The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-07
\ CITADEL CADETS MEMORIES
OF THE WAR.
While "Pianncr" Banged Soldier Rob-
bed Turkey ROOst--Long March Ne
cessitated Foraging-An Encouter
with Shcridan's Cavalry, Magnif-
cant Chargc-SurrOunded by Cav
airy. Company, Though Separat-
cd, is Captured.
by the Rev. John KerShaW.l

| tBy the Rev John kerShaW)
We bivoaucked Monday night and
moved on the next day, sorely retard-
ed by the enormous wagon train.
which was said to have been thirty
miles long. including the artillery
and the ambulances. This may seem
an exaggerated estimate, but allow
ing each piece or caisson fifty feet
OF space at the rate of hundred and
fifty to the mile, the artillery of Lees
army alone, with the necessary COM
pany wagons and the ammunition
wagons, would have covered not less
than eight miles, probably ten
1t would have required not more
than ten thousand wagons, or one to
each two hundred men, to have
stretched over the remaining twenty
miles. At any rate, the train ex-
tended Indefinitely and we were trudg-
ed along behind, halting every few
minutes as wagon or piece of artil-
lery would stall, and stop the entire
train.
| All night long we followed, the
men often sleeping as they walked or
rode on, but we were not molested by
the enemy, who had not yet Caught
up" I remember that one place we
were obliged to cross a river by
means of the railway track, over a
| ho
hundred feet above the water. Heavy
planking was laid on the cross-ties
and over it the men marched, while
those who were mounted rode or led
their horses. On the other side was
an abandoned earthwork. The men
took fuses that they found in this
fort and shot short pieces out of their
rifles by exploding caps, which ig-
nited the fuses and threw them out
| of the mules of the guns to a con-
siderable height
| Getting Turkeys.
| Some of us stopped at a home for
supper. While waiting our turn l
heard a fellow say to his comrade:
BILL, did you see them turkeys and
chickens roosting in the cedar tree
by the gate of this yard?"
| Bill said he did.
| The other fellow said: Cant you
| play the pianner and sing some
thing?" Bill said he could. Well"
was the rejoinder, you go in there
and bang the pianner and sing as
loud as you can and I'll go and git
us a couple Of them birds" Bill went
in. raised the piano lid and began
when This Cruel War Is Over" a
popular song and chorus of the day.
Many others who were waiting their
turn for supper Joined with stentorian
voices in the chorus, effectually
| drowning all other sounds in the
vicinity. Presently Bill stopped and
walked out into the piazza, looking
| for his cOmrade. This worthy son
| appeared-he was cavalry man
and loudly whispered: Bill, I've got
| EN-, come on" Bill went
| When our party rode out of the
gate | noticed that others had fol-
| lowed the example of Bills comrade,
for there was not a single fowl left
| in the tree.
When Wednesday night came and
| still no halt and no raticns issued,
20 In ivn1
Parties foraged as far from the line
of march as they dared go, and many
were thus captured Sheridan's cav
airy began to strike our long wagon
train at intervals. destroying or set
ting fire to them, while the teams
ters and stragglers cut the mules out
of harness and rode them off as the
cavalry attacked. Great gaps were
made in the train in this manner,
and although we often halted to re-
pei threatened attack we made fair
| progress.
| Attack at Night.
| That night at some point where
; the dirt road crossed the railroad.
| there was a night attack. In a mo-
| Inent everybody was awake and alert.
\ line of battle was quickly formed
| and courierS sent forward to ascertain
| the cause the attack being at a
| Opint in advance of our division |
| was sleeping soundly when the firing
| occurred This with the hiss of tb,,
| bullets close to my head, effectually
awakened me, and | rode ahead to
see what ] could. the division having
| railroad. Presently a tremendous
! Nolley was fired by the troops in ad-
! vance of ours. but there was no re-