The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-07-09
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y Sad Tragedy on the Salkehatchie q
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By COL D. A. Dickett. o.
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By Col. D. A. Dickett.

the pistol, grabbed it with both hands,
and turned it back on the man holding
it, just as a wild animal at bay. The
pistol being cooked, and finger on
trigger, the wrench backward caused
it to explode, the ball penetrating the
breast Of our soldier. Then like a
flash. the Yankee sprang away for the
swamp. We all opened on him with
our pistols, but he continued to run
like frightened deer. It being dark
and we in such hurry to shoot, all
missed him bus one, and he not more
than ten yards distant. Whatever
eventually became of him We never
knew. At farm house we were told
a Yankee soldier had come in that
night, with a desperate wound in his
jaw, wanting bandages and some
clean clothing. He left and nothing
more was ever heard of him. We car
ried our man back to the house at
which we had captured the Yankee,
and there he died that night.
The Texan did not like the affair
by any means He told us he was a
scout, not bushwhacker and wished
to leave us. But we could not allow
this just then; it was too much risk
to turn a doubtful character loose,
with a wounded prisoner at large.
Next morning we continued up the
road cautiously and about two miles
from the house, at which We had bur-
led our comrade, We heard a horse
galloping up the road in our direc-
tion. All dropped out in the bushes
in a moment and then to our great
Joy and astonishment Lieut.. Hugh L..
Farley, Of our regiment, rode up. He
was exceedingly glad to meet with us,
having been hunting US for day or
two. Hearing Of US at the house Of
the tragedy, he rode rapidly to over
take us. Hugh was one Of my best
aH-around friends in the whole army,
and as game as the gamest. His COM
pany was right, and mine left color
company during the whole service,
and we had come to look upon each
other as brothers. He became adju-
tant and inspector general Of South
Carolina, as we'll as State historian
after the war. Before he came TO US,
he had been on detached service, with
a new organization. But this being
disbanded, he wished to throw his lot
in with us, and we we're proud he had
made that choice.
| We travelled on up the road, in
great good humor, now having the
lion-hearted and relentless Hugh with
US, still keeping a cautious lookout.
A house up on the hill to cur left
seemed deserted, yet the front door
stood open, and looked suspicious.
Two Of our men crept to the house to
investigate, then hearing noise up
stairs went in, and brought out one OF
the most abandoned looking wretches
| ever saw. He was loaded down with
worthless plumber he had secured IN
the house and, as usual, was frlghten-
ed to death at being caught. He told
US that three Of his companions had
gone down to the spring house to see
what chance there would be to get
some milk or something to eat. 1t IS
the stragglers who get the booty, tor
soldiers marching in ranks are not al
lowed to leave their command. Hugh
and | guarded the prisoner, while the
other men scattered on either side of
the path leading to the spring and
closed in on those at the spring.
Our party took the marauders with
ont ANY trouble and brought them
back to the one Hugh and | were
guarding. One Of them had an axe
ander his arm, which l suppose he
had picked up in the yard, but for
what we couldn't tell, unless to break
in door when found locked. They
were a hard looking lot, inofensive
in appearance, but they began to
plead for their lives like all Of those
caught robbing. v Lad about con
cluded to take them back, turn them
over to the cavalry, then make oul
way through the swamp, swim the
Salkehatchie and get in front OF
Sherman S army.
This was brought about partly by
the Texan : desire 70 leave Us. and
then our Horses aS we'll as ourselves
wanted food. We continued down the
path. through some scrubby bushes
towards The main road. back towards