The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-03-11

the Confederate army and expected to
pc sent to Virginia it was ordered by
Governor Pickens to the coast OF South
Carolina, and was stationed for months
on the Stono River, where Mr.. DIVA
proved by obedience to orders and
readiness for any duty, no matter how
dangerous or trying, those high SOL
dier qualities which he maintained to
the end.
when the seven days fight around
Richmond occurred the company was
huEriedly sent to Virginia and p%ar.;c;-
pated in all Of the battles which led
up to the Maryland campaign and ter.
minated at Fredericksburg. Our COM
rade took part III 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 picketihg and skirmishing we're
OF almost daily occurrence. Mr.. DIVA
was constantly on the firing line,' and
here learned much Of the art of scout
ing, in which he was afterwards 80
successful. He was a man Of untiring
energy, unfailing good humor, re-
sourceful and courageous. No matter
how exhausting the march, wet to the
skin, famished and f~oot-sore, his mer-
ry laughter could be heard and was
contagious.
mo one in the entire command CON
tributed as much as he when the
bivouao 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
q man in the brigade who did not
know Bill DIVA and greet him most
cordially on all occasions. He was q
famous swimmer, a fine horseman and
e~xcelled in all athletic sports. His
knowledge of woodcraft was remarka-
ble--under no circumstances was he
ever lost in the woods or mountains.
"At the bloody engagement at Dan
bridge, East Tennessee, he was taken
prisoner and sent to Knoxville. Soon
after, with twelve or fifteen comrades,
under q mounted guard, he was started
OF for Cumberland Gap. On the road
bis buoyant spirits kept the crowd in
a merry mood. At nightfall Of the
first day out he persuaded his guard
to climb q fence with him to get some
drinking water. The weather was
bitterly cold and the stream frozen.
STOPPING down he broke the ice with q
stone and slaked his thirst. Upon
getting 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 fred, but missed him. For two
days he hid in the brush and travelled
only at night. At the Holston River
Ferry he found o Federal picket play
Ing cards by the freight. Quietly
clipping the chain from q small boat,
he jumped into it and pushed out into
the stream, when the dog barked and
alarmed the guard, who ct once ran
to river and kept firing till our COM
rade crossed the stream. Fortunately
he escaped harm and, though the
country was full Of Federal scouting
parties aud Union bushwhackers, he
returned to camp, after an absence Of
9. week.
when the Legion was ordered
back to Virginia as mounted infantry
Mr.. DIVA was detailed for special duty
as q scout, and in this he rendered
conspicuous service, as his! natural
qualifications eminently fitted him for
such work. The information he gath.
cred and dangers he experienced were
moro like q omanc than the monot-
nou life Of q soldier. For nearly
four years he served his country, and
when Lee surrendered at Appomatto1
he laid down his arms with the con-
seriousness of duty we'll done. After
hostilities ceased he returned to the
city, end was for many years in the
employ Of the Soath Carolina Railway
Company and its successor, the South
ern Railway.
IAN enthusiastic Confederate, q
sincere friend, q brave man and Chris
tian gentleman has gone to his re-
ward.