The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-10-17

cut and got the rest of their compan.
ions aud waylayed tie r ad at Whit.
akers mill when a sEirmish fight
took p'aco about daylight in which
two of our men who had been taken
prisoners g,t away from the federa,s.
Our men hsd torn up the briI le
and taken p,siti IN on the top Of the
high bluff where with guus, pistols,
r>cAs ard brickbats they fou shs in
desperation uutil The whole co'umn
was forced to retire so as to get a
chance to fight at long range. The
Conftderates occupied a position
nearly right over where the column
OF Fede: al cavalry had to pass. In
this attack Bill Crosslaud of Company
a was shot through the hat with a
minnie ball which knock ed him sense
less for few minu es, but before the
Federals could cross the creek and
renew the fight his command had
borne him to place of safety where
kind lady gave him some peach
brandy AID he soon revived. The
next day we got conveyance AID
sent him to camp.
l will give some o,hcr accounts Of
our scouting parties and the trials to
which they were cfsen sphjscte at
times. At the same time l would
be glaa to have the "reminiscences of
other commands to help fill out this
department Of cur war history as |
proceed which will doubtless interest
our readers.
While We were camped at Bottoms
bridge in the summer of 1868
farmer brought barrel of cider into
camp and got permission from Cyl.
Shingler to sell it. While he was
drawing it off for his thirsty cus;o.
mers some misch;evous wretch crept
under his wagon and bored hole in
barrel underneath and drew cfr
water bucket full ard banded i5
round to his comrades aud told them
to help themselves. The veIJer was
in tlissful ignorance IF the transac ction
until he sold cut and found his bar
rel had hole in the other side oft.
There has been several versi,ns
cf the f.mous song "All Qliet Along
the Potomac Tonight" but the fol-
ing is the original copy as VIC used to
hear it surg Ly the Virginia girls in
,he early sixties:
''ALL QUIET ALONG TIE POTOMAC"
"All quiet on the Potomac" tonight,
Except now and then a stray picket
Is shot as he walks his beat to and fro,
BY n ritleman hid in the thicket."
It's nothing; private or two now and
then
Will not cunt in tho news of q battle.
Not an officer lost-only one of the men,
rattle.
All quiet on the Potomac tonight,
Where the soldiers lie peacefully
dreaming;
Their tents in the rays Of the clear
autumn moon.
Cr the light Of the watch-fres arc
cleaning,
A tremulous sight, as the gentle night
wind
Through the forest leaves slowly Is
wh,o cr1Serlng; rec IN 49, .,o, .;,,,
glittering eyes,
Keep watch-for the army is sic eping.
There's only the sound of the lone
sentry's tread,
AS ho tramps from the rock to the
fountain,
Thinking of the two on the low trundle-
bed,
Far away in the cot on the mountain;
His gun falls slack-his face, dark ard
grim,
CLOVIS gently with memories tender,
AS he mutters prayer for the children
asleep
For tho mother, may heaven defend
her!
The moon seems TO shine as brightly as
then,
That night when the love, yet un-
spoken,
Leaped up to his lips, and when muir
INJURED VOWS
Were pledged, to be eyer unbroken;
Then, drawing his sleeve roughly over
his eyes,
He dashes off tears that are yelling,
And gathers his gun up to its right
| place,
AS ii to keep down the heart swelling.
He passes the fountain, the blasted
| tree,
The footstep is tagging and weary,
Yet onward he goes, through the broad
belt of light,
Toward the shade of the forest 30
dreary
Hark! was it the wind that rustled the
| leaves?
Was it the moonlight so wondrously
flashing?