The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-04-14
Some Experiences of Union County
Confederate Soldiers.
(By Mrs. J. F. Walker, Jr.)t


Thinking over this subject and won
dering what l should write, I realize
that no subject is more fitting than
the experiences of some of our Con
federate soldiers of Union county, for
the Daughters of our chapter to hear
about.
Why not write the history of sol
diers about us, that live in our own
county-get their personal expert
ences-and do what we can to honor
them, ere it is too late!
II decided to take some of the most
interesting experiences, of my father
and eight uncles in the War Between
the States. Seven brothers went from
my fathers family and my mother,s
tory, not FOR personal glory, but bS,e
cause these men were Union county
Confederate soldiers and these are
facts told me by members of my fam
lily who are living today.
Lieut.. John w. Greer. He volun-
teered in 1862 under Gen. Pillow and
served till the close of the war. At
the battle of Fort Hudson, July 6,
1862, he had his right arm shot off
by a cannon ball; grasping the flag
with his left, he exclaimed, "I've
got one more," and rushed onward
till he fell exhausted. At the fall of
the fort he was carried as a prisoner
to New Orleans, where a French fam
lily was allowed to nurse him back to
health. A young lady in the family
presented this handmade flag to him
and he managed to conceal it about
his person during his Imprisonment,
bringing it home with him in Decem-
ber of 1864 or January of 1865, for
he was sent to Charleston, S. c., with
600 officers and placed as breastworks
on Johns Island for our own army to
kill in place of the enemy. He was a
volunteer in the infantry from Helena,
Phillips county, Arkansas, belonging
to Gen. Kirby Smiths western army.
Today he lies buried in Mariana, Lee
county, Ark.
Robt. II. Greer. He volunteered un-
der Col Jenkins at the battle of Seven
Pines. A piece of shell struck him in
the face. He always wore a heavy
beard to hide the unsightly scars. He
surrendered at Appomattox Court
House on April 9th, 1866. He lies
buried in Sardis church yard about
seven miles below Union.
VIM. Wesley Greer. He lies buried
in Sardis church yard; volunteered
with the Johnson Rifles, commanded
by Capt. ]. w. Goss. He served two
years and was not wounded. He died
of tuberculosis contracted by ex-
posure on the battlefield.
The following statement is taken
from Progress, one of our county
weekly papers:
Lieut.. Charner S. Greer, who was
one of the brave soldiers Union coun-
ty furnished the Confederate army,
and who had the distinction of being
buried alive in bomb proof pit fol-
lowing the awful Crater" explosion
at Peterbusg ON July 30th, 1864, only
escaping with his life by digging his
way through many feet of earth with
his trusted sword. How did I get
out? asked Lieutenant Greer in re-
sponse to Progress mans query as
to how he escaped. We'll, it was re-
markable, and for a while was the
worst scared in my life. You see it
was that first night that 1, in COM
pany with Lieutenant Hill of Cross
Anchor, spent in the bomb proof pit.
When the Yankees blew up the mines
that made the Crater it threw great
piles of dirt over the mouth of Our
bomb proof pit, and we were shut in.
1t looked for while like in a living
grave, for we were there from before
daybreak until about a o'clock in the
afternoon. Soon after realized what
had happened | began wondering how
could get out; then / thought of my