Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-09-06
HE MADE MARCH 25TH FAMOUS.
w. Thompson Bearden, q Veteran Of
the Confederate Service.

Interesting old gentleman--and not
so old either when we consider that
he Is but three-quarters Of century
old, and that his mother. the late
Mrs. Elizabeth Beardcn, was we'll
past the century mark when she an
swered the summons to lay aside her
earthly labors and enter into rest.
Mr.. Bcarden paid The Courier a
pleasant call last Saturday, and, ma
turally enough. his conversation
drifted back to the days OF the six
ties, for Mr.. Bearden wears the
Gross Of Honor" that badge of
which the Confederate soldier Is
justly proud.
Mr.. Bearden served throughout
the war with but one short furlough.
lie was n member of Company f,
Orr's Regiment, and it was the occa-
sion Of his entering the Confederate
service that marked the second step
he took toward making March 25th
a date prominent and particularly
eventful in his eventful life. Here
Is his record Of important events
that occurred on that date:
March rs, Married the first
time.
March 25, 1861--,Left with his
company for service in the war.
March rs, 1S62-Reached home
on his first and only furlough receiv-
ed during the war.
March 25, 1S65-Reachcd his
home after the surrender.
March 25, Married the sec
ond time.
living. TO the first union there
were born seven children, five OF
whom are living, and there Is one
son by the second marriage, this
young man being now l6 years Of
age.
In Mr.. Bearden's company there
were originally 1875 men. and the
command emerged at the close of the
war with only 35 or 40 of those who
left home as the original members Of
Company T.. At the beginning of
the Grant campaign Mr.. Bearden's
command saw hard service, and he
recalled that his Baptism Of fire"
came early, and that for 23 days and
nights he was able only to get "cat
maps" now and then, and during
those 23 days he did not get to take
of his shoes. and most Of the time
they were filed with mud and water.
lie was In thirteen Irregular" bat
Ties, taking no account Of numerous
skirmishes with the Federal forces.
Three times he was wounded, but
never went to the hospital. At
Gaincs's Mill he received his first
wound, being shot through the arm.
This was not serious wound, how
ever, and after brief attention on the
field by surgeon he continued
fighting in this battle, which occur
red on Monday. Friday Of the same
week found him fighting at Malvern
Iiill. where he received his second
wound, this also proving not serious
enough to keep him from service
with his command He was struck
by n mimic ball, which went entirely
through his knapsack, blankets and
entire kit on his back, grazing his
back in such manner as to leave
black scar clear across. His third
wound was received while marching
along the Old Plank Road at Chan
cellorsville as the Confederate forces
were getting into battle formation.
This wound was jus! above the ankle
and was occasioncd by splinters from
a bursting shell, but he continued in
aine and fought all day.
Mr.. Bearden recalls rs his hardest
battles those OF Horseshoe Bend and
SpOttsylvania. which lasted continu-
ously for % hours. The Confederate
soldiers here rctooi frOm the Fcde-
raj forces the works which they had
previously captured. Twenty-threc
times, he said. the Federal forces
charged and rc-chargcd the works
without success. Mr.. Beardcn was
within ten feet Of the famous tree
that was fclled by the continuous
rain Of mimic balls fired from the
Federal guns. This tree was 23
inches In diameter at the point