The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-13

reuSlOuSly kept tnat no more OF MIS-.
Rowe's turkeys should die the death.
Nv.
Cadet Corps I'm Action.
A few days later we received or
ders to report to the general COM
manding at Pocotaligo, and our camp
at Orangeburg was abandoned. TAX
ing the cars we came to Charleston
and occupied our old quarters at the
Citadel for the last time. On the way
of the cars and rode there. Some ran
races from the baggage car to the
rear coach, while others beat in the
ventilators with their bayonets. One
boy went to sleep with his face on
the tin roof Of the car, when he was
aroused at Charleston, what with the
paint his face had absorbed and the
dust. he was not recognizable even
to his closest friends. The boys from
the Arsenal at Columbia, branch of
the State Military Academy, joined us
at Orageburg. and the battalion. num-
bering about two hundred and fifty
and consisting of four companies, well
drilled and armed, formed quite an
imposing array. Arrived at Pocotali-
go we went into camp, and our real
soldering was begun. Picket duty
again, but free from the pestiferous
insects Of James Island, was all that
was required of us for the first few
days, and things were becoming very
monotonous, when one afternoon the
long roll was beaten, the battalion
formed. and was marched TO 8. train
In waiting. which took us quickly to
Tulifinny Creek. five miles distant,
where the Federals were threatening
the Charleston and Savannah Rail-
way. AS we debarked from the cars,
we could hear the sounds of battle in
a swamp about half mile to the
southwest the "hip-hip- p-hurrah" Of
the Federals alternating with the
shrill rebel yell' of our people AS
the one or the other gained an ad-
vantage. The left Of our company
was deployed as skirmishers and we
advanced across an old field with the
view of striking the enemy in the
flank. 1 recall vividly my sensations
as / went on with the skirmish line,
every minute drawing nearer to the
N
joy. certainly. that was uppermost in
my thoughts. / tried to realize my
self as actually engaged in the effort
to Kill those who were my countrys
enemies. but against whom I had no
| Ill feeling, except in mass. 1 wondered
If 1 would be killed, wounded or cap
tured. 1 thought of my people at
home, of my father in Virginia, and
how that excepting him, / was the
4, last Of my name. 1 never dreamed
of turning back-discipline had made
obedience to orders a part Of my
very self-and my captain, who was
| In charge of the skirmishers. was be-
mind US, his splendid voice uplifted
In encouragement and his eagle eye
| blazing with the light of battle. At
some little distance behind marched
the battalion in line Of battle, and
never did they present a better or
more striking appearance. On we
went until quite half the ground be.
tween the swamp and ourselves had
been covered, when we saw a man
riding rapidly in our direction, wav-
ing his rifle as If bidding us halt.
When he rode up, 1t was ascertained
thas the Federals had driven the Con-
federates back to a point so near the
railway that 1t was feared 1t would
be captured, unless prompt resistance
was made. We were, therefore,
double-quicked back to the railway
and placed in position on the north
side OF 1t, where was an enbankment
making splendid breastwork. I
remember that as we took our posi-
uon' Confederate who had been
wounded in the fight came along,
holding his face in his hands. A bull
let had passed through both checks.
carrying away some of his teeth. He
had fortunately been in the act OF
cheering, with his mouth wide open
when the bullet struck him, or else
the wound would have been much
more serious. At Coosawhatchie.
about mile away towards Savannah.
our batteries were shelling the
swamp, out of which our people wore
pouring in rather a panicky condit-
ION. They were reformed on the
railway embankment. however, and
night came on, while we awaited the
attack. The Federals had halted in