
discovered that two Of our men were
missing. 1t was reported that they
had deserted and gone to stay with
their sweethcarts, who lived inside
the Yankee lines. Sergt. Navctt, OF
gun No. 4, said: 'One Of them belongs
to my section. He is not much good
anyway, so let him go and stay with
his gal. Sergt. Tom EIon then said:
One of them was on my section: and
I did net count on him much.
Capt. Kama. aux said: No, | will
not let them go that way if there is
any possible chance to get thea: | will
teach them a lesson.
...All right, replied Lieut.. Kit