The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08

vile. Reached Whitehall Station and
took the train for our destination. Cold
riding in box cars. We went to Charles
ton, and got out of the cars and marched
out Of the city and across the Ashley Riy
er, and went into camp.
The enemy have all gone north by the
way of Branchville, II seems, so that they
are in our rear. The color guard of my
regiment was recognized, so as to have
three color bearers. ] was appointed one
of them. / am on the road to glory now,
as | have been made one Of three targets
for the enemy TO shoot at.
Feb. TN camp all day. Drew cloth
ing for the part Of our brigade which is
here. l got pair Of shoes.
CHARLESTON IN RUINS.
Feb. Scot leave today and visited
the city. ! find it much damaged by
shells, and the enemy keep up the shell
ing. These shells weigh 100 and 200
pounds. and are fred from rified cannon,
Eve or six miles distant.
The sound of cannon and exploding
shells never ceases in and around this
city. Here was fired the first shot of the
war.
/ was here when the first gun was fired
at Sumter. 1t was q shell from a mortar,
and was fired from James Island. about
O'Clock a. H., April II, 1861. ] was on
post. and / saw the circle of sparks emit
ted from the fuse as it sped in the dark
ness on its way TO Sumter / was on post
when the United States flag was shot
down in Sumter and was still on post
when the white flag was raised over the
fort / felt then like / could lick" every
Yankee in the North. Then the women
and men walked all around my post, some
crying, some laughing, some shouting, and
all quite wild.
Today | went to the spot where / had
stood post when Sumter fell. / saw Meth
er men nor women; all was like a grave
yard. Some cannon were in battery, but
with no one to man them. The houses
round about were tenantless, made so by
the Yankee cannon, which had riddled
those they had not destroyed. The city
had been almost abandoned in CONNER
cial sense. The incessant fall of shell
within its borders constantly adds to the
ruins.
came here to go to school before the
war broke out, and when ! did so / had
a paradise of n life plotted out when
should graduate. The coming of the war
broke UP this dream. Then had another
dream when on post at the capture of
Sumter. 1t was that | could whip all the
Yankees on earth. But after experiment
ing on that line for about four years this
dream had panned out to be dream pur
and simple. But today / have another
plan-nOt based on the future. but on the
past and the present; namely. ! intend to
quit dreaming and thus being led into
acting the Ounce. / had made two fail
ures in life on account Of the war: first,
failed to graduate AT school. and thus far
| have failed to lick the Yanks: but ! am
going to keep on fighting them until all
the boys quit or cry enough.
Nearly everybody dies for want of sense
anyway, and if l do l will still belong to
the body polite Of majority rule in the
other world.
The brigade moved camp about y miles
today. When we can't fight we like to
| hustle.
Feb. 9.-Today we are at Whitehall
Station. place which we left few days
ago. We are here to hunt for the Yam
KEGS. This is the Sunny South, but it is
showing. The enemy are near here, and
we will find them.
Go be continCed.)