The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-17

ol Iuc cI1 SNfGierS. hrrtvCr | 20
the cry is for The Journal. Il, Srcad
by old and Young alike. In the coun
try home there is no rest when the
Saturday Journal comes in until
some member Of the family sits down
and reads those interesting rcninis
ccnccs of the great war, as portrayed
By the actual participants 10 the
events related. Even :hc ii::Iu ones
gather around with open ears, mouth
and eyes, eager to take it all in. The
exprc> sion Of the eye and crimson
flush Of the cheek indicate how deeply
they are interested. 1t is splendid
educator, these sketches are, aud they
create thirst in their young minds to
know more of the great struggle in
which their fathers and grandfathcrs
took SO active part. 1t has become
quite common in many sections Of the
rural districts for some Of these art-
clcs from The Journal to be read in
the schools by the teachers.
As The Journal has extended an
invitation to the old vets to contribute
something along that line, l will avail
myself Of its kind offer.
The day before the great battle of
Atlanta, July 22, 1864, I was coming
into the city with scout from the
vicinity Of Pcachtrcc Creek, where we
had been having some lively times
with the blue coats, also with some
important information for General
Wheeler, who was then operating be-
tween Atlanta and Decatur. We came
into what was then known as Peach
tree road, near where the Exposition
park is now located. This road at
that time presented no attractive
feature beyond what might be seen in
passing along any common country
road. Since then, however. it has
been converted into magnificent
thoroughfarc, bcautifcd by elegant
homes on either side, and noted as
one Of the most superb drivcways in
the South, the admiration of strangers
and the pride of Atlanta. At the
time mention, in place of these fine
dwellings it was dotted here and there
with neat cottages. Those on the
left Of the road near tho city wero built
on hillside, which enabled them to
have large room below, which was
generally used for dining room. At
one of these cottage homes occurred
the incident am about to relate. At
intervals during the day Sherman had
been paying his respects to the city by
throwing shells into the city, regard
less of where they took effect, and to
the very great discomfort of the terror
stricken women and children whowere
compelled to remain. While passing
one of these cottages my attention
was attracted to great commotion GO
ing on in the room below. I at once
halted the command aud decided to
investigate. Captain Roberts and
myself dismounted, handed our bride
reins to one of the boys and passed in
at the gate, around tho house and
down to the basement, where We found
congregated number of women and
children. They were all, save one, in
state Of frantic excitement, as num-
Der Of shells haI exploded in close
proximity to the house. As wo ap-
preached they appealed to US to know
what was best to do in order to pro-
tect themselves from the flying mis-
silica, for Sherman's skyrockcts were
no respecters of persons. The room
contained two large windows directly
opposite each other, and while tho
captain and myself were trying to
quiet the inmates tcn.inch she'll
camo crashing through one Of the win
dows and passed out Of the one on the
opposite side of the room, leaving
blue streak behind it, with strong
odor of sulphur and birthstone, and
exploded just outside tho house, tear
ing up the earth and scattering it's
fragments in every direction. After
the excitement had somewhat subsid-
ed / remarked to the ladies that if
there was any truth in the old sailor
adage that "two shots never strike in
the same place." then the best thing
for them to do was to remain right
where they we're.
One of the most heroic exhibitions
of GOODNESS I ever witnessed under
fire during the war occurred on this
occasion. One of the party in the
room was young lady, apparently
not over 18 or 20 years of age, beau
ty with dark hair and eyes and O