The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-24
WAR STORIES.
AM Old Anderson Soldier Writes an Inter.
eSting Letter..

recent visit to some Of my old
friends and comrades at lickcns | was
asked to write some Of my personal
experiences about the war. Before
proceeding, however, let Inc say here
while in Pickcns | was treated with
great kindness and hospitality, and
was very much pleased and surprised
at the fine farms and fourishing con-
dition Of the country. Some Of the
farms produce 60 and - bushels of
corn to the acre. Several Of my
friends were living in houses occupied
over a hundred years ago by grand
fathers and fathers. Indeed my en-
tire visit was one of great pleasure.
Ny friend, Captain James A. Griffin,
took me to see beautiful and pictu-
rescue Table Rock. 1t had been fifteen
years since he had been on its top,
and not remembering the exact path,
We got lost and very weary. Night
coming on we thought We would have
to spend the night on the Rock, but
finally We found our way down. |
was so tired and weak when VIC reach
ed the bottom my friend had to lift
me and put me into the buggy and
carry me home. 1t was two days be-
fore was able to be up, but my trip
was enjoyed nevertheless. The scene
ry most beautiful, a fine view Of
Saluda River flowing down the rocks
through the mountains. The top Of
Ball Knob, the highest mountain in
this State, looked as though it was
s. ow-cappcd, SO many white rocks to
hr seen on its top. On visiting one
of my old comrades, Mr.. Silas Viii
liams, met his venerable father,
Uncle Harry Williams; he was born
in 1903, consequently is now in his
94tn year. lie is most remarkable
mar, having retained all Of his facul-
ties perfectly. He now can hitch up
his horse to buggy and drive any
where over the country. He has lived
on the same place sixty We years, and
has been doing his own cooking aud
housekeeping for twenty eight years,
and during tho war he assisted in car
ing for two hundred women whose hus-
bands were engaged in tho war. This
same old man says he has never been
under the influence Of liquor, never
smoked pipe or cigar, never chewed
piece of tobacco, never in law
suit, and never been sued. He had
FIVE sons, all in the war, three return
ed and two lost their lives. This re-
markab) character is in easy circum-
stances.
I will now give an account Of the
surprise made by the federal General
Averil, which affair occurred 7th Aug,
1864, on expedition under Gen. Early
into Maryland. We went within three
miles Of Washington city-General
Bradley T. johnson commanding q
brigade Of cavalry, the brigade of
which 1 was courier. The brigade
consisted of the following regiments
and bataalions: The 37th and the
9Th Virginia and Gilmore battalion,
and Col. Peters regiment, number
have forgotten, all Of Virginia. This
brigade, together with one commanded
by General McCauslin, composed the
cavalry that accompanied General j.
A. Early on his famous expedition into
Maryland, with the idea of capturing
Washington or weaken Grants army
in front of Petersburg. Early's
infantry consisted of 8 or 10 thousand
men, but rumor while On tho march in
Maryland said about thirty thousand.
After remaining for several hours
within reach Of the siege guns at
Washington city, our cavalry was or
dered to retrace our steps slowly and
cautiously, and we made our way to
the Potomac River; then while Ear
ly's infantry marched in the direction
OF Leesburg, Va, our cavalry keeping
on the flank Of the infantry. Having
skirmished nearly every day with che
enemy we lost several men killed and
wounded in our cavalry brigade. We
crossed the Potomac with Early's in
fantry at Leesburg sometime in July.
After crossing the river Early infan-
try marched in the direction of Win
chester, in the valley of Virginia; tho
two brigades consisting of Johnson's 3
and McCauslin' 8, marched direct to an
upper ford on the Potomac, crossing
that stream at place called Williams
port; then without Ealting only few
hours to feed and get Sations by send
ing parties in the country for them,
as VIC had no wagons for carrying sup
plies, we marched direct to Chambers