The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-03-19
ALMOST FIFTY YEARS.
Siys.c Confederate Soldier
Seen Old Camping
Ground.

Lodge in Charleston. was delighted
with my trip. 1t would be of much
benefit to any mason who cares to know
anything about the workings of the
fraternity to attend one or more of
these meetings. The Grand Ledge
don't do anything by halves.
Eut while was interested in the
meetings and doipgs of the Ledge and
feel benefited thereby, also took IN
the surroundings.
Some of the old boys Of the 2OSh s.
G. Regiment have asked me to write
brief description of the charges that
have been roueht,around Charleston,
Mt. Pleasant. Sullivan's Island, etc.
Now we left there in 1864, and some
of the old boys have never had an op-
portunity to visit the old camping
ground since. 1t has been AZ years
ard I was only a boy in the middle of
nv teens. Then We were sent back
there in the spring or early part of 80
t.. reinforce Johnson, but as Sherman
pressed him too hard We had to retreat.
But like boy I was at that time, to
give anything like full description is
next to impossible. There have been
many and great changes. They have
stolen q considerable strip OF land from
he Ashley river by working it dpwith
cement and rock. Then they filed
that space with earth. They now have
a strip of land 1 suppose atou
300 Yards wide and about two miles
long, on which houses are being built.
Indeed the whole city has made many
and great changes too numerous t.
me ntion. At leisure hours we took
the boat and crossed over to Mt. Pleas
ant, our old camping ground. o.! the
charges Mt. Pleasant has built 1pso
much. Had I been dropped dowi
there I meyer should have recognized
wh. re I was. The old field where we
cs mped seemed to have disappeared,
buildings have gone up there aud about
the wharf many magnificent ones.
The only thing that looks natural IL
the old landing. The old bridge firm
MI. Pleasant to Sullivan's Island, OIL
which we spent many, many nights, II
gone, only now and then pillar re-
mains to mark the original track.
We crossed from Mt. Pleasant TO Sui
liyap's Island On the street car and De-
held the changes there. Fort Moul rle
has guns big and long enough to shoot
across the Atlantic ocean, or it looks
so to man up tree.
All the way up the Island are teau
tifuI r.-iderces AS | stood on the
beach at the city in meditative moe q
with the tide aplashing and dashlrg' at
my fee. I cast my eye across to MT.
P,eassr t, Suilivan's Island, Fort Sum
te aid Jau,es' Island on which Col.
Dan: zler told Us rot to shoot at tie
rat bite. There is bigger game ahead,
ha said. And old Morris Island. that
hateful place where the YANKEES made
| it so lot for Us. There we nearly
psrishtd from thirst.
Then as stood there thus media
ting nv Thoughts we're changed, very
sad feeling crossed my mind when !
temporarily called the roll and fourd
% many Of the old boys missing. Yes,
they hay crossed over the River and We
trust are resting under the shade Of the
trees. We love them and their
me- mcry ia, still fresh in our minds.
But how few rem ain to tell the tale?
Only few more years and we all shall
have crossed to join them on the other
shore. While thus meditating VI
could not help but drip tear and our
mird Continued to revolve with the
thors sht, "Where, oh! where, are the
bows We toyed SO much.
Ys, Mr.. Editor, ! for one can truth
fully cay I rever had cross ~ord with
any Of my comrades. -.
Then listening, thought hesEd 4
voice which could not understand and
from the breez-s I drew deep draughts
which I fain would bold and caress
like precious gifts. Az I stood by the
ocean and watched the fckle waves
my eyes would search in vain f.r the
old boys loved such much.
Then when the waves seemed to take
breath as it were I heard a voice
sayi'g the ti6e may rise or fall, the
wind may sigh or die, but Company &,
20th South Carolina will soon be no