The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-28

While soldier in the Confederate
States army the thought Of being cap
turcd and confined in Northern pris-
on was akin to horror and humiliation.
was willing to take my chances for
life or death in the midst Of shot and
she'll among those who opposed us;
but to be confined in prison, with
cold, hunger and suffering, with
thoughts continually upon home and
it's loved ones. was enough to make a
man decide as | did, never to surrcn.
der. There might have been circum-
stances causing me to yield 20 my
foes, but it was my good fortune to
escape the many chances Of cap
turc during the three years of my arlay
life.
This brings to my mind few ex-
citing scenes which may be classed as
"close calls" and, therefore, may fit
in the columns Of The journal -
kindly reserved for us. The young
single men of the army were more
reckless and took more chances on
their lives than did the married men,
whose responsibilities were greater In
1863 was for few months a courier
for General William G. Wickham, and
while in northern Virginia, I think in
Fauquire County. Wickham's brigade
was guarding the rear Of Lees army:
we were watching the advance Of some
Federal cavalry when General Wick
ham called to Richard Hill, another
courier, and ordered him to ride to the
t'rnw of the hill just in our rear in or.
u - ascertain whether the Yankees
advancing. Just as we reached
the summit Of the hill, young Hill
recled and fell from his horse, pierced
through by mimic ball. Had l been
few feet in advance | might have
shared his fate. He was a gallant
young man of my County and near
relative Of General A. p. Hill, the
distinguished general who lost his life
April 2, 1865. almost at the last sun.
set Of the Confederacy. The next
"close cal" occurred at Chencellors-
vile on May End, day or two after
Hooker issued to his command a gen
eral order in which he said among
other things, "Our enemy must in
gloriously fly or come from behind his
defenses and give us battle on our own
ground, where certain dcstruc tion
awaits him" My company was on
picket duty near Banks ford, on the
Rappahannock River, between Fred
ericksburg and Hookcr's army.
We were on the mine road, watch
ing for any faux movement which
might be attempted by Hooker's left
wing.
A young Mr.. Wilhoit, from my
County, who joined the company the
same time that I did, was sent with
me down the road in advance Of the
picket post; he took his stand on one
side of the road in the. timber, and
selected the opposite side. We were
watching the movements Of some
Yankee artillery some distance in our
front, when suddenly 7 heard the
crack Of carbine, and young Wilhoit
fell from his horse shot through the
body. l was then ordered back, but
before reaching the post solid shot
was fred from the Yankee battery, the
ball smashing in pieces tho cooking
utensils on the fire at the reserve, de-
stroying our supper but injuring none
of the boys around the fire. was at
the post nearly all night and listened
to the fearful noise made by Hooker's
axemcn, building the most formidable
breastworks, out Of which they were
compelled to retreat on the next day
owing to that splendid flank movement
by General "Stonewall" Jackson.
Again, while my company was on duty
in Madison County in 1864, detail
of Is or IS men commanded by Lieu
tenant Carpenter was sent out on
picket beyond the Robinson River on
the rocd leading from Criglersville to
Culpepper Court House, Va. In the
afternoon We crossed to the north side
of the river and marched a few miles
beyond, where we came to small
country church located in little pine
grove at GROSS roads. There we all
dismounted, unsaJdled our horses and
up the church building as our
quarters for the night. After placing
two guards on the roads short dis
tance in our front, our little Confed-
crate command retired in apparent secu-