The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-15

spite his weakened cycsight, affected
by cataracts, he rides as anpcrbly
as when lie led his legion in the sad
die.
There was never any fighting on
Christmas Day during the civil war;"
said General Hampton, when asked
for some "reminiscences. "It has been
long time ago, and cannot remem-
Der much of those Christmas times.
We of the army had other things to
occupy our attention. But Christmas
was one day on which there was no
fighting. The men received messages
and boxes from home, and camp life
got an inspiration on that day.
Il remember that one Christmas
the ground was covered with snow.
The men ranged themselves on sides
like school boys, and tremendous
battle cnsucd. For a long time the
contest ragged. The lines charged and
were broken, formed again and cndea-
vorcd to execute strategic movements.
Finally the sport became so exciting
and SO spirited that two men had their
arms broken, and had to go into the
fight aud declare truce
Bishop Ellison Capers, whose home
is also here, and who rose to the rank
OF brigadier-generalin in the civil war, has
not pleasant recollcctions Of Christmas
in war times. When asked for some
"reminiscences the head Of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Diocese of South Caro-
lima said:
From the earliest colonial days in
South Carolina Christmas has been
the time of family reunion and family
fellowship; especially has this been
the case in the low country of the
State. At the old plantation homes
it was common for three and often four
generations to meet at Christmas.
But the civil war put an end to all of
this.
after the first battle of Manassas
opened the great drama there were no
young men left to greet their parents
and grandparents at Christmas at the
old home. Mothers, sisters and wives
were too busy making comforts for the
soldiers in the field to enter into
the joyous festivities Of the great hol-
iday.
81 doubt if any family in the South
enjoyed real Christmas reunion dur
ing the war. Bhe Christmas of 1860
was too full of uncertainty and intense
excitement to be enjoyed as happy
family festival. All succeeding war
time Christmases were too full of sor-
row for the dead and sadness and anx-
iety for the living to be days of joy
and family happiness.
while an officer OF the Confeder-
ate army never spent Christmas at
home during the war. The Christmas
of 1861 was spent on scout on Sea-
brooks Island locating the exact po-
sition Of Federal gunboat in the
mouth Of the North Edisto river, with
q view to an attack upon her early on
the morning of ths 26th. It was late
on the afternoon oil Christmas before
l crossed from Seabrook's to Johns
Island, and I recall distinctly con-
trasting my hunger of that afternoon
and my dinner to. tke feasting and 10y
Of other days.
Passing :he cabin Of an old negro
on the plantation o8 Mr. Washington
Seabrook, I stopped and asked o old
nanny, who was seated in her door
smoking her pipe; If she could not give
me something to. eat. She promptly
replied that she had nothing brit some
turnip soup and. cold heminy, but that
not 'fitten for you, Mossa, an Crist-
mass, too" / dssmounted and, hand
ing the good old NANNY quarter,
ate her turnip soup. and the cold hom-
my with relish that can meyer for
get.
Meanwhile what Of the family at
IT