Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-01-14
Old Times in Hamburg, S. C..

AnS passing away OIL Cne OlQ Town
|of Hamburg has recalled the recol-
lections of his boyhood to a friend
of the Florence Times, and he has
recounted some of them in the fol-
lowing article, which will be read
with interest in this section of the
State:
Before the advent of the iron rail
|and steam locomotive, the old town
of Hamburg was one of the largest
cotton markets in the Southern
States. Being at the head of naviga-
tion on the Savannah river it was for
the inland planter, the nearest point
OF water communication with the
coast, and. consequently cotton wag-
ons came from the up-country as far
west as Alabama and Tennessee.
During the winter months the town
presented lively and interesting
sight. The line of wagons resting on
THE river extended for miles out on
the plank road. The stores were filled
with the sturdy, homespun clad far
mers with their varied local charac-
|teristics, while the new comers
among the boys and negroes with
wide-eyed wonder took in themes for
many yarn around the plantation
fires. Never before had they seen so
many people, so much cotton or such
a big boat, 'two stories high, run
with billing, water" At night the
white covered wagons drawn up
around the bright fires presented the
appearance of an army encampment.
On the far away plantations the
trip to Hamburg was the event of the
year. All could not go, but everyone
was interested in what the return
"trip would bring. A "store bought
dress for the girls, a gun or saddle
|for the boys, were the subjects of
many pleasing dreams and consulta-
|tions. When the time to start. arrived
Several farmers met and Travelled to-
|gether for mutual assistance in time
of accident or trouble.
The outfit consisted of a large
wooden axle wagon on which the
bales of cotton were piled and secur-
ed by long pole fastened to front
and rear of the wagon. A good pos
sum dog was tied to the hind axle,
for when camp was fixed for the
might cold Tige" would often add to
the fare as we'll as the pleasure of the
|journey.The canvas covered frame
twas placed on top of the cotton and
beneath it were stored the provisions
for men and team.
From four to six mules were hitch
ed to each wagon and there was much
good-natured banter or rivalry as to
who hid the best team. In these sal
lies the negro drivers always took
IA Jealous and amusing part. A poetic
feature of the equipment was
chime of musical bells attached to
the harness of the lead mules, and
this was especially true of the Ten
|nesseeans, who as rule, had the
finest teams, and they no doubt as
cribed the high heads and proud step
of their "noble leaders" to the in
spring music of the little bells.
The driver was the most important
member of the party, for on him de-
pended the care of the team and the
safety of the top heavy wagon over
hundreds of miles of roads often in
bad condition. 1t required no little
skill and care to guide his team with
IA single line over the difficult places
and make, them all pull true and
steady with but little use of whip or
voice. Such men were usually select
led from the best of the plantation
hands, and as a rule were faithful to
the owners interests, and he repre-
sented type of the old South and
numbered in proportion to the kind
and considerate masters. Now, alas!
like the prestige of old Hamburg,
they have gone "where the wood
|bine twineth."
Some of the boys of the family
usually attended the wagons on horse
back, and many Southern youths
thus had taste of life in the saddle
and around the camp fire which they
were afterwards to experience in
long and desperate war.
The purchases made in Hamburg
were confined to such things as could
not be produced at home. These were
chiefly iron, salt, sugar, coffee and a
few pieces of calico and, other dress
goods for the ladies. The limited out