The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-05-08

| was Jeered at ana fun poked at me,
the term Johnny being frequently and
vociferously applied; this, however,
was INDUCED in principally by the ne
gro drivers, and was called forth,
suppose, by me wearing the Confed-
crate uniform. When got as, far
up Main street as the street leading
to Arsenal Hill, I turned to go up
that direction when an officer gal
loped up on horseback and ordered
me to halt and give an account of
had received from the lieutenant in
command around the hospital build
ing, which seemed to satisfy him, for
myself. | handed him the permit l
he allowed me to proceed, and | wa>
enabled to return without further mo-
lestation.
DR.. Thomson had a serious prob
lem to solve. He had under his i'm
mediate charge between $50 and 100
patients, besides attendants, to pro-
vide for He was assisted in caring
for the sick by surgeons Babcock of
Chester, and Edmunds of Fairfield:
but the sole responsibility of provid-
ing for the wants of those in the hos
pital was laid on him. The supply at
best was very limited, now that the
stores belonging to the Confederacy
were consumed by fire, the railroads
torn up and the rails bent and twist
ed In every conceivable fashion, and
Sherman's forces driving before them
everything they could consume, and
destroying whatever they could not
utilize. 1t was rumored that orders
would be given to evacuate the city
on Monday, the goth, and if he was
to act it must be at once. General O..
0. Howard was quartered in Mrs. Nc
Cords house near the college build
ing. After some hesitation and mis-
giving, he made up his mind to call
on him and make known to him the
position he was placed in. He told
him he did not appeal to him asking
for help for himself, for he would
die In dungeon before he would
make such request; he came plead
ing for help in behalf of the helpless
and dying. General Howard's Adju-
tant General, who was present and
heard the Doctors appeal, remarked
in tones heard by the doctor, "See
the Southern chivalry." The appeal
was not in vain, for an order was
| issued to the Federal commissary to
leave so many cattle for hospital use.
Ihose of us who partook of Federal
bounty never accused the commits
sary of picking out for us the choic
est of the flock; he certainly donated
to us what in truth could have been
classed as some of Pharoah's lean
Kine,, but for even this we were
thankful
: On Monday, the goth, the troops
| began to leave the city. Among the
| last l saw go was detachment
guarding a manacled soldier, whom
recognized as one who drove the am
bulance attached to the Ladies' Hos
pltal near the Charlotte depot. 1
heard that he had been recognized by
; some OF the Federals as a deserter
= from their army. What his fate was
never learned.
On Tuesday, the 21st, the CITY was
tfee from the presence of ,Sherman's
forces, excepting some stragglers,
whom rumor said General Sherman
told Mayor Goodwin to deal with in
. a very summary manner.
Terrible Task of Burying Dead
M TAe-e.-sise enent~of the past three
bays had made fearful work among
our noble men. The duty devolved
upon me to make preparation for the
burial of the dead that had been ac-
cumu!ating since the occupation of
the city on the 18th, found, on ex-
ANIMATION, seventeen corpses. 1t was
impossible to procure plank to make
coihnS, and 1T was with the great
est difficulty | was able to get n
trench dug to bury them in. There
: was no white help / could call upon.
ana the negroes were defiant and in
solent and refused to aid in digging
the graves. 1 was under the circum@
stances, compelled to use arbitrary
measures. selected a few of the
hospital attendants, armed them with
muskets, and went into the city and
Impressed such able bodied help as
we met and marched them to the field
IN rear of the presidents house in
the South Carolina campus and had
trench dug sufficient, to lay side On
SIDE those seventeen men. AS stated.
was unable to procure plank or
nails; all l was able to do for them
was to wrap their precious forms up
a sheet, and wherever it was pos
slble for me to learn their names, |
would mark the grave or rather the
position they occupied in the trench,
with such material as l could get, in
order mat their friends might remove
them II desired. The day following |
was compelled to go through like
experience and bury eleven more. 1t
was while engaged in this duty tha,
an unpleasant incident occurred. One
OF the negroes employed in digging
the trench took a pistol from his
pocket and commenced firing and u.s.
ing very strong and defiant language.
l asked him to desist, as the occasion
was too solemn one to be engaging
IN such boisterous conduct, even if he
meant no harm. | asked him to give
me his pistol. This. he refused to do.
l was equally determined that he had
to show more respect to the dead
then lying in their shrouds. / called