Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-08-28
DURING THBVAR

Around the City of the Caro-
isnas During the Late
"Unpleasantness'' Be-
tween the States.
written for the VIRGINIA CITIZEN by Jamc,
It. Powell, one OF the boys who was there.
PART III.
1t was one of the duties of the
writer to hoist the "signai" lamp.
This was large lamp, one side OF
winch was red glass, one side white
glass and the balance was brass
1t was hoisted every night just abou,
sunset on a very tall house near
headquarters in order that the block.
ade runners might be able to see and
keep in the open channel. One
night, being at Dutch ball, forgo.
the lamp, and q blockade runner
started in. Of course, the Yanks
commenced firing on her as they al.
ways did. Discovering that the
lamp had not been hoisted, Col.
Rhett sent an orderly to find me and
bring me to headquarters. Finding
this out before the orderly found me
! ran down and had the lamp up in
a jiRy, though in my hurry l got
one side pointed the wrong way. I
expected surely that j would be se-
verely punished for this neglect of
duty; but, for some reason or other.
L never heard anything more from it.
Six OF cur men deserted and went
home. A squad of soldiers with an
Cfhcer were sent after them, who
brought them back. Immediately
after their arrival, Col. Rhett ordered
a "drum head" court marshal for
their trial. They were tried, con-
victed and sentenced TO be shot. In
a few days after they were taken to
the side Of a little hill and every
soldier on the Island was ordered out
TO witness the execution of the SEN
tence. They were all placed in q
row and the order to fire given. At
the first shot five of the men fell
dead, but they had to shoot the sixth
one three times before life became
extinct He was tall, large, portly-
looking man.
i was for portion of the time
assistant clerk in the ordnance de-
partment at headquarters. On one
occasion Lieut.. Cresswell, the ord
nance officer on the Island, went over
TO Charleston and bought some corn
Tor the horses. When he returned
he told me to go get a horse and
cart, with driver, and 90 down to Mt.
Pleasant and haul the corn up. just
before starting the Yanks commenced
their daily sport of firing on the Is
land. On my, way down q large
she'll bursted right over us, go close
that the horse. stopped. then got
put OF the cart and hugged the bomb
proofs until reached the landing.
shortly after reaching the landing
the Yanks ceased their by-play, and
hauled the corn mp without further
The bombardment of the citv of
Charleston was terrific thing. The
Yanks had several of their largest
nortars placed on Vinegar Hill, and
hardly q day passed that they did
not throw shells into the city, some
,f them going six miles or more. At
Ieast one-third of the houses within
reach of their mortars was DESTROYED.
fortunately, however, there were
very few persons hurt, the most of
The citizens having moved beyond
heir reach.
eovernor Weston, formerly COVER
nor of South Carolina, but then liy-
ng in England, presented the State
With two of the largest cannon then
u use. They ran the blockade and
we're safely landed in Charleston.
After their arrival they were tested.
The shells looked like half of q
lour barrel and were nearly as large.
"a testing these guns one of them
tracked for q space of about three
eet. Men were at once put to work
Welding steel bands around it. When
hat was done she was as good as
YER and they did quite effective
YORK In defending the city and she'll
ng Morris Island.
On Fort Sumter we had q crack
iieman. He had repeating rifle
nd with it shot down everv man
rho showed his head at or near Vim
gar Hill, until it got 80 that no
Tank dared to show himself within
ange of that rifle.
We had some of the slickest thieves
t headquarters that I have ever seen. |
IN one occasion, after wreckipg
arty had returned, Lieut.. Cressweil |
ad large chest made in which to |
ack a lot of small goods such az |
loves, handkerchiefs, and the like. |
lie ordered four men to go into his |
oom, where the chest was, and pack |
ne chest. He himself and two other |
Ulcers sat around to watch, but when
ne men were done packing they had |
heir pockets, pant-legs and sleeves
uil OF the goods, taking off upwards |
t one hundred dollars worth with |
ut being discovered.
Balls, dances and all sorts of |
musements were INDUCED in by the |
itizens of Charleston, notwithstand- |
ng the constant sbelling of the city. |
he officers from Sulliyan's and
ones Islands, as we'll as from Fort
sumter. went over to the city nearly |
very night to indulge in these amuse- |
aents, not fearing the Yanks or their |
bells. One night, however, while
q the height of their enjoyment al
hell struck the house in which they
'ere, which immediately put a quietns |
n the frolic and they all stampeded |
"donble quick time"
Col. Rhett was . very severe man
nd great stickler for obedience to |
be rules and orders. In his riding |
yer the Island ne required every
ian whom he passed tn co,na 10 81