The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-01-02

settlement had their grain ground.
This kept the old gentleman busy.
His corn cribs looked full, and the
negroes and mules looked sleek and
fat, the yard was full of chickens, and
the bee-gums stood in rows near the
old kitchen and smokehouse, as If on
sen.:Hc! duty TO watch for coming
danger. The merry laugh Of the
young negro children, the cackling of
the chickens, the barking Of dogs
made this picture of one of the hap
piest and brightest of old time coun-
try homes before the war, and this
was the place and spot where the
dashing cavalry of General Fitzpatrick
captured me. It is strange sensa-
tion for four or Eve blue coated, SOL
dierly looking fellows Of Uncle Sam 8
army to walk up right in your front,
demanding at every step as they
moved towards you. Surrender, sur
render, aud hold up your arms" I
was in for it. It was just at the dawn
of day as the scattering rays of light
came through tho east, and dimly you
could see the approaching cavalry
moving up the road from the old mill.
l was on the lookout in the public
road at the time. The Confederate
wagon train with teamsters with an
officer in charge, was also captured at
the same time and place, having run
out from Jonesboro the evening be-
fore to save the scant store of proven
der and baggage, and here we were all
captured by the advance guard of the
enemy. This occurred, too, after I
had SO often counselled my men and
officers against such events, saying in
most positive terms to them that no
such thing could happen to me, and
that no squad Of cavalry could ever
take me or send me to yankee prison,
as they were so often doing with our
men. Now the time was on me for
action. I surrendered as gracefully as
possible, and informed my captors,
who saw that I was an officer from my
uniform, who [ was and to what com
mand / belonged. / pleaded with one
of my oaptors who guarded me to per-
nit me just for moment to step to
the rear door of the house and tell my
wife and little ones goodbye. He
refused most firmly, shaking his head
and watching me still more closely.
said to him that 1 would not treat
him as he was treating me under simi-
lar circumstances. l said pleadingly,
"You cannot refuseJme this request.
You can't make me believe that you
would treat prisoner that way. On
ly allow me to kiss my wife and little
ones goodbye. Oh, no, you can't re.
fuse to do that. You are too brave
soldier to do thing of that kind"
He looked on the ground thought
fully bat said nothing. As / moved
off toward the gate leading to the back
door of the house, he followed me,
watching my every movement, and I
expected all the time he would halt
me. I aecreted my watch and one
small bill of Confederate money as I
walked on. My watch was an old sill
yer one given to me by my father, and
one which I priced highly on that ao-
count. He followed me on, keeping
close in the rear, and when I kissed
my wife, assuring her I would take
care Of myself, and not to be uneasy
about me, she saw then for the first
time that I was prisoner. I pressed
her hand while holding it, and kissing
her goodbye she felt the watch and
money, and carefully secreted it about
her person. Well she did for the
house was searched and many things
Of value carried off, and threat was
also made to burn the house. I had
turned to see what was being done
with the other prisoners in the road,
and in going out ono Of the negroes
was ordered out Of the yard by Mr..
Yank, and he refused, and would not
move an inch, although the soldier in
blue was holding his gun down on
him, until I ordered him myself. He
did not understand the situation as I
did, and #ould have stood his ground
if / I5had said the word.
II passed to The road again, going
through tho big gate. Tho Confeder-
ate Captaipof tho wagon train looked
into my face and said, Major, amt
we in hi Of a 6x?' 1 agreed with
him, and asked him to loan me one of
his horses. OF course he could will
ingIy consent for all were ptured. as