The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-07-23
TWICE A WEEK. so A YEAR
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RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
By Col. D. A. Dickert.
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planned the situation to the men. That
should there be, by any unforeseen
circumstances, no surrender, we would
be punished for desertion. Or should
we be captured by the enemy, without
paroles, we would be sent to north
ern prison, or We might be taken for
a band Of bushwhackers, and shot
without ceremony. We we're cutting
loose from all protection or clemency.
Every man, with but one dissenting
voice, declared his willingness to fol-
low me. Two men were out foraging,
and were left. The next company to
mine heard Of our going, and they,
too, joined US, and scattering men
:; throughout the regiment, to the num-
ber Of one hundred, caught on and
asked permission to join the command.
There had been stringent orders IS
sued against leaving the army. Every
road and street in Greensboro was
strongly picketed. never could I'M
derstand why the commanders wished
us all to remain and surrender, un-
less it was feared the army would
break up in a great mob, where the
strong would raid and rob the weak.
An hour after night was the time
! We were to assemble, in grove to our
left; men to leave camp by ones and
twos. so as not to excite suspicion.
Every man was to take his gun and
accoutrements; his rations and what
little cooking utensils We had. We
had fair understanding before we
started that orders were to be obeyed,
no struggling and all were to stick
together, let come what may. With
this understanding, we began our
march straight through the town and
. if not molested, to keep due west
course, until We were beyond the
reach of either army, and then turn
south. Just as we were entering the
town, We met and passed a brigade,
going in the opposite direction on
picket. After passing US, heard the
command, "Halt!' given, and the
colonel commanding the brigade,came
dashing back and asked what troops
these were. who commanded them and
where we're thew going?
! I told hin~I was Capt. Brown Of
! Georgia, going in town to guard COM
missary stores. He leaned over his
horse and inspected me as we'll as he
could in the dark. saw he was not
satisfied, especially when he said,
"You halt your command here mo-
ment," and galloped back to his brl-
gade. I felt sure he intended to stop
us or turn US back. I ordered the men
! forward at a run, then turned down a
street to the right and did not hold
up till we'll out Of harms way. Now
; this unexpected movement forced US
to flank or circle around the whole
city, as we had determined to strike
through the center of the state, going
West.
We wandered about all night
through fields and woods, over fences
and hedges, seeking some road Lead
ing in the direction Of Lincolnton. 1t
was dark as Egypt and our progress
was slow and uncertain, occasionally
blundering into streams up to our
waists. After an all night march,
and it seemed to us We had gone
twenty miles or more, We routed up
an old citizen to get our bearing, and
if possible, some direction. We had
no idea of the locality and were fear
full of running into Yankee outpost.
The old citizen informed US We were
only two miles from the town, and
gave US direction to the road desired.
This we struck about daylight and
travelled west at rapid pace, when
We considered the fact, that an all
night ramble had only carried US d
few miles on our way. And the danger
of being pursued by our cavalry made
US take up a forced march. We could
not understand why, if Gen. Johnston
was going to surrender the army in
day or two, he was so insistent that
all should remain, and take parole.
Of course he had good and safe rea-
sons for so doing. but We wanted no
parole, and were not going back, If 1t
fcould be prevented. And we ought
to have known, too, to be caught with
arms in our hands. after the surren-
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