The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-02-12
The Good Old Days.

AHc wax auu tne coming OF nf.
Sherman! l am not 80 sure that these
should be classed among the "good
old days" They were days to be re-
membered, days that tried men souls
and wrought ruin to their property
and brought desolation everywhere.
May be they ought to be set off to
one side by themselves, and be con-
sidercd as exceptional and peculiar.
| was just thirteen years old when [
had the pleasure Of meeting Mr.. Kill
patrick and his doughty soldiers. For
days, rumors had been afoat that
Sherman was coming. His march
through Georgia was noiscd abroad.
There was smoke behind him, fire
about him, and death on every hand.
They told us, too, that when he reach
ed South Carolina the fireworks were
to become very brilliant, and the GAL
liant little seceder should be brought
very low. I am willing to testify that,
along certain lines of statement, at
least. Mr.. Sherman knew how to speak
the truth.
1t was about midday, on March
or April day, when the first Federal
cavalryman rode into Barnwell. A
few Of Wheeler's cavalry had been
loa6ng about the village for a long
time, and all at once these few whirl-
ed out like chaff before the wind, and
the blue-coats were upon US. ran
into the upper piazza Of my fathers
house, and could see them far down
the road beyond the Episcopal church,
a great mass Of them moving on to-
wards our once quiet hamlet. Many
young women Of the town had refugeed
to different portions of the State. My
father had delayed sending off two
loaded wagons which were standing
ready in the back yard. With Eve
minutes more of time they might have
made their escape; but the incoming
of half dozen fellows in blue dis
concerted all plans. The wagons and
mules were seized, and we saw them
no more. Scarcely had the foe invad-
ed US, before the big yard dog-Bru-
tus-lay dead on the ground. I had
little pet dog, named Tip-his dead
brother had borne the name of Top.
AS soon as I saw that Yankees would
kill dogs, 1 put string on my pets
neck and made him follow mo for
days and sleep with me at night. I
was set for mis- defense, and defended
him, too. The open square in front
Of our home was soon filled with q
squirming multitude of cavalry. They
pulled down the fence, and, in short
time, were cooking their DIM sr with
the boards. Within less than a., hour
the flames began to ascend from urn
ing buildings. Every vacant house
was fred, aud of those there were
many, ,sbecause the inhabitants had fed
in great numbers. The big hotel in
the rear Of our house and the Graham
House, as it was called, built on the
ground where my sister now lives,
were in flames at one time; so there
was fire before and FIRE behind. Upon
the arrivel Of Gen. Fitzpatrick, our
parlor and sitting room were taken
possession Of, and we felt rather glad
to have him with US, as that would se-
cure us from burning. The two blocks
in front and to the left were burning,
when my mother sent me over to ask
certain ladies who were on the street.
and unprotected, to come over ard
take shelter with us. Our home
quickly filed. Twice Or thrice that
day dinner was cooked in our Kitchen,
but the servants were never able to
get it into the house. AS fest as it
was ready, hungry Yankee came in
and took possession Of i.. I cannot
remember that we had anything at all
to eat until the next morning, and then
l got it by begging it from fellow
whose tent was near our front door.
My mother held my little dog while I
went out to do the begging. The man
I approached seemed to be kindly
fellow, and returned to the house
with few hard-tacks and possibly
box of sardines. The night which had
just ended had been night Of hor-
rors. The town was being piliaged
and sacked. Two days before the
coming of the enemy, my mother had
called me into one Of the basement
rooms of the house, and there I bur-
led for her glass jar containing
watches, jewelry and gold. When all
was over, we made tho sad discovery