The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-27
A WAR INCIDENT.
An Anderson Mans Experience ut the
Evacuation OF Richmond.
Laurens Advertiser.


Mr.. Editor: 1t has not been so long
that the war and its incidents fail to
have personal relish, aud with your
permission, l beg to trespass on your
space and the patience of your readers
with an occasional moving incident.
The following will illustrate the stuff
that soldier should be made Of:
In 186465 and antil the surrender.
Gary's cavalry brigade held the left Of
General Lees army on the north of
the james Immediately in front of
Richmond. On the night previous to
the surrender of Richmond, the infan-
try was withdrawn and in the morning
the brigade of cavalry slowly withdrew
from the lines with orders not to fire
on the enemy if they pressed. There
ere three roads leading from the lower
part of the city, for several miles
almost parallel with the river-the
river road along the bank, then next
the Darbytown, and farther north the
Charles City road, all leading from the
city and diverging at FIVE or six miles
below. The brigade Withdrew at
dawn, leaving pioketa Of ten men on
each road with instructions to with.
draw slowly on the approach Of the
enemy. Lieut.. Farmer, of Co. D,
Hampton Legion, with one detach-
ment, was placed on the river road.
The brigade moved leisurely to the
city followed by the enemy's cavalry.
A Federal officer and private galloped
upon Farmer and of course surrender
ed. Presently Farmer ascertained
that the enemy had passed north of
him on the other roads and were in
possession of the city. Thus he was
situated with navigable river a mile
wide cutting him off from Lees army,
the enemy, ten thousand strong, three
miles above him and a thousand
chances to one against his escape.
The city was on fire, the Confederate
vessels we're blowing up in the river,
the magazines encircling the city were
making an earthquake Of the long
lines extending to Petersburg, his
own brigade, the last to leave the
Confederate capitol, had assisted in
burning the bridges behind them, but
Farmer got out of the difficulty and
did not surrender.
Diamounting his men aud prisoners,
he placed them on the bank of the
great stream. A contract was made
with the Yankee officer that he should
be kindly looked after if he was sue
cessfully brought to General Lee 8
lines; Farmer and his men were to re-.
ceive like treatment il they fell into
the power Of the Federals. In the
course of the day small boat manned
by two or three small boys, Aoated
along the stream. A'few pistol shots
brought them to, and in few min
ates, by their seamanship, Farmer, his
men and prisoners were landed on the
south side Of the James, and by mid
night Of that day he had joined his
flag at Amelia. G. a., more than
twenty miles from Richmond, with his
men, turning over his Federal captain
and private with the stipulation for
their kind treatment. Ninety nine
men in hundred would have surren.
dered under the circumstances. The
writer does not know if the subject of
this adventure is still living iu An.
derson County, aud writes the story
as one Of many coming under his eye,
illustrations of the heroic stuff that
made up. the young Confederate SOL
dier.
THE Farmer alluded to above is
Mr. N. u. Farmer, Of Fork Township,
and printed yithous bis knowledge
Ed. Intelligsncer.]