The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-06-22

ter" was taken with Mr.. Cooper, ex-
cept that he was treated to snow
| instead of water. Like treatment
was accorded to James Robinson,
our wagon master, who was said to
be mixed up in the matter. No one
seemed ever to find out who it was
that shouted "three cheers for South
Carolina" but Hello, Ike disap-
| peared from our greetings without
any further notice.
Pressing Corn.
There was a time during the War
| Between the Sections that hunger
served the Confederate soldiers more
than a gentle reminder. Hunger, you
know, is said to be notice given that
the capillary fires need replenishing. y
It is natural law making demand on
the food supply for the relief of men.
1t goes without saying that when
these demands are made men usually
sit up and take notice. After the
hard fought battle of Bentonville, N.
c., on the 10Th of March, 1865, the
army fell back to Smithfeld, N. c..
There was some scarcity of army
rations. We remained in camp here
for several days, during which days
the final reorganization or rather con-
solidation of the army took place.
Some of the boys acquired a pretty
general knowledge of the country
around by frequent trips out. One
morning two of company D, Sixth
battalion, Henry Adams and Turner
Cooley, announced that they were 60
ing out on a fcraging trip. They told
John Witt, now of Magnolia, Ark,
that they knew of a grist mill not
far away, that they were going to
press some corn and have it ground
and they were not coming in until
night as the moon would be shining
brightly. JOHN knew these boys
were as good as their word, so late
in the evening he came around my
way and asked if I would not like
to have some fun. Inquiring what
was up and being told, readily
agreed. AS soon as it was dark
enough to conceal our guns as we
passed through guard lines we set
up a quick time march towards the
mill. We soon came to where the
road turned from the main road
down to the mill. Here we arrayed
ourselves for the interception. 1t
was a fine forest. John stationed a
little below the forks of the road
and I went some so yards further
towards the mill. I was to let the
boys pass and John was to halt them.
We did not wait long before they
came up the road in silence, each
with sack of meal, and they had
made negro boy bring sack also.
As they passed me I fell in behlno
them and as they came near John he
stepped in front of them, bringing
his gun to armsport. With a low
and a kind of nasal song in his voice,
he shouted, "Halt!" The boys start
ed to about face when I brought my
gun to ready and also in a tone OF
commanding authority said "Halt!'
Before we had time to give any fur
ther orders the three sacks of meal
were lying in the road before us and
the figures were surveying land with
out regard to compass or chain. There
being a lank place in our ration quar-
ters we appreciated the meal and
making the circle as did they, we
reached camp in time to see them
come in. Of course We had a lot OF
questions to ask them about the days
outing, and some very definite ques-
tions about the mill and the corn
they were going to press. They were
such good boys! The kindness
which the people had shown them
during the day, they said, kept them
from pressing the corn. John and I
had to convince them that we saw
them throw down the sacks and run
through the weeds, and we also had
to divide the meal with them before
they could enjoy a hearty laugh:
No More Cold Feet.
During the winter Of 1868 served
as relief for my father in Company I,
Second regiment of South Carolina
cavalry. I was then 16 years old.
At the time of the occurrence of the
following incident we were camped
near Orange court house, Va. Scouts
had reported that the Eighteenth
Pennsylvania regiment of cavalry
was in easy range of capture. Gen.
Wade Hampton ordered detail of
so we'll mounted men from each regi-