The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-10

Il guide was au old negro who belonged
to Major Begins, and who was perfect
~ reliable. They sent for the old ne
gro, tod him who We were and he told
us for God sake come with nim to the
thichet and then talk to him. lie
said the only animal on the place was
a yearling mule. lie said if he could
get that out TO the woods he would go
with US. Aud about 8 O'Clock lie
came to us riding mule not as big az
he was
He carried us through woods with
out ever seeing road for fifteen miles,
and left us in woods while he went to q
farmers house and brought him out to
us. He brought us something to eat
and went with US ten miles to his
brothers. who lived on ridge be-
tween the valleys Of blouse Creek and
Swectwatcr. From his house We
conld sec two or three miles along the
Swcetwater valley. The railroad and
wagon road ran through the valley.
The gentleman pointed out to us three
troops Of federal cavalry, two going in
different directions and passing out of
sight at each end Of the valley. The
third one almost in front of us and
less than half mile distant. The
man was SO frightened he refused to
go with US as pilot. When the last
soldiers disappeared We forced him to
go with u. across the valley. After
crossing the valley he carried us to
MT. Donciu house and declared he
knew the country no further. Mr..
Donehu sent boy with us to pilot US
70 Squire Jamison 8.
1t was after dark when we reached
Jamison house, aud found Jamison
had gone to the Confederate army
some weeks before, and there was not
u man on the place, and four Federal
camps within radius Of two miles.
1t was utterly impossible to travel
without guide, SO we staid at Jami-
sons until daylight. Mrs. Jamison
directed US to neighbor Of hers,
whose name [ have forgotten. On ar
irving at his house and telling him We
were Confederate soldiers, he carried
us into the middle Of plum thickct
before he would hear anything further.
He showed us the smoke of three
Federal camps in front Of us in the
direction VIC wanted to go. We told
him we had to have guide, and he
must furnish it. He told US that the
week before General Joe Wheeler had
made a raid through there and had
fight at the little town of Philadclpha,
Il few miles from where we were, and
that one Of his men had his horse
killed and was cut off from his com
mand, and was then hiding in the
ncighborhood and very anxious to get
out; that this young man knew the
country we'll and would make us an
efficient guide, and if he could tnd
him he would bring him to US. About
10 o clock he got back with the young
man, mounted on very poor mule.
His name was Denton, and he said he
was perfectly willing to go with US,
but thought VIC would be sure to be
captured. In front of us was n low
range Of mountains with three Federal
camps on our side of the mountain.
Beyond these mountains was a valley
with chain of pickets the whole
length Of the valley, which was the
outpost of the Federal army. Denton
showed US the outline of gap in the
range Of the mountains between two
Of the Federal camps. We made q
dash for that gap, keeping in the
woods as much aS possible, and reach
ed the gap without Interruption.
There was no road through this gap,
and we rode around edges of cliffs and
over boulders where the horse had
never tired before, and most likely not
since. On reaching the South side Of
tbs mountain We had fiue view Of
the valley and could see the chain Of
pickets a hundred yards apart as fur
as We could see up and down the val
ley. We kept under cover Of the
woods until we got as near the line as
rn:sihie e. narrow point III the vaiicy,
and when We could no longer keep un-
der cover we rode leisurely along to
pass between two Of the pickets.
When near their line they both order
ed US to halt, but we quickened our
gait. both men firing at US, and in 9
few minutes We reached the woods,
Dcnton and the mule bringing up the
rear in great shape. The Federal cav