The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-24

ancc OF the situation that our G. cncral
found 1t too well fortified and defend.
cd with Yankees to make g successful
assault on that place, We turned our
course southwark, aud after riding
nearly all night, resting but a short
time before arriving at the crossing Of
the Potomac, called Old Town Bridge
where We arrived about S o'clock a.
m. on the 9th Of August, 1864, where
/ we found to our surprise fiat car
with piece Of artillery on the Nir-
glna side Of the river, which opened
on us as we approached tie bridge
4 from Maryland side. This was quick
~ sllcnccd by our battery placed on a
nil! near the road leading to the
bridge; then | saw Bradley T. John
son and Maj. j. Il. Claybornc, com
lnanding the 37th Battalion Virginia
Cavalry, hold a few minutes conversa-
ton; Major Claybornc whirlcd Ehis
horse and put himself at the head Of
his command, aud in loud voice
called out, ''Mcn, follow me" land at
the head of his column charged the
bridge under sweeping ire Of mus
kerry from block-house situated lust
IN front OF US on the Virginia side.
My comradc and friend, young James
Fair, of Grccnvillc, fell near the end
OF the bridge; his comrades not hav-
ing time to recover his body lie now
lies, | suppose, buried near the Old
Town Bridge in Maryland. After pa
rolling these Yankees we allowed them
to return with their arms across the
river on the Maryland side. We then
rode on without a stop in brisk way
until we arrived at the Mcneil farm.
situated in beautiful valley or
meadow near the branch Of the Poto
mac. 1t was a large, two-story brick
building, in which General johnson
established his headquarters. being
one of his body-guards was placed on
duty this same evening near the
headquarters, and remained on duty,
together with my friend and comrade,
John Duckett, who now is living in
Oconee Co., this State. We were re-
lieved from duty at midnight and won't
to the porch OF Johnson's 8 headuuar-
ters and spread our blankets on the
porch to take our rest, and while en-
Joylng refreshing sleep, about dawn
we were awakened by tho rattle of
musketry in our camp, the Yankees
having entered our camp through an
unfrequented trail through the noun
tains, getting in between our scouts
and camp, and commenced shooting
and capturing our brigade, nearly one
ha'f Of which was captured, many be-
ing killed before they could mount
their horses. Those who did mount
were pursued by the victorious fed
erals to the river, situated about one
mile from camp, and there, many were
shot and many wounded. One of
those wounded was our venerable
friend and neighbor, Mr.. Newton
Clinkscales, who lives few miles be-
low Anderson, the ball entering below
his shculder and coming Uut just
above his left breast. He fell from
t.a horse, and then the enemy, who
were following him after he had said
he would surrender, shot him again
through the arm, and one gave him
lick with u sabre, splitting the scalp
of his head four or FIVE inches, and
perhaps would have killed him, but as
he was in the act of giving him anoth-
cr thrust with the sabre a Yankee
officer, with a sword in hand, cursed
the Yankee who had struck Clink-
scales and threatened to cut him down
with bis sword for treating q prisoner
thus. Strange to say, our friend
Clinkscales was able to return to camp
for duty in sixty days. Sam Looper
and Chesley Watkins were both NOR
tally wounded. Watkins body now
sleeps near the place where he fell.
Many of our South Carolina friends
were captured and carried as prisoners
to Johnson's Island, and several of
them never returned, having died in
prison. Those who died are we'll
known to many of us here-Thomas
Martin, Of Anderson; Joe Masingale,
of Pickens, and two or three othors
do not remember, died while in prison.
Captain NJ. w. Wallace and John
Duckett, both at that time Anderson
boys, together with John Julien, of
Pickens, and Willis Dickerson, of
Anderson, and John Duckett survived
prison life and were parolcd after the
surrender. Our beloved Bradley
johnson narrowly escaped being cap