The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-03-23
liarassing Sherman $ Troops.
N. |. Masters in The Columbia
Statc.)

State.)
1T was 81 years ago tonight, on
Feb q, 1868, and all day l have been
thinking Of that fight with the Van.
KEGS, in which l lost my dearest
friend"
The speaker was the Rev. w. II.
Bowling, who has given the last 81
years of his life to preaching the
cross with the same courage and faith.
fulness which characterized him when
as soldier he fought for the Confed-
crate cause in South Carolina cavalry
regiment. We were spending the
night in home in the lower part OF
Hampton County. in the heart of a
large region in which be was for many
years almost the only minister who
was among the people to perform
those Offices of love and helpfulness
which pertain to that bcnefccnt voca
ton.
[ threw another piece of fat pine
upon the fire, that l might the better
watch his face and, plying him
with questions, brought out the fol
lowing story:
"We were beyond Lynch river, in
the western part of Darlington Couu.
ty, harrassipg Sherman's troops as
they continued ON their destructive
march toward eastern North Carolina
There were 93 of us, under the CON
mand of Col. A. X. Aiken of the
Sixth South Carolina cavalry. III:
night was very dark and we rode ii
silence, for we were expecting to meet
the enemy.
Sergeant Marehall was riding some
distance in front. Col. Aiken led The
column and Capt. Zimmerman Davi.
rode at his side. 1t was not Ions
until Sergeant Marshall halted anc
whispered to Col. Aiken: The Yam
KEGS are right there; see them, l Sc,
them.
Immediately from the column o.
the enemy, masked by darkness, cam,
the fash and roar Of hundred guns
The gallant colonel fell from his horse
calling out, Il am killed. Davis saw
his superior officer fall, but was equs
to the situation.
Draw sabers! Charged shouted
the young officer, and suiting hi
action to the word, he throw his hers.
against the Yankee column and actual
ly cut his way through it. But i
was no use; they outnumbered us ant
they were drawn up in battle array
We could not drive them. The cap
tain succeeded in getting back through
the enemy's line and told the men te
dismount. We dismounted and W.
fought them in the open on that dark
night. there at the cross roads, and We
drove them from the field.
"Besides Col. Aiken, my friend
Sergeant A. r. Richardson was killed
He and l were like David and iona.
than. He was afraid Of nothing.
He was always to the front when
there was danger or hard fighting to
do.
II hunted COZ linn and called him,
till comrade answered Here he is,
he is killed. .sand took me to where
his body lay. A bullet had struck
him in the mouth as he was in the
act of cheering and leading in the
charge.
1--WE took the two dead men on our
horses and carried them to the Mt.
Elm Baptist Church, nearby, at mid
night. We took them in, placed them
On the floor and covered their forms
with tent cloth.
"a half hour before the engage.
ment Sergeant Richardson had sung
one Of our war songs, which ran thus !:
s Soon with angels I'll be marching,
With bright glory on my brow;
While, I for my country fallen,
Who will care for mother now?'
Gas : looked at the stark form OF
my friend there on the floor, I woder-
ed If he had q premonition Of what
was coming.
The two bodies were buried by
the Higgins family. At a later period
the body Of Col. Aiken was removed
to Winnsboro and thst Of Sergeant
Richardson was brought to Beech
Branch Church, here in Hampton
County. where IL now l;as ESQ .o,.;