The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-04
mEc; STORY oF 4 TINY FL6G
Given by Sumter Girl to Sol
oler CT the Confederacy.

Tbe fo,loeing extract from letter written
bv Judge T. T. Huote-, OF Stafford, Graham
County, Arizona, bat originally from near
PendIe,on, this Stste, to M:a Dr.. .. Il.
Green, contains so interesting wartime Incl
deut with which Sumter ls intimately co.,
nected. Miss Lizzie Cha nder referred to ls
now Mrs j. c. Cunningham Of lrdiantown,
Williamsburg County, the mother CT Mr U.
W. Cunningham, and q sister OF Messrs, U.
j. ard j. H Chandler Of this city. The In
cident had faded out Of ber recollection uatli
Mrs. Green sent her Judge Hunters letter,
but then she recalled it, remembering that
she and many others we're ct the depot to
give to the passing soldiers, lunches, flowers
and God speed:
'sYour going to Sumter brings back mem
ocies OF my boyhood days. and reminds me
O: little romance in connection with Sum
ter that has followed me through greater
part of my life
81 can see now as did on June morning
in 1861 (when ,be 4th S C. infantry passed
through Sumter OF its way to Virginia), the
platform crowded With beautiful ladies and
tair-faced girls. Excitement was great, scd
many of their beautiful faces were tear-stain-
ed, for their own loved ones had just depart
ed, come never TO return-and our appear
ance brought afresh their SORROWS. Now
there was little girl, "mere slip OF thing, ;"
handed me tiny fsg, SO We were passing
the platform. On this tiny hag was soap
Of paper with this name. Lizzie Chandler,
with the words, "God bless you u
ssI placed the tiny flag iu pocket Bible,
aud as tine went 90, was really superstl-
tious enough to believe that name and flag to
be my guardian angel. carried it next my
heart through all the civil war, aad when
Phette battery was cut to pieces at Gettys-
berg, was one of Six to escape without
scratch
afterwards, in 1863, Rhet:'s old battery
was feas:ed in Sumter, on our way TO help
Bragg at Chickamauga, and the ladies and
girls filed our hayersack with good things
to eat.
'sAfter the civil war, cane west and got
into the midst of another wer-the Apache
Indian war still had my tiny fag and the
name of ny guardian angel next ny heart,
aud 10 October. 1867, | was attacked by q
band of Apaches and made the narrowest
escape Of nv life. was surrounded and at one
period of the fight, realizing that was hght-
ing ny last fight almost gave up, but JUS!
then my guardian angel appeared to me.
Like drowning man all my past life came
up before roe, and aerved for battle, made
the supreme effort of my life, and OF sheer
strength and nerve cut my way out OF that
lice of savaees When realized that was
safe, found myself without clothing even,
and alas my flag, nv name aud "God bless
you," were all gone bat for that time 1t
had again saved me from these savagss.
81 wish you would 6nd out if this lacy is
living yet and something of her. She, like
myself, must be aloog in years. never saw
her but that once in my life, but her tiny gift
aud name, has made her appear to me at the
gravest moments of my life, and as this fool
isb little circumstance has been with me
through life, out of curiosity ask you to
6od out what you can for me while IN Sum
ter.
II love old Sumter as if bad lived there
and it has a loved place in my past. With
regards from us all to you aod your little
family, am your sincere friend,
unn+er },