The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-03-08

Island at a. lace called Benefits
Point. Lieutenant Mabry Thomas,
of the McKi,sick Rangers, was in
command of 'he force consisting of
Il detachment cf McKissick S com
pany which once proceeded to The
fort. They crossed Edisto river
below Millwood on an old cotton
boat and took up headquarters at the
Matthews place. The house they
occupied was large palalia! build
ing surrounded by verandas, por.ices
and shrubbery Of all kinds. Hitch
ing places for horses were both con.
vcnient and comfortable, as they
were protected from the weather.
Plckets were sent out to the different
places to be guarded and the command
prepared for weeks stay ON the
island. 1t was not an island either,
1t was peninsular, though called
Bears Island. The Federal
Sunboats coalI run up the Edisto
river on one side aud Ashcpoo on
the other aud shell the pickets for
the fun oft whenever they got ready.
One morning Sergeant E. l.. Minter
in charge of the post Mt the point,
saw the gunboat coming towards
him. He mounted his men and re-
';-"h g tho onvor of the woodland. n
short distance to the rear and awaited
developments. The boat opened a
terrific fire and shelled the woods.
The bursting of shell and the whiz
Of grapeshot was something new to
our horses as we'll as men. Major
Mrntcr 1--WE all called him Major
instead Of SargeanD rode a
high melted sorrel mare, one of the
best animals in the command. a
ten-inch mortar sh.ll iell near him
and the fuse blew out without its
bursting. His mare became un,
manageable and threw him. His foot
hung IN the stirrup and as he fell he
caught the stirrup (Which was made
with spring for that purpose) and
he had the presence of mind to open
the spring and free himself from his
ENHANCEMENT, thus, beyond doubt,
saving himself from death too hor-
ribie to contemplate.
The Sergeant and his men stood
their ground and reported regularly
to Lit. Thomas. who with the reserve
picket was in readiness to carry out
any orders from headquarters. Tho
time had come to test our men and
they were aware of it. TO funk"
then, as they called it, would have
brought disgrace upon the company
which they could not afford to do
To the Federal navy this annoying
of our pickets was fun and no doubt
they enjoyed it hugely. But after a
few days of this perilous service the
pickets wese withdrawn to the bridge
at the Matthews heuse, and head
quarters were removed about two
miles TO the rear. Scouts did the
work in the island near Benefits
Point after that, and the pickets had
a comparatively easy time. During
the months of Janunry and February
Of that year the picketing and scout,
ing went on on Bears Island without
any particular incidents taking place
worthy of note, except that one night
two scouting parties of the Federals
were sent out with view ostensibly
of surrounding our pickets and cap.
turing them. There were good
many negroes on the Island who
no doubt furnished information to the
enemy and acted as guards for their
scouting parties. The night to which
| refer was very dark one, and by
some means these scouting parties
either mistaking where our pickets
were or else taking the wrong road
met each other at point about half a
mile from where our men were stand
ing guard. AS we suppose, each
took the other for Confederates and
the firing begun. For few minutes
terrific battle went on while our
men looked on aud enioyed the sport.