The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-03-22

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ofthe enemy and knew pretty much
their strength and what we had to con-
tend with yet the men were in good
spirits and undismayed at coming
even.s-al! were cheerful but had to
keep silent.
1t will be right aud proper for me
to ask the readers pardon for saying
just here that few days before, the
writer, in company with Lieut.. Bates
and Sergeant McCravy, Of the
Holcomb Legion Infantry, had made
reconnaissance of Edsto Islands
and located the Federal picket lines
and the roads passing over the Island
throughout the northern part it,
and with this information we felt quito
secure as against any surprise that
might be in store for US. But, on
this occasion guides had been p,o.
cured from TIE refugees from tho Is
land who were living III Charleston,
Columbia and other places where
they had gone for safety from an in
vading army.
Under the oaks at the summer
home we lay and rested till little
while before day light next morning,
During the night troops kept coming
in. No one was allowed to speak
above whisper, light pipe or do
anything to al a'tEaSt5 rHt wt9pe tAee 1T ptifR
view--iust across Watts cut on
Edisto Island. During the high tide
that night the pickets run flat boat
into the cut and turning it crossw s.
allowed it to rest on the abntments on
either side, thus forming an i'm
provised bridge. The boat was filed
with grass and straw so as to prevent
any noise that might be made by the
troops crossing it.
Thus everything was in readiness
when We were ready to move next
morning. Everything passed of
we'll. The men lay and slept or
whispered to each other as they chose
Every now and then some fello"
would break out snoring and have tt
be walked up and told to turn over
or keep awake. Men would come t.
the pump and fill their canteens al
cautiously and gently as if the.
didn't intend to disturb anybody
Thus the night passed away. a
, about 4 o'clock a. m. the Sergeant
went along their lines and rouse
the men, shaking and telling ther
, "get up and fall into line, we ar
e about to move now" Then instea
= of calling the roll as usual he woui
n look into each mans face to sec
y all were present and in his rigl
e place with all his fixtures ready +
b the march. 1t is needless to say :
l. here, but l will venture the assertic
Is that our men were anxious for hg
m and the prospect Of getting into OF
re in a few minutes or hours at least d
l. not cool that order.
10 The first to move out were Moor'
ed Rifles. They were followed by
lr detachment of the litter corps. Jt
IN behind them part of the HolcoI
er Legion Infantry, then the dismount
its cavalry, while the other infant
or brought up the rear. AS soon as
We crossed the cut we were dou
to ouicked for 800 yards to close up
or column. Just as we reached
The place in the column We marched
her the left oblique, this threw our n .
rec in the cotton stalks higher than IL
I've heads and such popping and sn
ping of the limbs you never hes
we 1t seemed as if it was enough to W
,iv- up every Yankee on the Island,
rye the command was forward and a
uds we went until we were in lin
ng. battle reaching far to the left Of
our road we we're travelling and ali
ring into road that run from Hanni
our house to Little Edisto, where ST.
ton force of Felerals was entrenc
ex- Here we were halted. In the m
was time Moore's Rifles had struck
,;oht Federal's uickets and fired on Il