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

ground OF the revolution, the Cobb LIE
glon OF Young's brigade had an en-
counter with u regiment Of Sherman.
bummers, and drove it pel( nell fol
: some distance, killing and Capturing
quite number. Thence we marched
towards Cantey's plantation on little
Lynches creek. We were constant,
engaged with ilankera and bupmers OF
the enemy, and the night bdfore VIC
reached Cantay's. had ntebded tc
make night attack on the Fifteenth
corps, but q terrific rain STORM came
up before we could get in strikibg dis.
tance. The night was the darkest and
the rain the hardest that havS ever
known before or since, aud sainter-
Tered with cur plans as to max elan at
tack at daylight impossible.
WheD we reached Cantcy's, about 8
o'clock next morning, we discovered
the enemy loading eight or ten Wagons
from Mr.. Cautey's barns. | sent Col.
onel ltut!edge forward with the Fourth
South Carolina reg gimcnt to charge
and take the wagons and escort. This
was done In handsome style, captur.
ing the loaded wagons, and several
prisoners.
We hurried them to the bridge near
by over Little Lynches creek, and just
Is our rear, the Phillips legion CT
4oung's brigade, was clcarngn the
aral infantry swung suddenly out and
opened fire, but they we're TOO ln}e to
do much damage. Hero it WAS that
Sherman's troops captured and carried
of Mr.. Thomas Puryear's cello b 'hted
race horse Censor" and Others. Ehey
were racing them below Cantey's farm,
as we learned, when we came upon
them.
The swamp on the cast or north side
OF Lynches creek was covered with
water from the heavy rains, in some
places up to the sad lle skirts AS we
were moving into the water neces.
sarily at slow pace u squad OF mount
ed bummers followed us and fired on
our rear. The audacity OF the thing
took us somewhat by surprise, but the
rear guard the Phillips legion, always
prepared for any emergency, turned
upon them and killed, captured or
wounded the entire party. seventeen
In number, before tIey could retrace
their steps to the bridge.
We moved into the pine WOODS %
Big Lynchcs creek, now Lynches rive,
and crossed at Pierce's bridge, turned
down the stream to Kcllytown, o ham
let near Tillcr's ferry. AS sherman
appeared to have halted on the south
| side OF the river, 1T occurred TO Mo he
might determine to turn the head OF
his column towards Georgetown, on
account OF the scarcity Of supplies but
1T turned Out he was delayed by high
water. halted for two days 1T Kelly
town and sent Colonel Hugh \ iken
with strong detachment dowL Ythc
river on & accommodating expedition,
I,lf, Il Il -,
up the stream on similar cr'zsdd
Late on G afternoon Of the seVWnd
day | heard from Major BrownH ina t
Bluir's corps, the SeventccnthH, hid
crossed at Pierce's bridge, whelEs We
had crossed, and from the detaclH Hlment
under Colonel Allen that the eHAemy
had crossed below. This gallank Oli.
Ger was killed the night befortB in q
light with is detacii inGut of She itman :
army, near Mt. E"on church. This de
tachment had bocn scnt towar(h Flor.
cncc TO release the Federal prisoners
| imprisoned there. Aikcn'S enc ounter
| turned them back.
Becoming satisfied from thtlse re
port that Sherman was moving on
Cheraw we started about dark tDr that
point, marching all that night, and
next day reached the Confederate out.
pOSIo UCIOtC
| reported to General Hardec, W h,
| had moved the garrison from Charles
| ton, consisting OF about IA 900 men, as
re ported at that time. The advance O
blair's corps reached within 8 few
| miles OF ChcraW the same evening tL.
we did.
| Informed General Hardtc thu
Blnir's corps. consisting, as | was il
| formed, OF II 900 or &c, 600 men, mus
have been at least IL hours marci
ahead Of the other corps of Shermau',
| army, and suggested that he attacL
Blair next morning with his IA C0O mcr
reinforced by my division, and that i
| he would do so | was satisfied We coult
! administer severe blow and checl
ShermaG's advance, but he did not ap
pear to think 1t advisable, and, per
! haps, he was right. General aardet
directed me to picket Thompson,
creek and to 20 in person to Chester
| field court house with such OF IN,
command rs | could spare and W watci
the movements Of the enemy from tha
direction. He ordered brigade of in
to report to mo with this small force
We retired fighting at every po;n1
from Chester field court house toward
kershhw. At mig ghtfall the enemy ha(
not crossed Th0mpson's creek. whicf
ls about eight miles distant from Che
raw by the Chesterfield road and fom
miles by the road to Camden. We h ~
to guard tEe crossings of the creet
covering the entire front OF Chcraw.
A short time after dark courie,
brought me message from Genera
ilardee directing mo 10 report to hin
at once. reached his hcaGq quarter,
about p. m, and as there have beer
u goo1 many rOmances about what oc
Cured that night and next day, vii
ask you to excuse me for enteripp
rather minutely into the details @
what J. know OF the Incidents, and
shall only speak Of what comes within
my own knowledge.
| found at General Hardee's bead
quarters General McLawo, Genera
ltanse Wright, General Talafciro and
General Stephen Elliott. They had evi
IDENTITY been holding council { war
for soon after | entered and exchanged
salutatiOns General Iardcc eaid TO mo
in substance, the follow "Ge neral
after your experience in tOday's opera.
tions, what do You adyi,c in regard t(
the evacuation OF Chcraw?' My
4