The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-06-13
rang out with the melodies of
Home. Sweet Home and be-

was mingled with tears and
cighs, and sots and heartaches
The FIRST day they marched
about six miles and camped in
some Old houses on a plantation.
\ heavy rain fell curing the
night and the next morning
they were forced to take up the
march through mud and water.
They covered about 10 miles by
dinner time. and reached a place
which Capt. Mckee could not
recall, where the citizens who
had heard of their coming had
prepared a barbecue dinnerfr from
which place kind friends carried
them in wagons and carriages
to Edgefeld. At Edgefield they
were accorded a royal welcome
and a warm reception, and as
Capt. Mckee expressed it we
had plenty to eat and drink ard
fine entertainment. - which was
the last for several days. The
next morning the line Of march
was again resumed and during
the third day reached Aiken
where they took a train for
Charleston. Reaching Charles
ton after night they rested and
were mustered into the service
of the United States the next
day. After spending a few
days in the city by the sea
orders were received to 60 to the
front and they marched from
Charleston to Augusta, Ga.
While crossing the river into
Georgia they halted and gave
three cheers for their native
staie-South Carolina. From
Augusta the.2 went by rail to
Atlanta, which was just then
in her infancy and few accomo-
dations could be had. Some of
the soldiers had to spend the
night in car boxes.
From Atlanta they headed for
Montgomery, Ala where river
boats transported them to Mo
bile. While at this last place
they were drilled and carried
through the art of military dis
.cipline for about thre5 weeks.
During this time Col. Pierce NJ.
Butler made a trip to Washing
ton and had a conference with
the military authorities, and
upon his return they we.e order
ed to take steamers for the
island of Lopos. On the vessel
COMPANY f. was put down in
the hull and got very little to
eat and very little air. They
were allowed to 90 on deck to do
their cooking but back down in
their holes like rats to eat.
On reaching the island they
were astonished to find it was
not inhabited, not a soul to be
seen. Ground had to be cleared
before they could pitch their
tents. This island, Capt. Mckee
says, was one and half miles
long by one mile v.dr. and con-
stituted the RENDEZVOUS for
Gen. SCOTS army. Here they
remained for quite u While wait
ing for all the other troops from
the United States to arliss., and
amused themselves and pas Ell
away the time in bathing in the
salt water and in cooking, eat
ing and washing their clothes.
When all the army had al
rived orders were given and they
sailed direct to Mexico and land
ed three or four miles below the
city Of Vera Cruz about the 10th
of March lS47. Here immediate
steps were taken to inaugurate a
siege Of the city.
In this connection the follow
ing very interesting story print
ed in the Columbia State a
short time since written by
Capt. Matthew B. Stanley is re-
produced:
On August Z, lS47. the gener.
al advance Of Scott's army en-
the City of Mexico and the
Halls Of the Montezumas''
began. Quitman's brigade left
Puebla after its stay Of nearly
three months on AugustS. The
Palmetto regiment acted as rear
guard. On the march between
Pucbla and San Augustin il
was attacked by a body of Mex
lean lancers. One member ol
the regiment was killed.
The Mexican lancers were