The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-27


the fact only said 'Harney ketch Billy hang Billy ketch Har
ney hang
General caught the idea and with it ray Of conf
He ordered his Adjutan General to write
suctions these thoroughly and destroy, be-
fore entering the eneys lines He gave other ORDERS which
horses engines conveyance that would
de the Journey These also to destroy when of fuh
That carry nothing my person. which would in
any way ncrnnate being Confederate The old Com
ander gave hearty hanshake with we wishes for my
safety, but felt sure he thought again.
When left began thinking of the long, lonely be-
w Of Irish descent and loving companonhp said much Gen.
Mew, when reached his headquarters Told him did not dread
dangers but loneliness would almost
bearabe He ordered take whom wished and who
willing to go.
Word spread camp that wished companion fear
less man, willing endure hardship and face danger Capt.
Richard ONeal of Columbia, introduced to Sam Dixon,
the your man. being officer Of
Kershaw Brigade, but had him before to knoW
edge He seemed to be older than myself butt matter
Of fac ge furnished with much
Federal uniforms did them until leaving
lines
We left camp in the afternoon intending to the San
before night Kingstree had to remain,
told night in take the train to Florence route
Sumter left Dixon the depot watch the train and to
hold it Harde until could get there
then took quarters at kind of boarding house on the extreme
leading from the railroad kept by old
ple remember Germans. The couple had smash
ing daughter, jolly good gr it fortune to
meet
battery Of artillery partly from my neghbohood camped
just of and many of the members to see me- They
oked eaving civilization and going the Yam
The young lady Of the house took the joke and
posed dance for benefit was agreeable In few minutes
she gathered half dozen young ladies' and
Then the dance began fast and furious from the
start but by midnight the old house rocked like cyclone had
struck it. n just in the middle Of stormy reel with
the information that the train waiing for me-
We reached Florence yards and tracks filed with waiting
nes and trains but night before could procure engine
to Sumter An engine and few box had just
come from direction with the that the depot and tracks
around that had burned that day. We hunted the
trains, showed orders and demanded Transporter
tion to Sumter all right but the engineer he
would not co. neither the negro fireman The
other mans property should be subject to capture We
begged and threaend but CO. told him to show
me how to old engine then would her as far as
she held out began jerking away levers and tried best DO
start engineer cursed and ripped but when he we're
going his engine anyway he relened jumped aboard say
ing you why I'll with you' We sped through
the nky darkness Like the wind.
Many who have read far Will doubt, say,
"those two boys are out lark and don't you for
get it, But if they knew the facts would think those
boys having "dance with DEATH with fresh partner with
the coming of every day.
had changed uniforms at Florence and we cer-
tainv did look rough in the faded old Yankee blouse
and cap oked each other about dress, each declaring
he could scarcely keep from shooting the other we looked
50 much like the yank The engineer mad KILL he
showed engine ahead for all she WORTH blowing
whistle Stacking his pace till the burning tracks ahead told
that nearing Sumter He stopped the and notion
ed US off, We part friendly but the old fellow would have
none of it. backed away he called after You
are Southern soldiers you look like set of d Yam
kee chicken thieves that's what you do We
couldn't get mad for he certainly spoke the truth
We fanked the town. leaving left laundering along
through darkness along fields and fences till we struck
railroad sad would lead the Waeee
We Law down bushes the track slept till day. then
counted cross-tes miles, till section
ter house. offered his push which in those
days propelled long poe Just then half dozen big buck
negroes along their way SUMTER high good humor
at their new found We told them poles and jump