The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-07-09

ne was moving up C0e OalKenatcnle
river. and had halted his rear columns
at a bridge, have forgotten the name
now. It was the first crossing after
leaving the railroad bridge. The river
was on rampage and it is impossible
to cross any of the low country
streams at other than regular cross
ings. The swamps being wide, are al
ways causewaved at the bridges. Our
army. Of course, had torn up these
eauseways, but the Yankees had a
way Of laying them down or clearing
obstructions as fast as ours could
tear them up OF place them IN the
wav. But as this was the only cross
ing for miles up and down the river,
il necessarily caused delay to the
Federal army.
Not being positive which way the
Yankees were going, whether back
towards Charleston Or straight a.
head to Columbia, we had special
orders to watch Sherman closely, and
report his movements daily.
On account Of the condition of the
river. it was impossible to get on his
front, so We were pressing up near
him. in the hope that by some good
opportunity we might cross the
bridge before it was destroyed. We
had been in the swamp all day, dodg-
ing about, avoiding scouting parties,
and watching the road the best we
could. While we were in the swamp, a
stranger dressed in Confederate uni
form rode up to us, with as little con-
Germ as if we had been old friends.
He claimed to be Texan, saying that
while scouting in Georgia he was cut
of from his command and since had
been kocking about on his own ac-
count. andhearing I was leading a
scouting party on the west side Of the
river, he determined to join me. Be-
inc told at our camp that We had
passed over the day before, and were
no doubt somewhere in the swamp on
Sherman s flank, he rode in the raging
stream and swan across and began
tracking US.
How he ever found our Whereabouts
in that tangled morass and water,
with enemies on every side, Heaven
onlv knows. He was scout pure
and simple, an expert in tracking, but
not our kind of a man. He disiked
taking any risks and avoided the en-
emv as he would the plague. In
watching tine enemy from distance,
Or in concealment, and giving timely
information, he probably was a sue
cess. but he was too cautious Tor our
purposes.
Late in the evening We came out on
the main road, and started Tor ohef-
mans rear-guard. At the first mouse
we came to We caught Yankee, VINO
had had some trouble with the inmates
hut what it was | never knew. Inc
family consisted Of a very old man,
his wife. and widowed daughter,
with a child or two. What ne had
done or said, we didn't ask, tor the
poor devil was too frightened to tell
the truth. and the old man was IN a
towering rage, denouncing all the
Union soldiers with great vehemence,
and this one in particular. | rather
suspected he had insulted his daugh-
ter. We took tine prisoner up the road
p short distance. and were consulting
as 70 the best way to be rid OF nm.
There was q small squadron OF our
cavalry in OR rear, and we sometimes
turned our prisoners over 10 the cavai-
~. as they we're always near Us. Inc
Texan volunteered to take him back
and turn him over, as he had had a
hand in his capture. But this MADE
rs suspicious. He had no way to lden-
tifv himself, only by his word; ne
might be Yankee spy or deserter'
and t he chose. he could ruin u.s.
However. | think he was all right,
but our talk and actions convinced
him he was in the wrong company, 50
he wished to get free from us.
''Turning a prisoner over 10 the
cavalry:' was a slang phrase our COM
rades in camp had given to prisoners
..?o,.'' or got away" or those 'S
to whom We could give no intelligent
explanation OF What became OF them
We really intended to send our
Dr;S;one. back TO the cavalry, and II
they would not accept him: Why tnen
do with him as circumstances pointed
the way. We cast lots to see VINO was
bo az and II tell