The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-06

beard the lion in his den, we proceeded IN column OF twos
to Coker Spring where we consumed an hour or more in
washing the dirt off our faces and out of our eyes and
ears, and watering our horses.
At that time there was stationed at Aiken a company
Of United States regulars. These were camPed on the
bluff overhanging Cocker Spring. The strange and unique
appearance of this new uniform and the men in it caused
all of the soldiers to line up on the bluff and watch us
with great curiosity and interest When all our men had
finished washing, and we were again in our places (every
thing having been done in military style, one man holding
three horses, with linked brides, while the other three
washed at the horse trough Col. Butler gave the COM
mand: ''Fours left, left dress" This threw US into line
facing the bluff where the Yankees were gathered some
sixty yards away and about forty feet above US. Then
the order was given: Three cheers for the boys in
blue" and if there was ever a 'rebel yell' it must have
leaped from the threats of those determined and desperate
men. AS soon as the cheers we're given the command
followed: 'Fours left, left by twos, march," and we
started off back up the hill briskly, toward the town.
Almost as if by magic the Yankee soldiers who were
all in uniform received the order from someone: Fall
in, right dress" As they were already in line it took them
only two. or three seconds to get in military formation and
without counting off the order was given: ''Three cheers
for the men in white" The answering call of the north
'ern white man to the southern white man, was as hearty
and vigorous as our defiance had been.
. 1 will say in passing, that, while some OF these same
men marched sixteen miles to uses Bridge to stop the
Ellenton riot some weeks later, and were held along with a
large number of other troops in the disturbed region-one
whole regiment being sent to Edgeheld court house in
October-none of the soldiers ever displayed any other
than the most friendly and kindly feeling and they had no
stomach whatever for the dirty work they had been sent
into the state to do. They obey orders, which is the
duty of a soldier, but they never showed any feeling other
|+bon oood will and SvnnDathv for orr DeODle. But while
the Sweetwater Sabre club and it's successor in Meriwether
township, the democratic fighting club, came ins contact
with the troops on several occasions afterwards they were
never permitted to cheer US again.
The rioters in their bloody shirts returned to their
quarters. In this parade the shirts were worn as blouses
over the pants, pistol belts outside. Some of the men
wore them home, and one young man, John Crawford, l
think, caused his sisters to become ~dreadfully frightened
because they thought he was wounded. l carried, the
flag to my home and I have always regretted that it was
DESTROYED by fire when my residence was burned some
three years later.
1t was a unique scene in the court room when Judge
|Maher ordered bal. to be granted, fixing the sum as |
recall it, at ST., 900 each. The argument of the case had
delayed action far into the night, Lamps had to be
brought in and as the restless "prisoners' would pass in
and out of the court room and take their seats the thud
of the barrels Of their revolvers could, be heard as they
came in contact with the benches.
When court was adjourned the men began to make
inquiry of the clerk Of the court as to when they could
file their bonds. He in a rather petulant and irritable
manner, which was natural because he must have been
very much %fatigued, replied: "Sometime in the morn
ing" lust then l overheard Sheriff Jordan whisper to
him: "You had better let these men get out of town to-
night else they may burn it and hang you before morning"
In a thrice of the manner of the clerk changed and ne
began to hand out blank bail bonds to be signed by all
the applicants and their sureties. We all went on each
|others bonds and it became a joke, causing great amuse-
ment that Walker Matheny, who did not own ten dollars
worth of property, had signed bonds to the extent OF
SEC, 600. In truth the whole performance was a
perfunctory and in many respects a laughable
travesty on law, for if they had attempted to put US in
hail l am sure few or none of US would have acqulesced
and we would have probably killed every obnoxious radical
in the court room and town and gone to Texas or some
other hiding place. In an hour we had departed and
gathering up our camp followers were on our way home
We had in truth waved the bloody shirt in the face OF
the Yankee bull and dared him to do his worst. 1t is
needless to say that this daring act on the part OF the
whites served to intensity the dread of the negroes, while
among the whites the bond of race drew us closer together.
It was 'all for one and one for ALL and the states motto:
"Animis opibusque parati'-readyw with our lives and
fortuues-pulsated as the sentiment in every bosom.
l am very much g%ratifed to know that you have with
held yourselves from looking for something to eat at this
late hour long enough to listen to this recital OF facts OF