The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-11
Caring for the Soldiers.
BY Mrs. j. J. Brantlv.

l'N Mrs. j. }. Brantly. :.
South Carolina sccclcd in Dcccm-
Der "I 1850. During 1hr winter seven
companies were formed in Nrwbcrrv
and in Nrwbcrry district. The first
company that left Nrwbcrry was the
Red Guards under Captain Whit
Walker, VIII" joined Col. Make
Grc"g'S regiment in Charleston. We
scwcd the whole Of one Sunday after
noon s" that VIC could have all the uni
forms finished in time for the compa-
ny to leave. Monday morning.
Later in the winter six other com
panics were formed. Every after
noon | would e" up in front nf Mrs.
! Higgins old place to watch the boys
drill and to encourage them. After
, wards the companies were sent to
Li"htwood Knot Spring near Column
bia I" drill preparatory to going to
! Virginia.
We found it necessary to "ct to
work in earnest now So we formed a
"S"ldicrs Aid Society," each mem
bcr paying so much week. We So
cured a room in Law Range where We
met once week tn carry on our work.
| The first time we sent to Granite
Vile for bale of unblcachcd goods
/ WAS only beginning. For every
month or two as long as the war last
: cd We had a bale sent tn Nrwbcrrv
out Of which we made under clothes
for the soldiers.
Every Monday mornin" we met and
cut out from nine until two. Then
! we carried home with us aS many
garments as We thought we coul,l
! complete 'lurin" the week and brought
them back the next Monday. Every
week We did the same and 50 on from
week to week until the end.
Alnn" with this once every month
we went t" Carwilc'S and McCaueh-
rim : store and packed seven boxes
Of provisions for the soldiers. a box
for each company. The friends ami
relatives in the country sent in hams.
shoulders. sorghum cakes. dried ar-
pies and peaches. cnlfrc. that is dried
and parchcd wheat. rye. and potato
p""lln%S. ais" tea. generally dried
raspberry leaves. We would mark
each box with ihr company ANA rr.-
mrnt and DR.. I.abnrlr would take
them on a special train tn Richmond
In the m"anliinr ihr settlers at the
Springs were cumin" home on fur
l"n"h. some hcin" i'll. .ulhcrS h"mc-
sick. etc. The sick soldiers who were
going Further up the country we had
I" serve with refreshments or food AT
the depot. $" ! g"t my friend. Her
bert Hunt {" build shack on the
platform in which we could keep unr
provisions. \ committee of three In
dies waS appointed t" furnish the
provisions and was appointed tn at
tend {" the serving. Every day when
the train came in 7 sent Il servant
and my son, John. through thr car
with food and pretty li!tlc Carrie
Jones was always there with her has-
kct Of Il"wrrS and knck knacks.
The next thing We established wa%
home for The sick soldiers who were
paSSin" through on their wav tn
Grccnvillr and further up This home
We called "SolAicrs Rrst.'
In the winter Of 'G1 | received a
message from DR.. LaBordc through
Lane to know if T could take any
more soldiers in our hospital. We had
no room in the hospital but ! sent
word that | would make some provis
ion for them. So Sunday morning
after church, I went down on Main
street to look around and found n
large frame building opposite Lcav-
cll's marble yard, which was used as
the enrolling Office. 7 went over to
see the enrolling officer and he OBJ
lign@ly novel his Office up stairs.
%ivin" up the lower floor Of three
rooms.
That evening at prayer meeting |
told the ladies that I had secured the
rooms and that we must have them
cleaned up by eleven O'Clock next