The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-24
J. D. HOGAN, SCOUT
TELLS A STORY OF THE Wal,
OF SECESSION.
How He Was Captured and Treated
By sherman's "Bummers" in Or
angeburg County During the War.

By Sherman'S "BummefS IN Ot-
angeburg County During the War.
The following sketch will appear
| in COL. u. R. Brooks forthcoming
publication, Butler and His Cav
airy in the War of Secession, 1861
1865"
Atkins, Ark, Oct, 80, 1908.
Dear Col. Brooks:
I will give you little sketch as
saw it in and around Columbia in
1865.
1t was about the middle of Feb
ruary of that year. The renowned
city was arrayed in all its beauty
and grandeur with bunting draped
and Confederate flags flying from
balcony and window along Main
street and the residences Of the city.
From the old State house the colors
| waved to the breeze as If signaling
to every son of South Carolina to
rally to the defense of the dear old
town and its old men, women and
children. The streets were lined
with faces Of men and women fur
rowed with anxiety and care, with
here and there the beautiful face o.
the young and fair. Boys passed
apace with haste and the natural eX-
citement of youth. Masses of negroes
focked everywhere. At intervals
along the sidewalk familiar faces ap.
peared-Richard O'Neal Cathcart,
Robert Bryce, Charles Janney,
Thomas Davis, Henry Davis, Edward
Hope, Jas. L. Clark, Drs. John and
Edward Fisher, John Black, James
D. Treadwell, John Bausket, Theo.
Stark, Drs. j. W. Parker, D. H.
Trezevant, R. w. Gibbes, Rev. p.
J. Shand, Rev. William Martin, John
Mckenzie, DR.. T. J. Goodwin, Will
liam Pinckney Stark, Chancellor j..
P. Curroll and many others, whose
names can not be recalled in the
lapse Of years.
AS Buffers division disembarked
from the long train, which had
brought them from Virginia, the or
der came to mount, and as the COL
umn reached Main street it was an
inspiring sight to see these old men
congregating in groups and congrat-
ulating themselves that Columbia
was now safe. That Sherman would
be whipped beyond, the limits of the
State did not permit Of question,
but in fact little was known OF Sher-
mans programme. Rumors were
floating on the kings Of the wind.
1t was thought that Charleston. would
be attacked first and Columbia next.
Absolutely nothing was known. But
ler's division went into camp on the
Lexington said Of the river, and
was ordered by the general to take
my party Of scouts and locate Sher-
mans advance, ascertain his move
ments, and report at the earliest
moment. My guides were Sanders
of Orangeburg and Ben Knots of
Lexington. We mounted and set out
across the Congaree bridge into
Lexington, and made forced march
for Edisto bridge. We passed the
RED store," IS miles south of the
city, turned southwest and reached
Knots mill, where we stayed all
night. The next morning we mount"
ed made another rapid march for
the-river, where we found Col. Keitt's
regiment guarding the Edisto bridge.
We were informed that some OF
Sherman's bummers had appeared
on the opposite side Of the bridge
the day before and were driven back
by Col. Keitt's men and there was
no time to tarry. We dismounted.
I took Shoolbred, Dublin, Guffln
and Sanders and gave Adolnhus
Kennerly orders to take charge Of
our horses aud remain at the bridge
for further instructions unless tie
regiment should receive orders to
fall back and that in event Of that
they should fall back to Knots mill
and there wait my arrival. We
we're soon across the river and out
of the swamp and on the south side
of the river Now depended on
my guide, who proved to be familiar
with the roads and well acquainted
with the citizens. Making our Way
through woods and fields, crossing
lagoons and logsy swamps, we were
soon in close proximity to the enen :.
! We came across several citizens who
were hiding out from the Yanks, and
obtained some valuable information
from them in reference to Sherman's
movements. After remaining in the
neighborhood the following night
and a part of the neXt day,I was as
sured that he had abandoned Charl'S-
ton and that he would male an At
tack on Columbia the next morning.
Just as the sun was rising We
reached the river, only to find tie
bridge burned and still smoking, and
without much delay we crossed on
the smoking timbers, fastening over
a distance of five miles, we reached
the home of Miss Martin. On enter
ing her house was surprised TO find
three federal robbers. Miss Martil:
was sitting by her parlor fire crying
and man in a Yankee uniform,
standing about six feet high. de.
manding her money. | dlsarmed