The National tribune., 1899-06-29

pulling with our clumsy oars we landed IN
front of the old fort, and pulling our boat
upon the beach, We started towards the fort.
Near the walls we met one of the South
Carolina regulars-tbe authorities had
enlisted $50 men, principally stranded
sailors, whose vessels had been seized and
confiscated, and their crews cast adrift.
These men had come towant, and adopted
a soldiers life rather than starve. This
man told us we could not enter the fort, as
none but the garrison were allowed to pass
in. He also told us, in answer to our ques-
tions, that they lost 15 men by the ex-
plosion' of single mortar shell which was
being carelessly handled; also, that they
lost number of men from the accidental
dismounting of 32-pounder by the recoil
caused by the neglect to throw the carriage
out of gear. He estimated the burials the
night OF the 18th at so men.
This was great news to us, and the torn
condition of one wing of the barracks and
the temporary abatiS which had been
placed at the embrasures indicated to us
that there must have been some loss of life.
Having fully satisfied our curiosity, and
desiring to take advantage of the tide, we
started on our return trip, arriving at our
old quarters after hard pull of nearly two
miles. We related our adventures to the
boys, and told of what we had learned.
They seemed very little surprised. as it was
quite evident to all that Maj. Anderson had
made things extremely warm Tor his old
classmate, Mai. Ripley.
But few days had passed since our trip
TO Moultrie, giving us little time in which tC
evolve new plans of escape, when the Nor
folk Navy Yard was burned, creating great
excitement among the troops, the leaders
declaring that this act of the United States
Government was a declaration of war
against the South This excitement was
taken advantage of by the authorities u
enlist men for the Virginia Campaign" as
they called it. One afternoon our company
Il.
an invitation extended to all patriots who
desired TO enlist for the campaign TO drive
back the IN Northern hordes" TO step TO the
front, the men being assured that there
would be no war, for as soon as the NORTH
saw the Southerners' determination t.
fight, they would withdraw all opposition t.
secession and allow the Southern States tC
go peaceably, and then they would have Z
grand COnfederacy Of white men, in whose
veins mingled none OF the plebeian blood oi
the Northern mudsills.
ENLISTING FOR THE VIRGINIA CAM
PAIGN.
This speech made great impression OF
the soldiers, as they were especially re
minded that South Carolina would get tn,
lions share of all the honor and glory
Only seven men were left in the ranks WHIT
did not respond To the request, McKoy hav
ing left the ranks also, explaining to ne
that he could the quicker get home from
Virginia. did not like TO lose my partne
thus, yet adhered now to the Chattanoog:
route 10 get North. We were all taken I,
Colum bia, where we were paid Sill for abou
three and half months service. But
was all for patriotism" you know.
Now that was alone again, as Mcko,
had gone TO Virginia, ! felt that must ge
a move on me too. / had little money
now; there were no restrictions placed upoi
my movements, as the dreaded smallpox
was no longer epidemic, and as / hat
proven my loyalty" to secession had n,
minute men TO fear. II was on the secon,
night after my arrival in Columbia that
thus reasoned as / walked the streets unit
midnight, when / boarded a train for Au
gusta, Ga. On my arrival in that beautiful
city found it under martial law, and it
citizens greatly excited over the doings o
its sister City of Charleston.
/ was informed by carriage make
whom ] met tall carriage makers in tn
South in those days were Yankees an,
could be relied on as true blue) that a.
effort to get out of town without prope
papers from the Provost-Marshal would
fraught with great peril, as the guards wer
vigilant and the people greatly excited
He advised me TO enlist with some compan
of militia that We're leaving almost daily
j therefore determined 10 enlist in an in
fantry company called the Irish Volur
teers," which would be sent the next day I
Macon, where companies Were being ol
ganiZed into regiments. There were abou
POO men in this company, nearly all c
whom were native-born Irish, well 1reSSe
in the cadet uniform which the authorize
had stolen from the Augusta Arsenal. w
made fine appearance as we were draw
upin line in front of the Southern Hotel o
Broadway. There the Mayor Of the eli