Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-03-13

tnls battalion tnrougnouC nearly its
entire service THE first battalion
of South Carolina Sharp shooters
will long be remembered for its
faultless discipline and the excel
lence and maturity of its drill. 1t is
unnecessary to enumerate here the
valuable services rendered by that
picked corps at Grahamville, Bles
Greek, Coosawhatchie, Pocotaligo.
Combahe Ferry, Johns Wadamalaw
and James Islands and Winyaw
Bay near Georgetown. After sep
arate existence of about sixteen
months Major Abney's battalion
was amalgamated with the Charles
ton battalion, Lieutenant Col. P. G.
Gaillard, forming the 97th South
Carolina volunteers Hagood's Bri-
gade.
The oath regiment, under Ellison
Capers had two companies from
Edgefeld companies I. and K.
1t is also most interesting to US to
remember that Hagood married an
Edgeield woman, the only child
oil Gov. A. P. Butler and that he
owned vast acreage in Edgefeld
district and lived at Stoneland near
the home of Capt. Jas. Brooks.
Also that he ls closely connected
by this marriage with many Edge
field families. In May 1854 johnson
Hagood marched to Peterburg as
general, commanding the eleventh,
Itwenty-frst, twenty-ffth and twen-
lty.seventh South Carolina volunteers
and Rion's South Carolina battalion
These men boldly charged the
enemies breastworks, and drove
Benjamin E. Buffers forces away
from Petersburg and ably aided in
Buffers defeat at Bermuda Hun
ldredS. In one of these engagements
the federals' fire was so hot that the
flag carried by Rion's battalion had
/ siixty-seeveG bullet holes made in it.
Hagood's men won honor for them
selves also at Drewreys Bluff on the
James river.
! On the 2lst of August 1888 Ha-
good led about seven hundred men
against a federal breastwork. The
musket and cannon of the federal
forces cut down Carolinians at every
step of the advance, but the rest
went bravely onward. About two
hundred of the Hagood's men en-
tered the enemys work. A federal
officer rode among them seized the
colors of the 9th regiment and
called npon them to surrender. Ha-
good himself, rushed forward on
foot, shot this federal officer and
gave the flag to his attendant, j. D.
lStoney. lie then led away their few
remaining troops, their commander
/ Abney, having been shot in the en-
lcounter at Drewrys Bluff.
/ ! Only about three hundred men
Iwere left out of the seven hundred
who made this gallant charge.
While Grants army was trying to
get into Petersburg Hagood's brig
sde stood on guard in the rain and
in the snow to keep him out. They
were clad in rags and had little to
eat, but for sixty-seven days, with
out change of men, this intrepid
body of soldiers remained in the
trenches and helped to repulse
Grants great army.
The writer referred to moment
ago speaking of Hagood's brigade
says, I'm 1864 this splendid brigade
was ordered to Petersburg and there
won golden opinions and unperish-
able renown in all those brilliant
and bloody encounters which rem
dered its name no less terror to
the foe than pride to the gallant
state which sent it out to avenge
the blood of her fallen children" )"
In January 1865 the brigade
started to Wilmington, N. c., to
aid in its defense, but before the
men arrived that place had fallen
into the hands of its enemies. Then
Hagood went to the aid of Joseph
E. Johnston and his brigade sur
rendered at Goldsboro, N. c., as a
part of Johnston's army. After the
war Hagood became governor of
South Carolina. Of him personally
we can truly say that he was
Ready to do what hero could (can)
Wall to sap, or river to ford.
Cannon to front, or foe to pursue
Still ready to do, and sworn to be