The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-09-20

~"uiu couie out Win regiment and
then they would have to retire. As
soon as those people began to feel
that they were being protected by
the Confederate government, what
little they had left over after the two
armies retired was freely turned over
to the Confederate government and
they began to resume their ordinary
duties. 1t is needless to say that
those people had been pretty vel.
stripped of what they possessed-es
pec'~lly along the Chickahominy
river aud i'll the Immediate section
occupied by the Federal and Conf,d
crate armies during the first siege of
Richmond.
The sec'ion of country between
Williamsburg and New Kent C. H.
had been overrun by the retreating
Crnfederates and the advancing Fed
erals, but it was in early spring and
at season before their wheat crop.
were in a condition to be damaged
badly, after the seven days fight,
in which Gen'l Lee so completely
disposed of Gen'l McClellan's army
that it took water for Washington.
this saved these magnificent whea.
fields of James City and portions OF
New Kent and York counties to
their proper owners, and we found
tnem with an abundance of army
supplies which our government wa.
glad to get, so it was necessary for
u- to advance our lines in order to
take care of what We had in sight.
We moved our camps forward, ad.
vanced our picket lines. then formed
our scouts till we practically held all
the territory between the James and
York rivers and between Richmond
and Williamsburg. Our lines were
advanced sixty miles from Richmond
where We went into winter quarters
in 1862. These we held practically
until the opening Of the campaign in
1868.
But before we 90 too fast let US 90
back and notice some of the incidents
transpiring in the early fall and win
ter months of '62.
Maj. Gen'l Dix with a corps of
: Federal troops was left on the PENN
sular to operate against Richmond,
while Mcclellan retired with the
main army Of the Potomac to Wash
ington.
On Monday morning, September
8, 1852, about daylight we received
orders TO prepare three days rasions
aud be ready to move by 8 o'clock a.
IN. This was source of much spec
ulation on the part Of the men. Some
thought 1t meant one thing and some
anothes. The evening before Major
Robinson, with battalion of Virginia
Cavalry, and Capt. Long, with a
Company Of Georgians, belonging to
Phillips Legion, Cavalry joined us
and went into camp for the night.
From this we knew that something
wss up but that was all we did know.
| must stop here to say that finer
body Of troops ! never saw than
Capt Longs men. There was not a
man among them under six feet in
height, and scarcely horse that
would weigh less than 1000 pounds.
At the appointed time the mel,
were ready and the squadron was
formed by companies into line. A
vanguard of ten men were appointed
under command of Lieut.. Dinkins,
of the Claremont troops, with Ser
geant VIM. Thorn, of the Congsree
; Cavalries, as nom commissioned off
Ger. On this detail VIM. r. Hughes
and your corresI ondent Represented
the McKissick Rangers. Some Of
US had already been on the scout AMI
bad gone to within few miles of Viii
liamsburg, and we were not so badl, !,
lost. DR.. Taylor, DR.. Marston and
Dick Taylor were the guides. They
had been detailed for that pur6os,
from other portions Of the army.
IL wasn't long till we found ou