The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-18
WAR STORIES.
Sherman in Georgia's Capital.



then the State capital. For three or
four days previous to this time,
struggling parties came through the
town, some positively asserting that
Sherman was not coming to Millcdge
vile. but going directly to Augusta,
from Atlanta down the Georgia rail
road. The next party would probably
say that he was going by way Of Ma
con ri, strike the South Carolina
line below Augusta Probably the
third party would with as much as
surancc assert that Sherman was com
ing directly TO Millcdgcville. This
kept the town in a great state OF ten
sion and bewildcring excitement.
When, upon Friday. the 18th, posi-
tive information was received that
General Sherman was in very few
miles of the town, heading directly
for the town, of course every one left
I who coull Immediately telegraph
ed Surgeon S. II. Stout, medical di-
rector Of hospitals Of Hoods army,
then located at Columbus, Ca:
Sherman reported bearing down on
Milledgevillc in heavy numbers. What
shall do with Brown hospital and
the patients?' In very short time
I received in response: Remain at
your post, surrender your hospital,
ask protection for your sick and
wou"dcd, assistants, nurses and help.
Send to rear Immediately ovcry pa
t;".' able 70 travel. What stores you
=" 80, accJ, all the assistants, nurses
and help you can dispense with
/ hadSt that time, in the six differ
ent wards, something like two hun
dred sick, wounded and convaesccnts.
vent to each ward in person, notified
each patient Of what was about to
happen, and that if he felt able to get
up and get away he might do so. All
left but forty eight, and something
very remarkable, there were at least
some fifteen or twenty who had not
been off their hunks, except when
helped off, Cor the last three or four
weeks. They at once got up, dressed
and left. They crossed the river and,
SO far as l know, they are walking
yet. have never heard from them.
The river was about half mile from
the hospital, and the general impress
sion seemed to prevail that Shermdn
would not cross the. river, but go
down it, after sacking Milledgeville,
into q better section to gather sup
plies and horses. So, every one who
was able to get across the river felt
that he would be safe from Sherman's
army. 1 learned that squad Of cav
airy from General Howard's 3 division
was about to enter the town Sunday
afternoon. In consultation with DR..
j. r. Bratton, in charge Of Midway
hospital, two miles off, we decided to
go out and meet the cavalry. He met
it in front of the executive mansion.
The company was in command Of
Captain Duncan, of Howard s scou:s.
He very politely asked us what we
were doing there. We told him that
e'were under orders. He asked US
Whose order. We answered, under
ithe orders of the medical director OF
Hospitals Of Hoods army.
After showing him our orders and
commissions, he demanded to see our
hospitals. In this connection, it
might be we'll to remark that 1 held
my commission from the governor Of
the State of Georgia. Di. Bratton
i held his from the Confederate States.
Captain Duncan, in looking at my
commission, remarked that it was the
first and only valid commits
sion he had ever seer down in Dixie;
that Georgia was a sovereign State,
recognized by the United States, and
commission or paper signed by the
governor Of the State Of Georgia was
valid and in force everywhere, re-
marking at the same time that DR..
Bratton's commission, which was
from the Confederate Convention, was
worth about the paper it was written
on, but nevertheless, out Of courtesy,
ne recognized it. He asked me to
show him my hospital. did so, first
taking him into the Office. Before
entering the Office I said to him: Cap
tain Duncan, bring in two or three
Of your best friends with you" He
did 80.
It was cold, misty November day
They had been riding without theil
dinner. I had q large, oldfashioped
log FIRE in an old country fireplace
which made the room very warm ant