Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-28
LAST DAYS OF THE WAR.
Interesting "reminiscences Of the Sur.
render by a Chester Man.
Chester Lantern.

This was q very exciting time with
man and beast. The men and women
did not know just whom or what to
expect. The horses and cows and
chickens, though few in number, did
not have much to eat. The negroes
thought that the long looked for jubi-
lee had come at last and that forty
acres of land and a mule would be the
fulfillment Of prophecies.
1t was a time Of mourning to many,
because their loved ones did not re-
turn from the war. 1t was a time Of
joy and gladness to some to receive
father or husband or brother into their
arms again.
Many were filled with great anxiety,
and some seemed to think that it
would be a good time for the world to
come to an end. Everybody knew that
Sherman and his thieving soldiers
were gone, but still there were fears
lest what was left Of personal property
might be taken away. Many valuable
things had been buried or hidden, but
no one knew whether or not to bring
them to light.
Every train was an excitement, and
awaited with anxious looking to know
whom or what 1t would bring. For
many days long trains Of freight cars
came loaded with Confederate mill
tary supplies, especially. ammunition,
cannon balls, loaded bomb shells, car
tridges and artillery powder in bar
rels and kegs. The cars were up by
the woods above where the old oil mill
once stood and were in the care Of no
agent or guard. Anybody who wanted
anything in the cars just helped him.
self. No one seemed to realize the
great danger Of walking on gunpowder
nearly shoe mouth deep. The powder
had been poured out just to get the
barrels and kegs. The shells and balls
were thrown out in the ditch and no
doubt many are there now buried up
along the railroad track. With the
assistance Of my brother, I hauled
1900 pounds to my fathers house in
east Chester dug hole in the middle
of the garden and put 500 pounds in
the hole and then poured water on It.
We then rolled a large tierce into the
garden and poured 700 pounds in 1t
and poured water on it. Our first OBJ
ject was to keep the Yankee soldiers
from getting the powder, and to make
it safe on our hands, we poured water
on it. Our second object was to make
fertilizer; because gunpowder is COM
posed Of sulphur, saltpetre and char
coal. So we had 1925 pounds Of sui
phur, 1871 pounds Of saltpetre and
1879 charcoal in a non-explosive harm
less condition. l put the fertilizer on
our corn and beans and cabbage and
potatoes that spring and we had fine
garden by the use Of novel fertilizer.
In passing the depot late one even
ing saw all the doors open. 1 walk
ed in and saw nothing but box and a
trunk. l could see that the box was
full of books. The box was more than
a square yard in size. The next morn
ing l went to the depot and the agent,
Mr.. Robinson 1 think, told me that
he knew nothing about the box or
trunk and he advised me to take
charge Of them and haul them home.
had key that unlocked the trunk
and l found in it q fine Confederate
surgeons uniform; fine pistol, some
surgical instruments, letters and a
diary, with the surgeons name and
address. In about a month 1 wrote to
him that 1 had his trunk. In a few
weeks l heard from him, and sent him
his trunk by express. 1 have forgot
ten his name, but 1 remember that he
lived in Sumter or Darlington.
/ kept a diary through all the war
and If 1 had the books Of each year
from 1860 to 1867, I could refresh my
memory and tell great many things
1 saw and heard and felt in South Car
olina, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Virginia But all my diaries are in
Oklahoma or California in the care Of
my daughters.
When l opened the box, l was sur
prised and delighted to find that the
books belonged to Jefferson Davis.
Some had his name in them, some
Varina Davis and some Eliza Davis.
Some of the books were in the finest
kind of binding, others were old and
not we'll bound. 1t was reported that
the Yankee soldiers would search ev-
cry house in town to find Confederate
property. This caused me TO tear out
the names in the books so that no one
could say that they belonged to Pres.
ident Davis. / knew the Yankees were
trying to get him but was determined
that they should not get any Of his
books in my care.
One evening just as the sun was 60
ing down, two gentlemen dressed in
citizens clothes drove up to the gate.
They were in an ambulance, and asked
for lodging. We did not know whether
they were friends or foes. My father,
mot forgetful to entertain strangers"
told them to come in and feel at home.
They did not turn out to be "angels."
but the older one proved to be Gen.
Braxton Bragg, a hero Of two wars,
the other, Col. Johnson, one of Presi-
dent Davis secretaries. We were glad
of the privilege of entertaining such
distinguished men and we gave them
the very best entertainment at our
command. They seemed despondent
and careworn, told us of the surren-
der and that President Davis was go
ing towards Georgia, between Chester
and Yorkville, not making himself
known to any one.
The next morning I showed to them
the books of President Davis. Col.