The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-03-01

vigorously renewed, but by many were
only regarded as the old cry of wolf
which even if it were true could not
amount to much About 800 of
Whecler's cavalry, cut off from their
command, having madc Anderson
their headquarters, we felt they would
be fully able to resist any raiders,
this opinion being based on the then
prevalent belief, .nat one Confederate
could with ease whip FIVE Yankees!
Great, therefore, was our surprise,
when on the LIST day Of May, 1865,
rumors of raiders being close at
hand, we saw the Confederates ride
out Of the town by orc road, while
shortly after the Yankees came in by
another.
This colamn Of cavalry, said to be
10000 strong, came charging down
upon the public square, fripg pistols
right and left, yelling, "Wheeler to
the rescue" For moment we hoped
they were Wheeler men, for SO often
did we see Confederates dressed in
Federal overcoats, tina. the uniform
did not strike US as it might have done.
The hope lasted but moment, for in
that space of time the work of pillage
began. The Confederate Treasury
was naturally the general point sll
seemed to make for, here they were
baffied for they got little beyond
Confederate money and bonds, the
gold having been removed TO safer
place.
| One of the officials had box with
ten thousand dollars'of this gold 10
his house, and had not beenS able to
remove it before the enemy camo, his
house was, Of course, among the
searched. His wife, brave woman,
Immediately thought of the gold,
which was in common looking deal
box, and taking her baby in her arms
she, with great calmness, took her
seat on the box. She was con stanty
ordered to get UP and let them see
what was there, and when this hap
pened she would quietly rise saying,
you h've not left me chair to sit
on The box would be given kick,
and deciding there could be nothing
OF value, the Federals would pass on
to search for greater spoil.
| Unfortunately, ,Messrs. Gourdiu Mat
thiessen & Co., of Charleston, had q
large stock of liquors stored at Ander-
son, which it had been impossible to
move or destroy in so short time, SO
the vandalism was aided by the demon
of drink. The soldiers reeled around
cracking the neoks of bottles agaiust
door posts or anything convenient 10
them.
For two days they held high car.
nival, evidently pleased With thei,
quarters, when suddenly and unek.
pectedly the call 'boots and saddle
was sounded, and in great haste they
departed, telling us that the ''Miohi.
gamers" would now come in, and they
we're sorry for US, for they destroyed
everything in their track.
lam glad to Say that the Michigan.
ers, did not come.
This raid was on the let day Of
Nay, '65, after Johnstone's 3 army had
surrendered. Of this surrender we had
not heard until the Yankees told us Of
! it. They were sn organized band Of
i robbers, undeR.a General bearing the
name OF Brown? claiming 60 be q par,
Of Stoueman's command. The va.
department, however, asserted cha.
the army register showed no such com.
mand as Browns, for search was after
wards made to identify them by Gov
ernor Orr, in behalf Of himself aud
others who lost property at that time.
They claimed it was robbery, the war
being over, and that they should be
renumerated for their losses which
the Governments consented to do pro-
vided the command could be identi-
fed.
| Gen. Stoneman, with his command,
passed in the dead of night, with flag
of truce at their head. It was q beau.
tiful moonlight night, and they rode
so quietly, it seemed as though the
horses hoofs were muffled, and they
were phantom horsemen. They stop.
ped only TO inquire their way, and
from all sides came the report that
they took nothing as they went, aud
paid for all they got--unfortunately
their predecessors had left but little
for them to purchase. It waa the ap.
prosch Of Stoneman which caused
the hasty exit Of the Brown crowd.
One Of my pleasant war experiences.