The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-08-05
THE ANDERSON INTELLIGENCER.

less battle would settle the dispute
forever and day. This appears all
tho more amusing to me now, as I
look back over the vista of years and
think how, early in July, 1861, we
Washingtonians got word that bat
tie was soon to be fought out at Bull
Run. Our half century of peace had
rendered bloody spectacles decided
novelty and can remember, as the
day drew near, how the city was all
a-bustle and agog over what many
looked forward to as the greatest sight
of their lives. Had any of Napoleon's
veterans dropped into the city a few
Gays before Bull Run he would never
have guessed that battle was immi-
nent. 1t was more like city getting
ready for flower carnival, an exposi-
tion opening, or grand holiday of
some sort. Department clerks we're
busting about, beseeohing leaves of
absence in order to take their wives
and sweethesrts out to see the fight,
nor we're they obliged to beg very
hard, for their superiors were quite as
anxious as their subordinatss 20 gspo
at the battle which was to settle for
ever the queation Of secession, eto.
"When the day came and the boom
ing OF cannon resoundipg over the
bills told US that the struggle was on
in earnest venture to soy you could
not have hired horse and rig for $40
an hour. happened to be one Of the
spectators and 80 I know whereof I
speak. also obtained leave OF abb
sence, or, rather, I took it, iuasmuch
as the department in which was en-
ployed was deserted and, joining 6
friend who had horse and buggy, we
followed the throng out to where the
fighting was in progress.
On reaching the battlefield we join
ed large crowd of sight.seers posted
on little hillock in the rear of body
of infantry, which, by the way, had
one cannon that was firing, in sort
of desultory way, at the enemy, whose
sattery was situated oa an opposite
rise beyond an intervening hollow or
gully. The latter were bombarding
the Federal infantry at pretty lively
rate and, as it seemed to me at the
time, were using more solid cannon
balls than shells. Many of these
passed over the infantry, fell and re-
bounded near the spectators on the
hillock in the rear. Instead of fright
ening any Of US, from the very outset
We lost all sense Of fear. The big,
solid cannon balls from the Confed-
crate battery were not at all terrifying.
They seemed to bowl over to our side
like so many base balls and, although
moving at very rapid rate, they crea-
ted just the opposite impression, 80
much so, in fact, that there was great
deal of useless lodging, which was at
times quite amusing. Street arabs
were on hand and whenever cannon
ball struck there was general scram-
BILE of small boys, men and women to
gain possession Of the ball FOR SOU
venir. One rather naughty ledy, who
felt it beneath her dignity to join in
any such competition, purchased
cannon ball from twelve-year-old
youngster for $l.OO. Others did the
same.
my companion soon got tired Of
the spectacle and returned to his
horse and carriage, which were left in
the rear. He was afraid that, in the
excitement, someone might steal it,
but / was anxious to secure cannon
ball and he consented to wait for me
until had secured one, provided it
did not take too long. ran after
several, but missed them. Finally,
after two or three disheartening at
tempts, the rebels fred one shot that
played havoc among the infantry in
front Of us, carrying off the heads of
two men whom I myself saw fall and
scattering the spectators rigts and
left. / calculated about the spot
where the ball would strike, guessed
right, remained where / was standing
and beat the others to it by several
yards. The ball was covered with