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

tBy Rev John Kershaw In News
and Courier.)
III.
In Camp.
I regarded myself as something of
= hero when 1 reached home. and was
made to feel more so by the reception
4 met with at the hands Of the young
ladies. Men were very scarce. and
boys were at premium. especially
those that wore a uniform and had
''seen service" The summer passed
and the falling leaves told of another
year drawing to close. The fortunes
OF the Confederacy were perceptibly
declining and deep anxiety brooded
over the land. Grant had invested
Richmond and Petersburg. Sherman
was on his celebrated march to the
sea-" and every week 1t became more
apparent that our days as a nascent
nation were numbered. Yet there was
no talk Of surrender and many con-
dnued to hope against hope.
We were ordered to reassemble at
the Citadel about the 1st of Novem-
ber. The shells from Morris Island
had fallen all over the Academy green,
several pieces having struck the build
ting itself, and II was considered no
longer safe to remain there. We were
marched TO an encampment near
Magnolia Cemetery first. and a lew
days after were transported by rail
60 Orangeburg. where we encamped
for several weeks. While there,
several OF US were one day walking
through the pine grove In which our
tents were pitched. when un ,rtunate-
ly a flock Of turkeys came along. We
began throwing the pine cones at
them "just for fun" 1t had been rain
Ing and the cones were heavier than
usual from the water that had been
absorbed by them. One OF us with
unexpected accuracy struck a turkey
on the head with a cone hurled with
considerable force. and the result was
the sudden decease of the turkey. We
did not know whose IL was. nor did
we take particular pains to inquire.
We held a consultation. The aues-
ton was what shall we do with the
body?" None Of us felt equal to the
task of cooking the bird. yet we were
not willing to throw II away now
that II was dead and by accident too.
We determined to conceal the corpse
until dark. When we would take 1t t.
Jim. our commandant's colored cook,
and bribe him TO cook II for u.s. We
we're not aware that our performances
had been watched by other cadets,
who had overheard also our determi-
nation. and who wanted that turkey
Tor themselves. After dark we sneak
ed back to where we had concealed
the turkey and carried II to Jim. We
went around to the special friends OF
our mess and invited them to a mys-
terious turkey supper after tattoo"
and before taps" The time came.
but the turkey did not. "A deputa-
ton to Jim returned with the sad
news that he had already given 1t To
certain cadets who had come claim
Ing ~. and in the dark he did not
know one from another. so that he
thought he was turning II over to the
right parties. So we and our in
yited guests went supperless 20 bed
and Jim went without his pay. Not
Tar from us lived a lady. Mrs. Rowe,
VINO had for many months met every
train that passed Orageburg. with
food for the soldiers. and whose good
deeds were justly celebrated and her
praises sung by thousands of Con-
federates. whose hunger she and her
fair assistant had relieved. A day or
so after our disappointment as re-
corded. this good lady sent word to
the major I'm command that she had
Host some of her turkeys and feared
that the cadets were concerned IN
their disappearance. The matter was
brought To our attention and as IL
was generally known by that time
that some OF us were responsible for
the demise OF Mrs. Rowe's turkey, IT
was resolved to hold an indignation
meeting" of the corps and pass some
very strong resolutions condemning
such procedure. II soon develop
cd that we were not the only guilty
parties. that some others OF malice
prepense had unlawfully acquired
turkey. and that between the innocent
and the guilty the corps was about
equally divided. When the man who
was reading the resolutions got to
the denunciatory portion. the paper
was snatched from his hand hv ona