The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-05-06
"REMINISCENCES
Of AN OLD MAN
Judge X. e. Hill Writes Of
Things Long Ago in Abbe-
Vile County.
CONTINUED

as the Palmetto Regiment. One OF the
companies belonging to that regiment
was made up largely from Abbeville
county and was commanded by Capt.
J. Foster Marshall of this place, who
was afterwards killed at the End bat
tie of Manassas in Virginia during the
war between the States, while gal
lantly leading Orr's Rifles of which
he was then colonel.
There is a monument to his memory
which stands near the Episcopal
church in this place, fact which !
dare say is unknown to great many
OF our young people.
The members of the company met
here the evening before they were to
start on their long journey from
which a large number of them were
destined never to return, and went in
to camp just below town.
While there were only two or three
of this company actually killed in bat
tie, there were some thirty or more OF
them who died of disease of one kind
and another.
John Donald Hill, my Oldest broth
er, was aemember of Captain Mar
shalls company.
He died at a place called Jalappa,
pronounced as if spelled Halappa, on
the table land not far from the City
of Mexico.
well remember the last time ev-
er saw him; it was the evening that
the company went into camp below
town. I came with him from our
home in the country, riding behind
him on a young horse not thoroughly
broken. When we reached the top
of the the hill just beyond where Mr.
Pat Roche now lives, he dismounted
and bid me good bye and turned the
colts head homeward; but he refused
to go forward and began backing; my
brother then gave him slap on the
rump when the colt kicked him on the
thigh, but being so close to him l
don't think he was much hurt.
There were several young men from
this town that went off in Marshall's
company. Among whom was Samuel
MCGOWAN, afterwards General Nc
Gowan; F. w. Sellick, who it is said
was the first to hoist the American
flag on the walls Of the City of Mexi-
co; Ben Lane Posey, who shortly af-
ter their return home fought a duel
with DR.. Warren LomaX, and several
others whose names I have forgotten.
Fred Sellick and my uncle David L.
Donald, who both became Lieuten-
ants by promotion in Captain Mar
shall's company while in Mexico, be-
came fast friends, so that on the mar
riage of my uncle, short time after
their return home, Lieutenant SellicE
was one of his groomsmen.
The young lady with whom he
stood was Miss Jane Barmore, who
was considered one of the finest look
ing young women in Abbeville county
at taht time. She is still living near
Shoals Junction on the Southern R.
R.
1t was customary in those days to
have q grand reception the next day
after a marriage called an infair, at
the home of the parents of the groom
I can we'll recall the appearance OF
Lieutenant Sellick and Miss Barmore
as they entered the front gate at my
grandfather's, and marched up the
graveled walk to the house. l thought
they were the handsomest couple
had ever seen. Sellick had pinned on
the left lapel of his coat, red rose
bud and seemed to realize that he
was the cynosure of all eyes. I en-
Wed him his good looks and seeming
happiness. There is a monumental
shaft erected to his memory in Upper
Long Cane cemetery by his friends,
where his remains were buried, but
it was broken off about midway of its
height by some of the Yankee con-
stabulary stationed here after the war
and the broken part sstill left ly-
ing there.
General MCGOWAN was young
lawyer located here at the outbreak
of the war, and of course when he
volunteered it was as private, which
he continued to be for some time af-
terwards, but was finally made Quar-
termaster of the regiment.
1 once heard him tell about how he
was often exasperated at little in
significant fellow by the name oi
Finoley, I believe, who came from
over on the Savannah side. 1t seems
that this little fellow had been accus
toned to serving writs and other pa
pers for the lawyers before volun
teering and would always call around
month or so before court term ant
poke his head into the door of the
different law Offices and call out
HAny writs for the Savannah side?"
The General said that the regiment
was in camp at some point, I dom
rnnall for Snmn time hnfora fnnll1