The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-18
BY THE REV. JOHN KERsHAw.


1t was now drawing on towards the
close of January. 1855. Father had
written requesting my discharge from
the cadets on the ground that * I was
70 be IN active service anyway he pre-
ferred me to be with or near him In
virginia. got my discharge and went
home, where / was to remain until
the expected spring campaign should
open in Virginia. Sherman. meantime.
had begun his celebrated march from
sayannah. and about the middle OF
md the troops from all along the
South Carolina coast took up their
march to Cheraw ShArman reached
the vicinity OF Columbia about the
game time. The enrolling officer. at
Camden organized scouting party,
consisting OF men at hosns on fur
Tough. with the object In view of
notifying the people OF Camden Of
the approach Of Sherman. Joined
this little party. having secured a
horse, and for several days we secuted
between Columbia and Camden. until
Columbia was burned and Sherman's
army made a detour northward, CROSS
ing the Wateree River near, Liberty
Hill and coming southeasterly from
that point to Camden. On the day
be entered Camden two OF us had been
sent across the river to scout there,
while the others proceeded northward.
Ny friend and went TO. HIS planta-
hon, ate good dinner, and about 8
o'clock set out for Camden. having
seen no signs OF an enemy. On a
bill, near the river bridge. where a
picket had been Stationed as we passed
that morning, we noticed a. canteen
hung on fence post. and supposlng
hoA haa 1,y 1oft sue Z. II
h charge, intending to restore 1t to
The owner. When we got to the bridge
Eeeper's house 1t was empty. The
Home Guards had left. 4
We thought this was suspicious but
pressed on across the Long Bridge until
HeIwere on the side nearest the town.
Here we met a caravan Of wagons and
buggies going post-haste towards Coll
hmbia, and as they passed man sang
sut: ~ GU had better hurry up: Cam
( len is full OF Kilpatrick's cavalry We
put spurs to our horses and galloped
INTO town, passing up it's main street,
& About half way up we drew REIN hay
4 ng noticed aSbig blue column of cav
llry coming down over the hill near
|he "Lafay Hall, ESQ called because
Pie Marquissde Lafayette had beeh en-
lerta tned mere When he came to Cans
!. }en in 1924 to lay the cornerstone or
monument erected to Baron de Kalb,
Who was killed at the battle OF Hob
kirk Htllsdpring the Revolutoim. Be-
\ tween them and us I'VE saw two men
bash hurriedly outBof an alleyway and
hdesrapldly down the street. AT frs:
ne did not recognize them, hut as they
brew nearer. we saw that they belong
d I'd to tho party Of scouts that had rid
1 lem northward that morning to spy
but the lands5It seems that after go
Ing distance they had run into a. crowd
II the Hbummers" that, preceded and
Followed Sherman $ army, and had cap
Iured several Of hem. These two men
whom i am speaking We're detailed
4 10 take these prisoners to town and
but them In a place Of safekeeping.
4 This they had done, and were riding
back to rejoin their party, when one
I proposed ITO thetother that they should
8 )top at a certain saloon and set some
d hing to drink, They rode to the side
IGOR the front being acknowledgements
1d.s entered, ordered drinks, and We're
the act Of smiling at one another
When a colored man. whose trade. was
hat3of tailor, and who afterwards be-
came a State legislator, dashed In,
lhouting s: Run, Marse Tom! Run, Marse
n William! The Yankees is coming'!" They
implied their glasses and. waiting in
4 10 their saddles. rode from the alley