The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-14
, oMMANDER and Comrades of 1

" OMAANDER and comrades or
 Camp Hardee:
 O In taking my turn today in giv- Ing personal "reminiscences of the war l VIII endeavor to interest you by relating some incidents which occurred during the last three months of the Confederaey my experiences during that period being out of the ordinary, as I spent most of my time outside of its borders.
 After the loss of an arm from a wound received in the cavalry fight at Brandy Station, Va, in 1863, I was employed for a few months in the medical purveying department of the government at my home in Columbia, s. c. Early in 1864 the note engraving department of the Confedeate treasury was transferred from Richmond Va. to Columbia, s. C.. as the former city was so constantly threat ened by the federal army and I received an appointment in that department. A few details of this business may be in- teresting to you.
 The notes were printed, or rather litho- graphed, by Walker Evans & Cogswell of Charleston, S. C., and Heating & Ball of Richmond, Va, the first mentioned concern printing the smaller and the latter the larger denominations. The chief building used for that purpose was Kinslers hail. which had been the prin- cipal opera house in that city prior to the war, and was burned by sherman the following year. If you will examine the bills printed at that date you VIII find on them the names of these nrlns and will notice that the signatures on them are in female handwriting. More
 
 ployed to sign, number and clip the pilis apart Most of them were Virglmans, refugees from their homes in Winchester, Norfolk, Fredericksburg and other towns occupied by the enemy. and they added greatly to the gaiety of the city. Thoush unaccustomed to work, they did 1t cheer fully and efficiently.
 One of the rules of the department was that written excuse had to De nahueo in for absence from duty Early one summer morning a cloudburst flooded the streets and made walking impossible. Late in the day one of their number, Miss Ada Gillian, a charming young lady of Richmond. Va, brought her ex- cuse. consisting of only four words Writ ten in the center of a foolscap page, Be cause I can't swim." I remember, too, a foolish bet of pair of kid gloves which made with one of them and which, of course. l lost, the gloves costing me $5O Confederate currency, playing havoc with my modest monthly salary.
 On February l. 1865, l was sent to Nas- eau, N. Y, with letters to Fraser Tren- holm & Go. of Liverpool. of which firm George A. Trenholm and Theodore Wag- ner of Charleston, 8. C., were partners They had a branch office at Nassau, through which their blockade running business was conducted. 1 sailed from Charleston on the night of February 2 which was dark and stormy, on the steam CT Fox, belonging to that firm. In pass ing through the blockading ships, on which no lights were visible we shaved so closely by a large gunboat that l could have thrown my hat on board of her. A guard on her deck gave the alarm, but we passed safely through without being fired at.
 The sea continued rough through the following day and became very seaslck. ] mention this because I discovered on that day cure for this dreadful dis ease, description of which may be of some service to any of you contemplat- ing sea trip. There were two other passengers on board, Dr. William Ben nett of Richmond Va, and the Rev. Asbury Mood of Charleston, s. C.. both of them being Methodist ministers, who had been sent to England by their con ference to procure a supply of Bibles, of which the south was then in great need. These gentlemen came Into the little cabin, where I was lying on a bunk very sick, and commenced to swap jokes and humorous stories. At first l thought