The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-04-28
"REMINISCENCES OF
AN OLD MAN.
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but principally by hunting, and fish,
ing. All made goud and true SOL
diers. Only one of them survived
the war.
After the battle of Chancellors-
Vile, John Bowick was hunting
through the haversacKs of the dead
Yankees. With a chunk Of raw ba-
con and crackers in his hands he
came back to the company eating as
he came, saying some folks ca,l this
a battle, but it was more like u feast
than anything he had met with late
ly.
There were five Young brothers.
While lying on a battle line exposed
to the fire of the enemy, but not al
lowed to return the fire, Abner
Young was killed, Immediately his
four brothers rose to their feet,
and fired at the enemy. Capt Cowan
demonstrated with them, their reply
was, they have killed Abner. Three
of the five returned home.
Was it not a fitting thing for the
United Daughters of the Cpnfeder-
acy to erect on the public SQUARE a
monument to the memory of such
men as these, so that future gener-
atoms might gaze on it and gather
inspiration to do greater and nobler
things, that some erring son might
look on it, and resolve then and
there to turn his back on his folly,
and to become a worthy son of his
noble ancestors.
But the 'Bowicks were not the on
ly family that suffered. Almost
every family had a father or son
and frequently an only son slain,
who sleeps in unknown and unmark-
ed graves. Esquire James McCas-
Ian sent four sons to the army, Will
liam Edward, Thomas, James Mon
roe, and John, none of the four ever
returned.
Frank Wideman was captured and
held as prisoner till long after the
war. DR.. Link met him at Orange
burg, with a wagon and bed, and
brought him home, a mere skeleton.
When they would stop at night, the
doctor would carry. him in his arms
like a babe.
Truly, truly, it may be said of the
Southern women Of that period,
that they were like Rachel weeping
for her children, and refusing to be
comforted, because they were not.
There was scarcely a house that did
not mourn for some one. History
has a good deal to say about the
Spartan mother, and public speakers
often refer to her, giving her son
his shield, and telling him to bring
it back with honor, or be brought
back on it. But she did not sur
pass the Southern mother in her
sublime faith, and unbounded cour-
age.
AS the struggle wore on other
sons grew old enough to go to the
army. Then she showed her true
courage. She kissed them good
bye mid smiles and tears, trusting in
the God of Battles to return him
to her safe, and went back to her
daily work of carding, spinning and
weaving, that her loved ones might
be clothed. God alone can tell
what she suffered.
Many laughable jokes are told on
Gen. MCGOWAN. Any one who has
ever heard him speak, must have
been struck by the wonderful eyes
and face. I have never seen a man
who could say as much with his eyes.
On one occasion Gen. Gregg ordered
him to take his regiment and adj
vance along a certain road and feel
for the enemy. Col. MCGOWAN had
not advanced his command far, when
he found the enemy advancing in
heavy force. He pitched in at
once and Immediately dispatched a
courier to inform Gen. Gregg that
the enemy were advancing in force.
When the courier reached Gen.
Grapo tho General had oil he cor1d