Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-21
Mistsllaaeuus geading.
SEVEN PINES.
York County Man Visits Scene Of Fa-
nous Battle.


York County Man Visits Scene of Fa-
NOUS Battle.
Correspondence OF the Yorkville Enquirer.
RICHMOND. VA, June 1s.-Taking a
street car on Broad street, and paying
the conductor the fare, cents, and
telling him wanted to go to Seven
Pines, he gave me a transfer and at
N. 29th street, changed cars for Seven
Pines.
The street car line from Richmond
to Seven Pines runs through a level
gray sandy soil, with small round
gravel, mixed with the soil. I saw
some beautiful farms on the road,
mostly dairy farms, with plenty of cat
tie and sheep. Much Of the land is ly-
ing out. The people use both riding
and walking cultivators in the culti-
walton Of their crops and cul-
tivate on the level system. I saw
some fine fields Of wheat and oats; al
so some corn fields, which are the only
cultivated crops I saw; much Of the
land is lying out and growing in weeds
and grass. I saw ox-eyed daisies
everywhere. Some Of the land is
growing up in broom straw.
There are several beautiful resi-
1ences on the road to Seven Pines.
Some Of the country Is laid off in lots
with streets running through. I judge
some land improvement company owns
it. On the right side Of the troll
ley, way out, Is situated the Masonic
Home in East Richmond. After pass
ing East Richmond, we came to a
church on the right Of the road, In a
beautiful oak grove. Then We came
to a place called Cedar Fork; from
there we came to Fair Oaks on the
old York river railroad. Across the
railroad at this place we took down
the Nine Mile road to Seven Pines sta
tion on the trolley line, which is in the
middle of Sundays line Of battle.
The battlefield is neglected and
grown up in bushes, trees and briars.
The National government has a ceme-
terry on the west side Of the old Will
liamsburg road, and near the old Abb
ner Hilliard house, which stands on
the left Of the road. The house Is
full Of bullets yet, and two sycamore
trees stand in the yard yet that were
there when the battle was fought.
This Is in the line of Jenkinss famous
charge on Sunday morning, June 1,
1852.
In company with Mr.. j. E. Lyme,
who is the battlefield guide, and was
in Gary's brigade, we started west
towards the railroad along the Federal
camp and lines towards, but to the
right Of Fair Oaks, along first the line
of Sundays fight. The land Is grown
up in second growth pines. The tim
ber that stood when the battle was
fought has all been cut away. We
came to mound after mound through
the woods that contained the bones OF
some one who fell in the battle. The
most of the Federal soldiers were re-
moved and either sent home or buried
In the cemetery here. Going up the
line Of battle along the Nine Mile road
on the right of the Nine Mile road,
where the Federal camp was situated
there Is a place pointed out as Cooks
Hole where the colonel Of the 1O5th
Pennsylvania regiment was supposed
to have been killed; also his cook was
killed at the same time and place. This,
as I understand 1t, was in the line OF
Jenkins brigade. A short distance
from this place towards the railroad Is
a little plat or rayine where stands
pine stump, in the tree Of which a SOL
dier was shot and killed by sharp
shooters. To the left Of this place
and across the road is where French's
brigade suffered so heavily near
Hoard's old ice house, where Lomax
was killed. The old house well is
plainly to be seen yet as is also the
ice house, the building Of the old place
having long since gone to decay. From
the ice house / went to the house on
the Williamsburg road (where the
wood rack was at the time Of the bat
tie and called by some the Twin house, }
where Garland and Rhodes made tnelr
famous charge on the Williamsburg
road. Then along the line Of battle TO
the Federal breastworks. Good sized
trees are growing In the bitches ana
on the works. Following the works,
we came to the lower part Of the teid
near the old Wade place, near this
place. Kershaw men charged the
works. think this charge at this
place was by the Second South Caro-
lima regiment. 1t captured three pieces
of artillery. This point is where the
breastworks were in the shape OF
horseshoe. Several of Kershaw's men
are buried here in an old grave yard.
Some gentleman from South Carolina
had these graves cared for several
years ago. AS 1 said, the street car
line runs to this place. Besides the
National cemetery, there are TWO
dwelling houses, one general store, and
a museum kept by Mr.. Lyme, the guide,
who sells relics and walking sticks cut
on the battlefields and guides strang-
ers over the place.
The National cemetery Is enclosed
by brick wall about five feet hign
with lodge inside, where the lodge
keeper lives and shows visitors around.
You register your name In book'
kept for that purpose.
Gno thousand three hundred and