The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-03-11

HOW W, H. DUVA
ELUDED CAPTORS.
The Story of a C0nfeder-
ate's Daring.
A LEGION SCOUT.
His War Career of Roman
tic Interest.
Famous Swimmer, Horseman aud All
Round Fighting Man-His Gal.
liant and PerllOus Deeds,
A LEGION SCOUT.

WhO wac ~ 6hlldhU SOluiSE III Uu0 11dhip
ton Legion, has contributed the article
printed below to the News and Courier
about the late William n. DIVA who
was q soldier of the legion.
Mr.. DIVA is we'll remembered by Ma
jor w. A. Watts and the few other
surviving veterans Of the Legion in
this part OF the state. Duva's adven-
lures were a favorite theme of the late
adjutaut of Gary's Brigade, Col. B w.
Balland he was often heard to relate
the storv of his escape from the Federal
sold Just as 1t is related by Mr..
WelcL mo, by the way, was also
later ao. tant of the Legion.
The following Is Mr.. Weloh's article:
civilian III. DIVA, a Confederate
veteran, who deserves more than a
passing notice, and who served the
C%onfederacy with conspicuous ability,
passed away on February s, 1908. He
was born July 8, 1s41, in Christ Church
Parish, where his earlylife was passed,
and volunteered in Capt. l.. O. Nc
Cords 1pany for service in the
Hampto 4-4gion Infantry. When the
company was mustered into the Con-
federate army and expected to be sent
to Virginia 1t was ordered by Governor
Pickens tc the coast Of South Carolina,
and was stationed for some months on
the Stone River, where Mr.. DIVA
proved by obedience to orders and
READINGS for any duty, no matter how
dangerous or trying, those high SOL
dierly qualities which he maintained
TO the end.
IN TO VIRGINIA.
When the seven days. fights around
Richmond occurred the company was
hurriedly sent to Virginia and partici-
pated in all of the battles which led up
to the Maryland campaign and ter
minated at Fredericksburg. Our com
rade took part in these and was sew
eral times slightly wounded. About the
close of 1862 Jenkins's brigade, to
which the Hampton Legion had been
transferred from Hoods Texans, was
ordered to the Blackwater River, where
picketing and skirmishing we're of al
most daily occurrence. Mr.. DIVA was
constantly on the firing line,' and here
learned much of the art of scouting, in
which he was afterwards so successful.
He vas a man of untiring energy, I'M
falling good humor, r%esourceful and
courageous. No matter how exhaust
ing the march, wet to the skin, fam
ished and foot-sore, his merry laugh
ter could be heard and was contagi-
ours.
mo one in the entire command con-
tributed as much as he when the biv-
ouac was reached to reconcile his
wearied, hungry comrades to make the
best of the most wretched conditions.
His happy disposition made him a great
favorite, and there was scarcely a man
in the brigade who did not know 'Ril
Duva' and greet him most cordially on
all occasiOns. He was a famous swim
mer, a fine horseman and excelled in
all athletic sports. His knowledge of
woodcraft was acknowledgements no
circumstances was he ever lost in the
woods or mountains.
ESCAPE FROM cAPToRs.
Sat the bloody engagement at DAN
bridge, East Tennessee, he was taken
prisoner and sen to Knoxville. Soon
after, with twelve or fifteen comrades,
under a mounted guard, he was started
off for Cumberland Gap. On the road
his buoyant spirits kept the crowd in a
merry mood. At nightfall of the first
day out he persuaded his guard to
climb a fence with him to get some
drinking water. The weather was bit
terly cold and the stream frozen
STOPPING down he b oke the ice with q
stone and slaked his thirst. Upon get
ting up he held the stone in his hand
and his guard stopped to drink, when
DIVA struck him with the rock and ran
into the woods. The entire guard fired,
but missed him. For two days he hid
in the brush and travelled only at
night. At the HOlstron River Ferry he
found a Federal picket playing cards
by the freight Quietly slipping the
chain from q small boat, he jumped in
to it and pushed out into the stream,
when q dog barked and alarmed the
guard, who at once ran to the river and
kept firing till u comrade crossed the
stream. Fortunately he escaped harm
aud though the country was full of
Federal scouting parties and Union
bushwhackers he returned to camp, af-
ter an absence of q week.
when the Legion was ordered back
to Virginia as mounted infantry Mr..
DIVA was detailed for special duty as a
scout, and In this he rendered con-
spicuous service, as his qualifications
eminently fitted him for such work.
The information he gathered and dan
gers he experienced were more like o
romance than the monotonous life of q
soldier. For nearly four years he
served his country, and when Lee SUR
rendered at Appomattox he laid down
bis arms with the consciousness Of duty
well done. After hostilities ceased he
returned to the city, and was for many
years In the employ of the South Caro-
lima Railway Company and its success
sor, the Southern Railway.