Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-05-31
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!. A REUNION ECHO. !.
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birmingham, Ala, Ledger. }

Birmingham Wednesday afternoon.
The old comrades rushed into each
others arms and there were tears Of
JOY in their eyes as they embraced
after years OF separation.
The two old fellows rerounted
many thrilling experiences of their
part in the great struggle between
the States. Accompanied by James
=. Willis, Of Fountain Inn, S. G.,
they held Il little reunion and jubila-
,ion all their own.
when seen by a Ledger reporter
they told Of a thrilling attack by a
handful of the scouts on Michigan
brigade. MIR. Russell told the story
as Follows:
Capt. Dick Hogan and little
band Of his scouts, about 40 in num-
bcr crawled through the enemies
lines and into the camp Of Michi-
gan brigade OF cavalry, which was en-
camped on the Smith farm, in STAFF
ford county, Virginia, in 1868.
1--WE crawled into the camp on
our hands and knees" said Mr.. Rus
sell. "Crawling more than 800 yards
through the brush and past the SEN
tries we arrived at the brigade head
quarters. where the flag floated over
the generals tent. 1t was about
midnight and chilly. The sentry
paced backed and forth in front Of
the tent and had big, roaring log
fire.
Suddenly Capt. Hogan rose within
ten feet of the sentinel, demanded
the surrender Of the camp, and fol-
Vowed his demand with a shot which
brought down the sentry. The gene
raj in command opened the flap OF his
tent and peeped out, his bald head
glistening in the night. A shot rang
out. and the general fell dead as a
bullet crashed through his brain. In
the meantime the surprised troops
rallied and a hand-to-hand conflict
, started. Hogan fell in few min
utes, shot through the right lung.
lie pitched forward with his head
almost in the fire. w. w. Russell
then a boy Of II years, pulled him
out Of the fire.
"The fight ragged on. Soon the
Yankees began to yell. We surren-
der!' At least 500 of them stacked
their arms before the fire. How
| ever, the captain Of one OF their COM
panies showed that he was a soldier.
lie rallied his company, which had
been some distance from the fire, and
advancing under the cover Of the
darkness, poured volley into us, and
we had to retreat.
"Russell took command and the re-
treat started. The colonel Of the
Yankee regiment ran for his horse
and attempted to cut it loose from a
tree to which it was tied. One OF
| the boys fired at him and he dropped
The same bullet cut his iugular vein
and killed his horse.
! "Russell picked up Hogan and the
party rctreatcd to branch, where
! they stopped to get water. Hogan
| who had apparently been dead, fec.
! bly, asked for drink Of water, and
| asked us not to let the rascalS gel
into a saddle and rode behind him
| We rode five or ten miles to Capt
| Charles Taggart's house, where We
were compelled to stop for the night
The next day the Yankees started tht
| pursuit. We made a litter from two
| fence rails and escaped to the pine
| thickets. Soon we found the ruins o
an old log cabin. Only one corner o
the house stood, the rest having de
caycd. 4 part OF the roof shelteret
this nook Here wo placed Hogan
and he remained there two months
until his wound healed without medi
cal attention. The only attention h
had was the nursing Of Russell an
Barney Ilennegan, member Of
prominent South Carolina family. II
improved so rapidly that in tw
months we removed him to the hOus
Of a Mrs. Humphrics, where. at tn
direction Of Gen. Wade Hampton, Dl
Jenkins, a surgeon, visited him. Gel
Hampton stated that if necessary h
would send his whole force an
move Hogan into the Confedcrat
lines. However. he was ablo
move without assistance"
w. w. Russell now resides at Al
derson. S. G.. Capt. Hogan is a res