The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-21

HOISc5, anu HcuCc great many cOW
panies of cavalry in the ncighborhood
of their homes in the army Of North
err Virginia were allowed TO go to
their respective counties throughout
Virginia to rest, recruit and fattcn
their horses for the spring campaign.
This was the case with my company,
the Madison cavalry and assure
you that we boys were delighted to be
with our home folks, where We spent
delightful winter. Surprise parties
were all the rage. The girls would
manage to get together in some way
or another, coming in wagons, buggics,
OK carts, horse back, some with men,
saddles and blind brides. Then .hc
dance! What a glorious time VIC had
The intermissions were frequently en-
livcncd with southern songs, charadcs
and refreshments, the latter consist
ing Of ginger cakes, cider, pcrsimmon
beer and so on, and not until the
rising sun had kissed the snow clad
hills along the Rapidan river did We
cease to trip the light fantastic toe,
and go home with the girls in the
morning 1t was at the conclusion Of
one Of these gaycst Of parties at the
old Lewis house on the RapiIan, that
one Of our company quietly informed
dozen of us boys to report at once
to headquarters, then at Madison
courthouse. OF course we were curl
GUS to know what was up, and bidding
adicu to our swccthcarts, we reported
promptly. On our arrival at the
courthouse VIC found but very few Of
the company present and hence our
curiosity was still greater; but very
soon Captain Strothcr Informed us
that he needed but few mcn-mcn in
whom he had implicit confidence
hence picked men Of the company.
What was the work to be done? Many
questions Of the kind were asked, but
no one seemed to know. A hazardous
undertaking awaited us. During the
war but few men were in the conf
dcncc of their superior officers, and on
this occasion but few of US knew to
what point Of the compass we were
destined, or what tho nature Of the
work, but judging from. the orders
fifteen of us (who had volunteered
from among 25 or 30) had received,
that is, "Lcave your baggage behind,
take nothing but your pistols, sabros
and plenty of ammunition; see that
your horses arc in good trim, and
meet me at the old Lutheran church
on the Robertson river "a tributary
Of the Rap;dan), tonight at II
O'Clock, promptly
Every emotion Of our youthful
hearts bounded with JOY. The de-
votion to our native county was shown
in the hearts Of each of us, as we
chccrfully and promptly responded to
his orders. The Yankees had sig
nal station on nit. Pony, in Culpeppcr
county, overlooking much Of the terri
tory in Culpeppcr, Orange and Mad
ison counties, and therefore but lit
tie could be done by raiding parties
during the daytime without being OBJ
served. The Robertson river was our
picket line, while that Of the Yankees
was four or five miles away, but par
allcl with the river. Scarcely day
passed that foraging party of Yam
KEGS did not harass and pillagc our
citizens between the lines. Many sad
reports came to us from day to day
through our citizens that they could
seldom get even meal ready to be
eaten, but that some raiding party Of
Yankees would pouncc upon it, and
often would not leave enough on the
premises to furnish another meal.
Promptly at IL o'clock Captain
Strothcr rode into our little squad OF
Is determined Confcdcratcs who were
at the river dismountcd and quietly
awaited his coming.
The captains face showed signs of
the fcrccst conflict Of Confederate
soldier, besides scars received in tho
Mexican war; and although he was 4
hard fighter, still he was ever ready to
accord to his enemy the rights Of q
civilized warfare The time had como
for our departure. lie said Boys,
are you rcady?" We answered by
promptly mounting our horses and
forming in line Of march. He said:
eve shall have some fun, and shall
expect every man to do his duty"
The stars were shining brightly, the
ground frozen end the night air chilled
by-a heavy frost. We had crossed the