The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-21
some Incidents OF the Civil, War.
Cry Mrs $. j. erant.)

passing through Petersburg Of troops
from the Southern States. on 10 Rich.
mond and northern Virginia. Some
times the ladies' we're called upon 10
help set ready provisions for train
loads OF soldiers. this was all like
ehiid's play TO what followed. As
the war ragged on. they were busy
making lint and bandages for the
wounded. 4 helped all 1 could with
these things. We had not come to-
hardships yet Az the army drew
nearer to us. the hard times conn
hence The sick and wounded were
brought to our very doors. During
the Siege. wss were actually under
nre. The night OF the blowing up of
the mine under our works was awful.
We had to cave the house. and go
into the basement OF an clubhouse i'm
tho yard. and SIT on the ground with
our backs "a the wall for hours. shot
N shells flying over us thick and
-ast. such aEoar OF cannon was never
heard before. and when the battle
was over. what a sight to see! When
we came out of nj hiding place. the
ground was covered with shot and
shells One she'll had gone through
the house. leaving broken bricks.
plaster. and furniture In it's wake. The
street vas lined with ambulances. car
rying wounded soldiers TO the extreme
end OF the city Many tired-out SOL
diers were sitting on the ground,
tired. thirsty and hungry. Things be-
came so hot and the soldiers SO nu-
merous. and there was so much dis
tress and sickness I'm the city. that I
went 10 h home OF a cousin I'm the
country to rest. until I could go to my
fathers home In South Carolina.
The northern soldiers were raiding
the country and destroying crops.
homes and everything they could lay
their hands on. When we. at last,
made the start for South Carolina. we
went to the railroad STATEN, we
found what had been a nice little VIII
lage all gone. depot. stores. dwelling
houses all burnt up. The only thing
left was an old box car that had been
used 10 carry horses In. As 1t was
raining. and as trains were very un-
certain as Co time OF running, we put
some OF n baggage I'm the car to-
serve az seats. and scrambled up into
h car on some steps made OF trunks,
to keep u OF the rain until a train
should come. And there we stayed
from early afternoon until midday the
next day. Then we heard n train
coming We had to signal to stop 1t.
The conductor told us that 1t was
Gen. Beauregard's special train going
TO Charleston. and that we would have
10 set permission from him to ride on
II. The general was very polite and
sraciopsly ave us permission. We
rod m far as Florence. $. c.. on this
train. I remained at my fathers
home. until. becoming alarmed at the
depredations OF Sherman's raiders. 1
decided to return to my own home I'm
Petersburg. Our house was near one
OF the main roads coming into the
city. 80 we could see the soldiers as
they came In and out from camp. The
south Carolina hospital was just at
the next corner Of the street. SO we
saw a great many OF the sick and
wounded carried right by our door.
IL was a sad sight to see the poor fell
lows; and I was glad that. through the
kindness OF one of the blockade run
ners. a relative OF ours. we could help
the soldiers with some comforts. by
way u good nourishing food. We had
sugar and coffee sent by the barrel,
and we refreshed many a one with a
good cup coffee. besides eatables and
clothing. I visited the hospital and
selected some to- send things 10 regu-
larry. and we seldom sat down TO a
meal without some soldiers 10 share
II with Us. Some we never saw be-
Tore or since; some we would hear
would be killed In battle. We look In.
Tor a night. a poo old couple. all the
way from Alabama. on their way to
Richmond TO see q sick son. and gave
them some of'our good coffee. They
wero so glad to have Il. said they had
never expected to taste coffee again.
Poor old people. we never heard any
thing more OF them. We kept open
house for the soldiers until we had to
leave on account OF the Smelling. II
was not safe to stay there. l went
back two months before the city was
evacuated. Things were
lively quiet. not 80 much canpopsd-