The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-05-25

head on his shoulder and wept tears
OF joy-she now felt that her proteo.
tor had returned to her. He looked
so manly, and how his words filled her
heart with good cheer and hope. He
had not yet been home. The overseer
took him that night up to his own
home with the promise that he would
soon return, for che purpose Of inves-
sigating the cause which led to the
arrest and Wholesale imprisonment Of
the best citizens Of the community.
| The colored people, under the lead
ership Of few lunprinoipled white
politicians, were forming "Union Lea
guess" political secret organizations,
where many Of the cases against the
white people were originated and for
mnlated. They refused to work, and
walked the roads armed, many of them
daily visiting the county seat, making
their reports to the Yankee garrison.
White men from every section Of the
county were being arrested, nntil the
county Jail was crowded with them.
| While big political meeting was
in session in that country town, at
which were present several hundred
negroes, at the same time there was
another meeting at the home Of Lieu
tenant Foster. He had heard Of the
indiguities heaped upon his people,
and he determined to organize for
protection. He quietly called to-
gether dozen trnsty white men,
many Of them ex-soldiers, the stu
alton was discussed, and on this occa-
sion the first Klu-Klux club was form
ed on the Pee Dee river.
The Yankee officer had heard of
Lieutenant Foster, and for more than
one reason desired to arrest him. He
hatched up case against him and
sent squad of his garrison to arrest
him, the leader of the band of "home
regulators"
Lieut.. Foster had on the plantation
o fine young horse which had escaped
Sherman's army, which he appropri-
ated to his own use. When the squad
returned TO headquarterslthe brought
one Of their number seriously ,uud-
ed, and that very night orowa of un.
known horsemen quietly rode into
town, captured the Jail and liberated
every prisoner, and warning notice
was posted on the door of the garri-
sons Office, telling them not to return
j to the Lawson neighborhood. This
notice was signed with the skull and
cross-bones and coffin, and this bold
and-daring deed created general con-
sternation, for it was believed that
Lieutenant Foster was at the head of
these daring raids.
Miss Minnie was very nervous-she
frequently saw her lover, and was in
daily dread Of his safety. The garri-
son had issued q proclamation that
Foster should be arrested OF driven
from the country, at which he laughed
and gripped his Winchester. Several
negro leaders had been visited, their
meetings dispersed, and the frequent
visits to the court house by the ne
groes had been stopped, and matters
were growing more quiet up on the
river.
just after nighHall on the 18th of
July the overseer on Squire Lawson's
farm rode to Lieutenant Fosters and
Informed him that a squad Of the
Yankees were in the neighborhood,
and that the commander was at the
Lawson home seated in the parlor,
while his men were securing the co1n-
try. Foster quickly saddled his fleet
black steed, got brace Of pistols and
ziae, and within an hour MS iiorss was
standing under the huge elns in the
back yard at Squire LawsoN's. He
Iuietlysdismounted and met twr OF his
comrades on the outside4
| Foster heard from the parlor win
dow the threats made to Miss Minnie
by the Yankee against the entire
neighborhood, unless she would agree
60 go with aina that night and become
his wife. Miss minnie spurned his
offers and begged him to leave her
/ presence.
Quickly the parlor door opened, and
the Yankee was covered with Q 44 pis.
toll and was unceremoniously intro
dueed to Lieutenant Foster. The
Yankee had left his pistols on the
table and was uuarmed. He Of course
thought ''his time had come" He
wes escorted to the meeting place on
tho river when the boys directly ar.