The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-10-27
REMINIscENCE
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Pagel
ernoon a lone horseman rode along |
the turnpike from towards Petersburg /
and passed through our lines un-
molested, but when he reached the |
bridge which spanned Swift Creek he |
was commanded TO halt by one of oul
pickets, but instead of obeying the |
command he jammed his spurs into
the sides of his horse with a view of
rushing across the bridge, but as soon
as he did that he drew the fire of two
or three of our pickets and both he
and his horse were killed. Upon ex-
amining his body papers were found
showing him to be yankee scout
How he got into Petersburg, how long
he had been there and from whence he
came no one ever knew, but If he had
gotten through he would have carried
valuable information to Gen. Grant.
A few days after this incident re-
connoisance was made across the
creek by the 18th regiment of S. C. v.
and a battalion of the 25th (including
the Edisto Rifles of course) under. the
command of Col. F. III. CAN'T of the
eleventh. TWAS not long after cross
ing over before the enemy was struck
in strong force, when a short but Sc
we're engagement followed in which
i Capt. Hammond and two of his lieu
ltenants-Seabrook and Hammond
were killed, leaving his company with
out commissioned officer. Lieuten-
ant Hammond was but short dis
lance from his brother when he was
shot and seeing him fall ran to him
and was bending over him when he
was shot down and fell across his
brother. The night after the little
!. fight have just mentioned, for some
unknown reason to US, Gen. Butler
fell back with his entire army 20 his
base at Bermuda Hundred which left
the way open for us to take the steps
which placed us in position to fight, a
few days later, the battle of Drewry's
Bluff, of which / will write in my next
number, and close this number by
stating an incident or two in connec-
: ton with the Swift Greek fights. You
will recall that in one of my early
. numbers / spoke of the Lucas bat
talon of so-called regulars, on Coles
Island, and mentioned sergeant be-
c longing to that battalion who instruct
ed US in artillery drill on Goat Island
We all liked him and he was fond OF
our boys. Well he got furlough and
D instead of going home, if he has one
he followed US to Virginia ito see
: some fighting" as he said, and came
e to our company at Swift Creek. He
s was at the foot of the bridge on oul
q side, late in the afternoon of the day
!. of Col. Gantt's reconnaissance, where
: we had piece of artillery. While
t standing there yankee officer rode
: out into the turnpike about half a
mile off and was apparently making
observations. About the same tint
Gen. Hagood came to the foot of the
D bridge Tor like purpose. The Lucas
battalion sergeant begged Gen. Ha-
. good to let him aim and fire the piece
Iof artillery at the federal officer. Hay.
ing obtained permission he carefully
aimed the piece (which was rifed
o gun and loaded with a percussion
q lshel1) and fired and killed both the
horse and the officer. Near the turn
pike and within the zone of the fight
which grew out of COL Gantt's re
It Iconnoisance, was pretty little Meth
n odist church, called "Arrowheat
It Methodist church." The inside of i
7. was finished off with white, smooth
plastering, and a pretty little organ
was part of it's equipment. The line
n of battle swayed back and forth will
y the church between the firing lines.
a few days after the fight / went int
the church and from floor to ceiling
on both sides, the plastering was s,
It perforated with bullet holes tina
N there was not single place that
/ man could have stood If he had gon'
in before the fight and remained il
one position, without being hit. Tn
n pretty little organ too, was ruined.
e visited the battle grounds around an
Ia near Petersburg some years ago, an,
among other things saw this Arrow
head church again, but of that visit
r, will tell you in some future numbe
e as this one has about run its length.