The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-08
"REMINISCENCES
VIII.

Editor Star: After getting you to
correct the error made in reference to
the Mueller band in printing the word
farmers" when it should have been
Germans" the thought occurred to
me that Comrade Schneider might
come at you again saying you were
not even willing to give the Germans
credit for being the brave, fine fell
lows the members of that band sure
ly were, but | wish TO disabuse his
mind of that thought, if it really did
occur to him, by stating here and
now, that when / called your atten-
ton to the misprint that you not only
said that you would be pleased to
make the correction but was glad that
| had called your attention to it.
Maybe | am assuming too much,
however, in assuming that Comrade
Schneider wastes his time in reading
my articles. ] confess that it savors
a little bit of the egotistic, but even
Sc, have had quite number Of my
old comrades to say to me that they
read them with much pleasure and
urged me to continue writing them
and in this number | am going to say
something more about that band in
next number. AS long as we remain
ed on James Island our place of en-
campment was changed from time to
time for both sanitary and strategic
purposes. The Stono river being open
for some distance up after we aban-
doned Coles Island, the federals took
advantage of this and moving eau
tiously began landing troops on the
lower end of James Island and on the
smaller islands lying between it and
Coles island. They kept this up until
they had force of about 5000 men
including infantry, light artillery and
troop or two of cavalry. Meantime
Col. johnson Hagood of the old First
regiment, had been commissioned
brigadier general and our regiment
| 1.-THE Eutaw) was assigned to his
brigade, and he was, at the time
am now writing of in command of all
the forces on James Island. Our reg
iment was at this time camped al
Secessionville which was summer
resort or settlement of the large
planters of the island. 1t was situat.
ed on the ocean front, the planters
each building residence there to oc-
cupy for such part of the summer
months as they chose to remain or
the island. The houses were not OF
the grand, palatial style that eacl
one owned and occupied upon theil
respective plantations during the win
ter months which were their rea
homes. These were built on the grand
old colonial style of architecture
richly furnished, adorned and fittet
with every convenience that money
could buy, and surrounded with wei
/ laid out grounds Respondent with thu
i glory of the many colored flowers ant
redolent with their delicate perfume
To stroll in these grounds was to liv,
in the zone of the rainbow and breath,
the zephyrs from Oriental gardens
1t was in these that they entertaine,
. their friends and dispensed that cor
dial, genial, wholesouled, princely hos
pitality that only the old southern
planter in ante-bellum days knew hov
to, and did, dispense SO CONSTANT.
and so courteously that it became
proverb in all civilized lands and i
spoken and written of yet and I hop
will be forever. But let us get bacl
to Secessionville known as Union
vile until South Carolina seeded
for something is about to take plac
there that it now, and will ever b.
recorded in the pages of history. TIL
federal commander having formulat
led his plans determined to make al
effort to break through our lines an,
lopen gateway to the city of Char
lesion. 1t was in my opinion, mucl
better way to capture that city thai
to try to come in by the water from
which was afterwards tried TO
months and months without success
The officer in command of the fedora
forces on James Island did not advis,
US by a heavy artillery bombardmen
for hours and hours before the assault
as to what point he intended to max,
his supreme effort, like they do nov
in the great war going on in Europe
doubt if he had many pieces of ar
tillery on the island, and so he under
took to take us by surprise. FL,
chose for his main point of attack tn,
fort at Secessionville-Fort Lamar
This fort was manned by part o.
the Second regiment of heavy artil
lery. It had not yet been fully com
/ pleted but there were a few gun:
mounted and ready for use but the
ammunition on hand for them wa.
scant in supply and not of the char
acter that was best suited for re
lpulsing an infantry assault. 1t wa:
said after the fight that a captain il
command of one of the companies il
the fort, after he had exhausted his
supply of grape and canister, hac
his guns loaded with bottles anc
20-penny nails. I doubt if this wa.
frI1o b1It IL uac +ruo fbof he baJ Al