The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-22
CHARNER s. GREER
PASSES TO GREAT BEYOND

the great beyond this morning at 3
O'Clock at his home in the southern
section of the city. He had been in
failing health for the past six months,
and for the last few weeks he had been
very sick man. His body will b.
laid to rest in Sardis church cemetery
tomorrow morning at II o'clock.
Captain Greer was in his seth year,
having been born Nov. 22, 1886. He
served four years in the Confederate
army, joining the Cross Keys COMPANY
at the beginning of the war and t,,nc
later transferred to Co. A. 18th Regi-
ment, S. c. Volunteers.
Captain Greer was in the blow
up at Petersburg, and he, with Mr..
A. X. Harris. also a resident of Union.
were the only two survivors. Mr..
Harris was captured. Captain Greer,
then first lieutenant, was buried seven
feet under the earth, and managed to
dig out. There is probably not a par
allel in history. Every man in the
company was killed save those two.
Captain Greer surrendered at Ap-
pomattoX Courthouse. He came home
and devoted himself to service for his
country. He was. for more than 40
Years, consistent member of Sardis
Methodist church.
He is survived by the following
childrcn: w. w. Greer of Union.
Claude Grcr of Grecnville, Jack L..
Greer, Lester Greer, Robert Greer and
Mrs. Orrie Betenbaugh of Union. He
is survived by one sister, Mrs. ]. B.
Betenbaugh and one brother, Judge ].
NJ. Greer, Of Union. A number Of
grandchildren also survive him.
Captain Greer served, all told, AZ
years as court crier here. Court, in
session here at the time of his death,
will adjourn for his burial tomorrow.
Captain Greer belonged to the now
rapidly thinning ranks of our Confed-
crate Veterans. He was held in very
high esteem by men of all ranks in
the county. He will be greatly missed
by the people of the town and county.
faithful soldier, a worthy citizen, a
sincere Christian man, he leaves to his
| loved ones.
| The following account of the Bms.
| try Blow-up was dictated by Captain
Grer to Times reporter several years
! ago:
"You want me to tell you abon,
my experience in the mine at Peters
burg? Well, was on duty until 80
o'clock in the morning. / had gone
into my "bomb proof" to get nv
! nights rest. Lieut.. Hill was in the
| bomb proof with me- We were
sound asleep when the shock came.
! When we woke up, we were eight
feet under ground. Lieut. Hill was
! fastened by piece Of timber and un-
able to help me any. We were pro-
, tcctcd somewhat by the tmbcrs of the
bomb proof" | realized at once that
what was done would have to H. done
! quickly and | commenced 10 dis ~
my bayonet and dug all around ..-..
and as the dirt fell pushed it u!.ucr.
meath myself and was in tina. ~.
! raised up as | duf. Then ! used
sword end dug upwards for dca! gc.
! Nobod! hut God could ever know lnv
sweetness Of the first breath o' air
/ that came to me with the littl, open
:ng that made in that mass Of earth.
1t was about o'clock p. NJ. OF bot
summer day and had been bv~.,.. *
i:3O IN the morning. then rc.a.-...}
! Lieut.. Hill. who Mt once star'r. ..
into the "Crater" As his boo; clos.
! the opening had made | came r...
-uffocatlnE. When Lieut.. ni' .n
the negro troops who filled ~. IRA.
ter he halted and | had to- l.ryaten
to Kill him to make him get out Of
| the opening, 50 t1at ! could get air.
was worse scared when | looked out
, into that Crater than | had been
when found that | wa: covered up
in the ground. 1t was filled with ne
gro troops who were yelling "no
quarters, no quarters" ard clubbing
every Confederate they could fad
was suffering frarfully from thirst
for il WAS a very hot day, but didn't
dare come out Of my hole in the
ground. Lieut. Hill was lying fiat on
the ground outside and the negroes
thought he was dead or they would
have finished him. After very long
time some one came along with water
i didn't know who he was, but I
held up my hand out Of the hole and
the fellow put canteen filled with
water into it. 1 stayed there until
about $3.50 o'clock when the works
were taken by Mahones men. heard
the negro troops cry out. "There they
come, there they come" and then l
knew / was saved.
, "How did feel when covered up
eight feet under ground? l was scared
bad enough I can tell you, and made
some promises then that have tried
10 keep. And | reckon the thought Of
the girl left behind in old Union
| county hntnod mn fo do Gonna ~ TINT