The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-04-09
THE RETURN IN '65.
Dear Advertiser Readers,

Dear Advertiser Readers:
On recent visit to Laurens met
my good old friend, Judge Wright, and
he begged me to do a favor for him.
Assuring him that anything in my
power I'd gladly do, he said, "Well,
Aunt Kate, confirm statement made
on reading your last piece" And he
went on to relate how, after reading
what | wrote about Press Allison, he
also grew reminiscent and told that
when Press left here for Texas he was
given the name of man that had
stoppd at Grandpa Cunningham's af-
ter the war for a few days. That Press
did find the same man and had an en-
joyable time at his home" What you
recon that crowd OF hearers did after
the Judge had finished? Laughed at
him and told him that was a pretty
good yarn!" Sure, I'll confirm whn
I'll give you the evidence in Prcss's
own words. Aunt Hct and | found
letter from him that escaped the fire
when Mrs. Allison's house was burned
tw years ago.
When the boys came back in 'G5,
(Lord, what contrast to the home
coming Of our heroes today they
didn't come in with banners flying and
crowds yelling, we'll fed and we'll
clothed and stopping in camps to be
deloused! Ragged and hungry, bare
footed and lousy, they came struggling
sometimes in companies, often
times in twos and threes. My own
father left his companions at the
league place, where Mr.. John Brown
lives today and cut across fields to his
home. His mother and sisters sat in
the old home with heavy hearts. Two
sons and the one son-in-law had given
their lives for the Southland, and they
did not know whether this one were
living or dead. Early one morning
across the fields there was borne to
them the sound Of n young voice sing
ing that old song dear to the hearts
ginning thus, "You ask what makes
this soldier weep. The dear old
mother threw up her hands and fer
yently cried, THANK God that's Wits
voice. He is home-he is home!"
Wasn't that typical Of the South we
love-ragged and poverty-strickcn but
undaunted and unbeaten and unafraid.
or course the boys Of States further
on passed through S. G.. Some of them
found relatives along the way and
stopped, rested and had good time
while they regained strength for their
journey further on. Grandpa had two
brothers, Jacob and Joseph. One went
to Alabama and one to Texas away
back in the fortcs. Their boys, of
course, fought in the Confederate
army. After the war one OF these
ncphcws stopped with his uncle and
rested for several days. He lived in
Alabama and was afterwards Probate
Judge at Birmingham. Two cavalry
lads from Texas, Hodges and Barnett.
stopped at Grandpa Cunningham's al
so. For some reason, they could not
go Immediately on to Texas, so they
staid in s. c. for months and made
Uncle Elihu'S Headquarters They
were given cordial welcome and had
good time altogether. wonder if
anyonc's hospitality Of today would
stand the strain of two returning sol
diers and two horses for months?
Children who read this can bear in
mind that was in "thc good old days"
When Press left to try his fortune in
the West Grandpa told him to be sure
and hunt up Mr.. Hodges. I'm going to
copy parts Of the letter that think
will also be instructive to the younger
ones of The Advertiser readers, as well
as confirm the statement of Mr.. |
Wright
State Plains,
tom Green Co., TEX,
Sept. 10, 1854 |
This leaves me we'll and still in
Western Tex, where coyotes howl and
the wild dccrs run. can only tell