Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-23

TO uS tuat Tue eue"J
had become weary Of us and had aban-
doned the vicinity we all went back
to camp and began to do our spring
housekeeping. This work was great
ly needed. for only the make believe
sick men had occupied the camp in
the last fortnight. and they made the
place look like q lot of houses that
had been abandoned to tramps. In
deed, In later days I've been compelled
to believe that the war was the origin
of the great army Of tramps that has
Invested and infested the country ever
since 1865.
After careful inspection our colonel
decided that the best way to have
clean camp was to make new one' SO
be formally asked for ground for the
purpose. but the general said that all
the troops at the post would have to
make new camps elsewhere very soon'
for since our trouble with Longstreet
the war department had determined
that the post was not worth the cost
Of holding it. Further. General Hal
leck. the presidents right hand mill
tary adviser. declared that he could
not understand why the post was ever
occupied.
When this information reached US,
all of us were amazed and disgusted.
We had gone out almost year before
to help save the Union. We had spent
all our time and suffered innumerable
disc0mfortS. privationS and fears. Now,
according to the highest authorities,
we might as well have remained at
home. Cloyne. Brainard and l held
an Indignation meeting over 1t, and
Cloyne moved formally that we join
the Mick McTwyny gang and assist
big Pat Callahan IN cursing the govern.
mrnt. but Brainard objected. saying
that governments. being human. had
to learn some things by experience.
and as on general principles ! always
sided with Rrainard. Cloyne's resolu-
tion was voted down by a two-thirds
majority.
Meanwhile preparations for evacuat-
Ing the post had been made. The
heavy artillery was removed, one regi-
ment after another followed it. and
finally there came an early July MORN
ing when we were Informed we were
to pack our own effects at once and be
ready to abandon camp.
Up TO that time we had supposed
that our effects were only what could
be carried on our horses, but some Of
US soon learned to our sorrow that we
had accumulated enough stuff to load
half q dozen horses. I, for one, had
collected at least ton Of war relics,
ranging in weight from Johnny's
iron stirrup to uneXploded shells and
solid shot weighing hundred pounds.
All of this old iron lay in a row on the
topmost log Of our room and directly
over the inner edge of my bunk. l
tried to bribe teamsters to provide
transportation; even labored with the
sergeant Of our howitzer battery, hop
ing to coax him to carry them In unoc.
cupied corners Of his gun caissons, but
he too, was obdurate-he had luggage
Of his own-so had to content myself
by selecting a single three inch shell
that could go in my box OF extra cloth
ing without exciting suspicion by its
weight.
One day the entire regiment except
the stable orderlies were ordered OH
picket, the reserve station OF which
was the main street Of the village. At
4 o'clock In the morning the pickets.
instead Of being relieved. were entirely
withdrawn, and the relief was posted
within a quarter Of mile Of the main
body Of the regiment. The men on
these new posts were relieved at s In
the morning by members Of n single
troop. which happened to be our own.
From the new outposts-I was the
corporal in charge Of one and Brainard
of another-we were soon drawn In to
camp.
On entering camp the order was
given to prepare to fire the houses
stables, etc. The signal, the officers
told us. would be the fall Of the camp
flagstaff. at which q man with an ak
already stood. while the entire band
mounted. stood near by, playing "Auld
Lang Syne." To prepare for firing
camp was simple enough. 1t was
merely to "stand by" with matches
ready to light. for every bunk was OF
pine and contained a mattress full OF
hay. straw or leaves that had been well
summed and seasoned. The walls were
of pine, and SO were the roofs. Nc
plaster or partitions could delay the
spread Of flame, and everything was
as dry as a July sun could make 1t.
Down crashed the pole, hundreds OF
matches cracked. and the band began
playing some solemn music. famliarly
known as "Old Hundredth," and then
dashed into There's No Luck About
the House." for "a Hot Time In the
Old Town" had not yet been written
In Il moment all the men were hurry
ing to the stables. where the horses
stood all saddled. Orders had already
been given to dash to the road as sooI
rs nlounted the guidon bearers were
already there as rallying points fol
the men Of their respective troops. AL
ready lames poured from the windows