MY RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAR OF SECESSION or, THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES {by Eugenia Coleman Babcock}

I have concluded to write, what I remember of the War between the North and South, from the first war cloud, until the days of reconstruction. I was a young girl then, and, I fear I will write very little history, but much that is worthless and frivolous.

The first I remember was, as a schoolgirl, I went home with my Uncle John Kennedy, to central Mississippi – it was in December 1859. John Brown had caused much trouble, by inciting the Negroes, to an insurrection at Harpers Ferry, in Virginia. Crowds met our train as we approached Branchville, SC. A great rock was hurled into the car window, some sympathizer of old John's I suppose, taking spite on the little Game-cock State.

The war cloud grew darker in '60, persons commenced wearing the cockade and companies of minutemen were being formed. The South felt as if it was oppressed, and imposed upon, by the North. Gov. Pickens was then Governor of SC. There was a mass meeting held in the First Baptist Church in Columbia- Then a convention of prominent men from all over the country convened, at Charleston to nominate candidates for the Presidency, Breckenridge and Lane were the men chosen by the South: while Lincoln and ___ were the Northern candidates. Politicians talked over matters, to see, if the state of affairs could be amicably settled, but nothing satisfactory could be reached, - South Carolina took the lead, and, seceded from the Union: - The ordinance was passed, and ratified in Dec. 1860. Every district was represented by signers, Mr. Quay Dunovant, Mr. Richard Woods, and Mr. John McKee, were the signers from Chester District. Mr. McKee was the oldest representative from the State. The Ordinance of Secession was passed in Institute Hall in Charleston. The hall was beautifully decorated with palmetto, outside bands of music played patriotic airs, many ladies witnesses the proceedings- I have a piece of Palmetto brought from the hall by one of them.

At this time, Major Anderson, with a squad of United States troops occupied Fort Moultrie, on Sullivans Island, it was feared he would try and get to Fort Sumter, a much stronger, and in fact, some supposed impregnable fort, and much farther out at sea. Some five or six of the Charleston riflemen, in charge of Major T. L. Mills was sent out each night at 9 o'clock, in a small boat, to reconnoiter and prevent his escape. Major Anderson knew of this, so he anticipated, and on dark drizzly night about dusk, he left Ft. Moultrie and took possession of Sumter: he had little provisions, and so few men, that the U.S. government sent re-enforcements and food on the "Star of the West", the vessel was sighted, and fired into by the Citadel Cadets, and prevented from accomplishing its mission.

Immediately great preparations were made for the recapture of Ft. Sumter, by the South Carolinians: fortifications were thrown up, new forts built and floating batteries made of palmetto logs, Ft. Moultrie strengthened, troops from the state ordered to Charleston- and soon afterward, at 3 o'clock in the morning, the first gun went booming out over the water. - All day fast and furious – Ft. Moultrie, the iron fort, the floating batteries and batteries on the different islands threw shot and shell at doomed Ft. Sumter. – Crowds of women and children were on the battery watching the bombardment. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon the Stars and Stripes were lowered, and the white flag hoisted: it was a bloodless victory, and proud Ft. Sumter was a mass of ruins: her sides were all battered, and great holes torn in her strong walls. - It was Major John Ripley I believe, that went over first to the fort, and looking through a port hole, with an oath, very blue – ordered Major Anderson and his men to vacate. The Calhoun Guards and the Catawba guards from Chester, were selected to assist in the bombardment, but Major Anderson capitulated before they were ordered out.

After South Carolina seceded she was not long alone, Georgia soon followed, then Florida and on, until thirteen states determined to form a Confederacy, have their own President, and make their own laws. The day South Carolina seceded, Georgia stretched a huge rope across the Savannah River, in the middle of the rope were two great iron hands, clasped, showing that she was heart and soul in the movement.

Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy, he was a graduate of West Point, a man beloved by the South, and a great scholar, he was from Mississippi. – Alexander Stephens also beloved, a man small in stature, and almost an invalid, but of gigantic intellect, was Vice President – he was from Georgia.- Montgomery, Alabama was the capital,- Congress met there, until it was moved to Richmond Virginia, later in the war, the white house in Montgomery is still intact, and the U.D.C. hold meetings in it.

In our town, Chester, we sent to the war, two companies of infantry and one of cavalry, Gen Alex Walker was in command of the cavalry; the 6th Regiment, S.C.V. was composed almost entirely of Chester men, the Catawba Guards and other companies were from the district; - In town the Calhoun Guards under Capt. J. Walker, and the Chester Blues under Capt. E. McLure were infantry.- My brother William belonged to the Calhoun Guard, Dr. Babcock and Fred to the Chester blues. My cousin Alan Kennedy to the Cavalry Co.

I shall never forget the morning in April 1861, when our boys marched away; they had been ordered to the coast to assist in the bombardment of Ft. Sumter.- The companies formed on the public square, Mr. Richard Nail played the fife, and Tom Wright the drum.- Tom was a Negro who had always been free, he was a giant in size, and with a heart so full of love for the south, that he begged to go along with the boys and did go, and stood by them until the surrender, and came home in his tattered grey suit, proud of doing his duty.- Oh how handsome and patriotic our boys looked, on that morning in their new suits, banners were floating. Mr. Nail marched in front, playing "The girl I left behind me", and Tom marching along in his uniform, with a rub-a-dub-dub that nearly broke my heart,- for I well knew that some brave fellow would never come back again.

We went to the depot to see the troops off, the Reg. from Yorkville, Col. Micah Jenkins in charge and the companies from the surrounding country met here,- what a mass of humanity, and all in grey. Oh, how many sad adieu's mothers, daughters, wives, sweethearts, all come to say farewell and many with faces as white as death. One wife nearly fainted when she told her husband good bye, poor child wife, she did not live to see him come home, but died after the birth of a little girl, and died of a broken heart.- My mother did not go to the depot, she told my brother good bye at home, he was her idol; I almost ran from the house with grief when I saw the parting between the two,- my mother did not cry, but the look in her large eyes, haunted me for days.

I remember too, that when the last soldier boarded the train, and I stood on the platform and saw the train turn the curve, and pass out of sight, I thought the war would soon be over, for who could resist such an array! The companies went to Charleston, where Gen. Beauregard was in command of all the military.- they were there the night before Ft. Sumter was attacked.- Mr. Ruffin an old gentleman from Virginia was allowed to fire the first shot at Sumter; he had joined the Palmetto Guards, and wore his long white hair hanging over his shoulders.- Our troops remained near Charleston on Morris', Cole's, and other islands, until they were ordered to Virginia in July 1862. Willie Martin from Columbia was our first martyr. He wrote under the name of Ruby and died on the Island.

The 6th Reg. with many other troops from the coast were sent to Virginia to take part in the battle of Manassas, 21st of July.- The engineer of the train bearing the 6th proved to be a traitor, and delayed the train, so , that they did not reach the battle field in time to take part in the fight, but were held in reserve. When they were taken from the cars, they were put under the brave Col. Winder, and marched immediately to the front. They could distinctly hear the roar of cannon, and hungry and tired they were pushed to the field of action.- My brother William wrote us afterward they had everything to demoralize them; they met stragglers, saying the day was lost,- Then slightly wounded men,- then more seriously wounded, some already dead; a horseman was approaching, with something across his saddle when he got near enough, they saw he was bearing the dead body of Col. Fisher, to keep it from falling into the hands of the enemy, for it was feared, the day was lost for the confederacy.- Later on, the U. States troop gave way, and the boys in grey had gained another great victory.-

But what were we, the women and girls doing at this time,- knitting, spinning, weaving, scraping lint and to make money for our cause, the ladies would have entertainments, at one of these entertainments there were some beautiful tableaux, one I thought was particularly beautiful, it represented groups from all Nationalities.- My sister was queen of one group, and very pretty she looked on her elevated throne.- Daisy Robison a little girl about three years old, wearing the Confederate colors sang a patriotic song, Miss Ann Brady played the accompaniment of the song on the guitar. $600.00 in silver was realized that night.- Committee's of ladies were formed some six or seven to a committee to take baskets of provisions to the depot,- for ,there were car loads of soldiers hastening, to the seat of war; Uncle Sam was mustering a tremendous army into the field, to whip the rebels, as we were called, back into the Union.- and. Troops from all parts of the South were passing through here.- The committee my mother was on was composed of:
Mrs M.A. {Mary Ann –jzs} Coleman, my mother, Mrs. John Kennedy, my grandmother, Mrs. James Graham, Mrs. Middleton McDonald, Mrs. Jorden Bennett, Mrs. E.J. {Eliza Jane –jzs} Hinton, my Aunt, Mrs. M. {Margaret-jzs} Woods, my Aunt.- and we girls.- our day was Friday. I always went, for, after the distribution of food, there was much flirting.- I was shy about giving my name to the soldiers, but they would find it out, and I often received very gushing letters from them.

I was very patriotic in those days, far to much so, I can see now.- I wore the blue cockade, lone star, or any badge, that showed I was a Southern girl.- There was one young man I snubbed fearfully, he was considerably smitten with me, and, would pass our house to get a glimpse of his persecutor, I thought he, in fact I thought everyone ought to volunteer, and rather scorned anyone staying at home. One day I had some young girls visiting with me, when we saw him coming, and I ask one of the girls, much younger than myself, to wave the Confederate flag at him, as he passed the gate, and we would cry out ,"Hurrah for Dixie". Before I could catch my breath, out she rushed, and waved the flag over his head, and we sang Dixie, it is needless to say I lost my sweetheart, for he soon volunteered, and in one of the battles lost a leg.

Mr. James Graham was the father of Chester in those days, we went to him for everything connected with the army; he was indefatigable in his work, his whole time was given to looking for supplies, and for the comfort of the soldiers;- A temporary hospital was opened in his warehouse, bales of cotton were used for beds, the ladies supplying the quilts and blankets.

Of the troops ordered to Virginia about this time was the 18th Mississippi under Col. Berksdale. My two cousins, John Evans Kennedy and Tom Kennedy belonged to it, Johnnie would have taken 1st honor in the Miss. College in a month or so, but these boys left school, and left a home of luxury for the hardships of the Southern camp. Poor brave boys, they were mere lads.- Tom was mortally wounded at Leesburg, and died with only his faithful servant to take farewells to home and mother.- Johnnie was captured at Gettysburg, his company was ordered to scale Stonewall, forward they rushed, and when the order was countermanded they did not hear, but were captured and taken to that old sea jut? Prison, Ft. Delaware as prisoners.- Oh,! The horrors of that prison.- Their baggage was taken from them and they were without sufficient clothes; and, in the cold, bleak land, with the icy winds from the water blowing upon them, they would sit in a circle, put their feet together, cover them with a blanket, and so try to get warmth one from the other.- Their food was not plentiful a piece of bread and a small bowl of pea soup.- The officer in charge of the dining room was a German, he would look over the table and say in broken English," Too much food for the prisoners", and when the next meal was served there was so little that thick and fast, these brave "Johnie Rebs" would die, of dysentery and starvation. Supperless they would creep to their narrow bunks two in a bunk, while a Yankee with a loaded gun watched over them.- There was a dead line, a few feet from the Parapet wall, and it meant certain death to be caught between this and the wall; but suffering made the Southern boys desperate, and some would recklessly cross over.- There would be the sharp report of a musket, and, when the roll was called, there would be one less to answer the roll call and one more grave under the snow.

But thoughts of home, and, of exchange made the hearts of these boys in grey brave, and many jokes, and tales of battle, and patriotic songs were indulged in; one song commenced –
"in the prison cell I sit, thinking Mother most of thee, the refrain was TRAMP.TRAMP. TRAMP the boys are marching, cheer up comrades they will come, and beneath the Stars and Bars we will breath air again, in the free land of our own beloved South." Every piece of bone, tin can, piece of wood, were made into souveniers, for the home folk.

At last, rumors of an exchange were whispered, and finally when they were ordered aboard the vessel, that was to take them to Savannah, Ga. where the exchange was made, glad hearts responded, but what a motley crew commenced the voyage, most of them a pack of bones, mere skeletons, some (Johnnie for one) was so swollen from dropsy brought on by starvation and hardships, they were unrecognizable;- When the ship with its cargo of skeletons neared Savannah, the Quarter-master ordered coffee to be served the prisoners,- with their brave southern hearts they forgave their enemies, and thanked them for the luxury denied them so long. Alas, poor duped boys, there was poison in that cup of coffee, and many died of the dysentery it caused, and were buried far away from the home they so longed to see.- Johnnie was made very sick, and, as there was no communication between us and Miss. Then, he came to Chester.- We were not looking for him, and, it was at night the train reached here, fortunately, Mr. Jimmie Crawford one of the men too old to go into the army was at the depot, and seeing the staggering, emaciated soldier he assisted him from the car, and not being able to get a conveyance, he took the worn out boy upon his back and carried him to my grandfathers.- It was not long he stayed with us. We did everything to bring back his strength, but, before the winter was over, only a few weeks after he came to us, the Christian soldier died and, "the Pickett was off duty forever"

After the battle of Manassas, came Seven pines, Wilderness, Sharpsburg, Drainsville, Bull Run, and many many others. The battle of Bull Run, was a complete victory to the Confederates, a route to the Northern army. We used to sing a song about it, to the tune of Dixie, I wish I could remember it.-

"Oh come good people great and small,

And see the race that did befall,
The Yanks, the Yanks, the Yankees down in Dixie

Some say they brought banners fine,
And some did bring both cake and wine,
To eat, to eat, to eat and drink in Dixie

But before the setting of the sun
That glorious victory it was won
Was won, was won, was won by the boys in Dixie

There were car loads of desperately wounded who passed through here after these battles, and we certainly realized the horrors of war.- Car loads too of prisoners passed through, when we would finish feeding our own soldiers, what was left, there was always some, was given to the enemy, some of the prisoners were surly and insulting.- Others were full of fun and would joke about coming back to marry some of us girls.

The 6th Reg. boys were in most of these battles, they were in the Maryland campaign, were taken west, and, participated in the battles of Knoxville, Tenn., were at Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, and back to Virginia, and surrendered with Lee, at Appomatox. When we heard that the 6th would pass through here, on its way, West, we all went to the depot; the train was to pass in the morning but it was almost night before it came, and then oh for such a short time; we staid at the depot all day waiting for it.- (Col. Winder who was in command of the 6th Reg. was promoted to Brigadier General, Gen, Stonewall Jackson's command, and was killed in front of his men, in one of Jackson's famous battles. The 6th after the expiration of their enlisted time, disbanded, many joined other commands, and many were dead, of the original 6th, the Reg. was in charge of Gen. Bratton, and enlisted for the war.

I may be a little mixed up in the order of things, and in the battles as they occurred, but as I said at first, these are recollections impressed on the mind of a young girl.-

While in the winter quarters at Centerville in 1862 the snow lay so long, and so deep on the ground; for exercise the boys would have miniature battles one company or companies taking the Northern, the others the Southern side,- in one of these fights, the Calhoun Guards who represented the South fought so furiously that many became overheated and were taken to the hospital;- Capt. J. Walker took pneumonia and died, when he was brought home, his body was frozen, the red still in his lips.

In '63 I believe my brother John volunteered and joined the 6th Reg. in Virginia, he was a young boy about 16 years old, and was wounded twice, once in the collar bone.
{John K. Coleman joined in 1864 and was 17 – jzs}

On the Wilderness, or Seven Pines battle field my brother William picked up a Bible, that belonged to a soldier from Maine, it had a bullet hole through it, he sent it home also, a large black new foundland dog, the boys named him Rover, he was found on the battle field, lying by his dead master, who was a northern soldier, he was taken away by main force: my mother had Rover sheered, and, had his hair spun and woven and made my brother a beautiful vest out of it.

In '63 my brother William procured a furlough and came to see us, it was a joyful home coming, mother looked ten years younger.- He brought us a chicken that he had, had in camp, he called her Susan Jane. Susan Jane was a little chick, when a soldier who had been on a foraging expedition captured her.- brother bought her and every night she slept under his bunk; when she grew larger, (our soldiers were then in winter quarters,) she would lay an egg every other day, which meant, muffins for breakfast,- when she came to us, and saw the chickens for the first time, she took to her heels and ran as if the enemy were after her, sure enough.-

In 1864 we were very busy working for the soldiers, rations were getting scarce, and new clothes something to dream of.- Nearly every one, almost wore home made shoes, and knit their own stockings, and made their own hats out of Palmetto corn shucks, or anything that could be plaited; one shape was the gunboat, I had one that was quite becoming.- Home spun dresses were all the rage, they were quite pretty, particularly those made with a polonaise,- the polonaise was trimmed with a large cord, and large wooden buttons, covered with the home spun; we all wore hoop skirts in those days of course we could not buy them,- but the Negroes would make and sell sets of white oak splints, 5 pieces being used in a skirt, the top piece was perhaps 1 ½ yards long, the bottom piece quite long, but when they were run in a skirt they were just the thing, some what stiff, but hanging beautifully under a heavy home spun skirt. I did not have a home spun dress although I wanted one very much, nor did I wear home knit stockings, I could save my store stockings by not wearing any at home; my mother bought me a pair of shoes for .50 that had run the blockade. We were still feeding the soldiers, and a hospital in an empty ware house, near the depot, was always filled with the sick and wounded; there were no regular surgeon or M.D. in attendance; sometimes Dr. Pride or Dr. DaVega, who kept the drug store, or any visiting Dr. was called in, to prescribe or dress wounds.-

Our town was filled with the military all of the time, Hoods entire force passed through here, from the west, going to reinforce Johnstone.- I saw most of the prominent generals, had bows, and sometimes words from them, as they passed by our gate. Beauregard, Hood, Longstreet, Cheatum, Joe Wheeler, Bragg, Joe E. Johnstone, not Evans, Gen. Morgan etc. they were fine looking men, Beauregard I thought exceedingly neat and dignified, and Joe Wheeler handsome and dashing looking with his crimson sash waving and black plumes.- Gen Cheatems men stayed several days, meaning no disrespect, the Gen took aboard a little more than he could carry, and was incapacitated, for a time, when he came to himself the alarm was sounded, to arms! And the men came rushing to ranks from all quarters,- one soldier was in the barber shop, and fell in ranks with one side of his face shaved.- They soon left, to catch up with their comrades already on the march.-

Our town too, was filled with refugees, from Charleston, Savannah, and other places that had fallen into the hands of the Yankees, some of the refugees did noble work for the soldiers.- One a Miss C. from Charleston lived next to us, in fact she almost lived with us, she took tea with us every evening;- we gave her real tea to drink for quite a while, then we had milk and hot water, for the store tea was giving out. One evening I nearly exploded, when she asked my mother for another cup of beautiful hot water, Miss C. was a noble Christian woman.

About this time a soldier came to our house, sunburned, freckled, thin and ragged he had been a prisoner at Johnston's Island.- He was a boy almost, and a preacher, he had bought some grey goods in Richmond, and was trying to get a suit of clothes made.- My mother, Mrs. Martha Mobley and Miss Crain volunteered to make them if he got them cut, which he did;- After his clothes were made and he put them on, he looked so genteel and was so grateful, this soldier was from Tennessee, and is now the great Dr. W.H. Whitsett, President of the Richmond College, and for years President of the Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, KY. He never forgot the kindness;- and sometimes comes to see us.-

In May Alan Kennedy was killed at Drury Bluff, the day the news came of his death, his sister lay dying;- at about this time my Uncle John Kennedy and his son Henry volunteered, Henry was with Gen Joe Wheeler so, all of my relatives were in the army, and so few came back.

Fred Babcock was killed at Seven Pines:- I believe in this battle Mr. Brandt was wounded.- In the thickest of the fight at Seven Pines, Capt. Layfayette Strait of the Catawba Guards, saw his brother, a boy scarcely 15 years old, quietly fixing his gun.- The bayonet had been shot away, and it was otherwise injured. Capt. Strait caught him by the head, and ordered him to get another gun, (for there were many lying around) but he quietly replied he preferred using his own, and went on fixing it, these boys were cousins of mine.

The body of Gen John Dunovant was brought home for burial, he was killed, shot in the head while leading his men, in a skirmish, the body was taken to the Episcopal church, a severe storm came up in the afternoon, and, it remained in the church all night.- There was a flag draped over the coffin lid, I thought of the old song –"They brought my Soldier back to me, and the knot of ribbon blue, But the ghastly wound on his brow was hid, by the flag draped over the coffin lid."

In 1864 the last flag of the Confederacy was adopted, there had been three battle flags; in '61 I believe the white and red stripes with blue corner bearing the 13 stars; then one that was so much like the U.S. flag it was discarded, this flag had been mistaken several times for the U.S. flag in the smoke of battle, then St. Andrews Cross was adopted, and used until the end of the war.- Each Co. had it's own flag made by the hands of some loving woman.- I have forgotten who made the ones for the companies from here, the one used by the Catawba Guards was made by Bettie Baskins, she was engaged to Layfayette Strait, but he died before they were married.-

In a Skirmish at Burgess' Mills, Preston Hampton, the son of Gen Wade Hampton was killed; it was very brave of him to get from his horse, kiss the lips of his dead boy, then hurry on to the battle field with well nigh a broken heart.-

In '64 the war cloud was very dark and lowering, and men in authority wore care worn faces; our forces were completely hemmed in by the foe. In this year the privateer Jeff Davis was lost off the Florida coast, this vessel had done fine work for the Confederacy,
Running the blockade, and bringing ammunition and supplies to or army,- it was the a terror to the Northern Navy, having had many fights with their different vessels, and sinking several of them,- in a severe storm, this rebel boat was driven upon the Florida reefs and sunken. Dr. William Babcock was a surgeon on the boat, while the boat was sinking he rescued a pet parrot,- and brought Polly home with him. Our ports blockaded, our boys were hungry and ragged but still very brave.- Tecumsah Sherman had commenced his march through Georgia, burning and killing as he went.- Atlanta had fallen, and on this horde of house burners came to S.C. There were no men to oppose them, only an army of defenseless women and children;- The Negroes behaved nobly in those days, they had sided with the South, and assisted in hiding and burying the valuables of their owners sometimes they were tortured by the Yankees and made to tell where they were concealed, but seldom told without cruelty.- When the Savannah River was crossed and Sherman was in S.C. the devastation commenced in reality;- One of the Northern officers, maybe Sherman himself, remarked, if a "Buzzard were to fly from the sea to Columbia, it would have to take its rations with it," nothing was left, but the chimneys, marking the places of the once happy homes, and a crowd of homeless women and hungry little children.- {There was a silver tea pot at 36 Montford Ave. in Asheville, NC that I was told had been saved because a slave buried it for the family. jzs}

In Feb. 1865, Columbia fell, Gen. Wade Hampton, and his men, who had been watching and harassing Sherman; retreated as the northern army advanced and burned the bridge over the Congress River:- The Capitol of S.C. was in possession of the foe. Sherman's men immediately sacked the city, and set it on fire: from house to house, they went, these men, in the blue uniform of the U.S., with lighted torch:- Sometimes it was applied to the bed of a sick person, what matter, it was a rebel! I knew a lady with a baby a day or so old, the torch was applied to the bed curtains, her sister put it out, only to have it applied again, she was finally taken from the burning house on a mattress;- there were dozens of such cases.- One wife took a father, 95 years old out, and sat by his side, in the rain and darkness in a field as his life ebbed away.- The yard of the lunatic asylum was crowded with women and children, the house its self was full of those who had gone there for protection, thinking, who would molest or war on God's afflicted,- but insane inmates had to be taken out, and hurried to the Catholic convent, their screams and shrieks adding to the horrors of the night.-

Many homeless refugees came to Chester, living as best they could, in box cars, or any place that sheltered them. The medical and commissary stores too, were brought here, to keep from the Northern Army. Some of Wheeler's cavalry were scouring the country, getting mules and horses, to take the place of the worn out animals of the army.- I hear many passed for that cavalry who had never seen the plucky little Joe Wheeler.- I remember my grandfather had a favorite horse, he , my grandfather, was a very old man, and, he used this beautiful animal himself,- the horses and mules from the plantation had been brought to town for protection, and this supposed cavalry took them.- When they took my grandfather's riding horse, Grandma with tears in her eyes begged them not to take it, and though she had just fed the men their hearts were of stone, and the last we saw of the horse was as she was led away, very reluctantly on her part.- {family note – John Kennedy, the grandfather mentioned did not have a plantation, but his son Richard Kennedy did. I would guess the animals brought to town came from this plantation –jzs}

One contemptible feature of Sherman's army was, to destroy historic places:- In Columbia after trying to demolish the State House, they took the bronze Palmetto tree, that bore the names of the South Carolinian's who fought in Mexico, and tried to break it, fortunately the bronze resisted, but they bent and twisted it, and almost ruined it.- When they passed through Camden, SC, they burned the headquarters of Cornwallis, the British officer, that had been kept with such care since the Revolutionary War.- In passing through Lancaster Sherman burned the court house, with many valuable papers, he put the Confederate prisoners he had captured along his route in the jail, and set the building on fire, the prisoners were not removed until the floor above them was burning, they were then taken out to be shot, but as they filed out, expecting instant death, a rapid firing was heard near by, and thinking Gen. Wade Hampton's cavalry were upon them, they released the prisoners:- Mr. McCarley now living in Winnsboro was one of them. When Sherman neared this place, he burned the home of Mrs. Ed Mobley, she was a tiny woman, with several children,- the Yankees put fire in a closet up stairs, and soon the house was a mass of flames.- She and the children stood under a tree and watched the burning house,- an officer approached, and ask why she didn't cry, she told him she wanted him to see how a Southern woman could bear such cruelty: the officer, told her, she was a brave woman, and ordered his men to save something for her, but it was too late, and the piano was all that was saved from the handsome home.- There were several who lived near here, who left with their families, and valuables trying to get to the mountains of N.C. but when Sherman turned in the direction of Hanging Rock, he ran upon the wagon train and took everything of value from them. Kate Mobley had on her mother's wedding ring, one of the men made her take it off, and give it to him, though she cried and told him her mother was dead.

The Northern army came as far as Woodward Church some 6 or 7 miles from town, and spies were seen lurking around our streets.- I remember the day we expected Sherman. Every horse and mule had been taken away, and hidden in the woods,- Wheelers men had raided the bar rooms and taken barrels of whiskey into the streets and emptied them into the gutters, to prevent a repetition of Columbia's horrors.- There were several false alarms of the advance of the Yankee army.- Once the rumor was spread, Sherman has come! But it was a company or so of our cavalry, who had been out reconnoitering, and were dashing up Columbia St. around by the Baptist Church with shouts and yells. When the last men were gone and we, women and children, with two or three old men were left, I commenced losing my bravery. We had buried our jewelry and silver, some had put on extra clothes to save them. I wore my usual clothing, for I thought I could run better if it came to close quarters, in my usual outfit,- but, as we waited, with aching hearts, Lo! The news that the army had gone by the way of Hanging Rock, so as to act with Stoneman's Cavalry, which was on this side of Charlotte, NC and, from getting between the Confederate forces, Johnstone being in N.C. and the Cavalry in S.C.,- my spirits immediately took an upward bound.

Stoneman was trying to capture the Naval stores and Post Office Dept., that was being rushed south from Norfolk, and Richmond,- and to try and capture our cavalry, fortunately his, and Sherman's men got very little farther for Gen. Lee capitulated.-

There were car loads and car loads of Navel stores brought here, and destroyed at Rocky Creek some three miles from town, cannon and shell were exploded and shot thrown in to the stream,- they were destroyed to keep the enemy from getting them, for, the Confederacy was drawing to a close, and the boys in grey were soon to lay down their arms, not conquered, but out numbered.- Most of the most valuable documents of the Confederacy were destroyed near Ft. Mill, and at this place commissary stores that our poor soldiers would so gladly have used were opened, and ,taken by anyone who wished. A car load of supplies was standing near the white house, below here, a lady told me- not long since- that as a school girl, at Purity Church, she with other children went up there, and got their aprons full of sugar.-

The 9th of April 1865 Gen Lee surrendered at Appomatox, and Gen Johnstone at Greensboro, N.C. on the 26th. It was brave in Lee to surrender to save the lives of his men, for there was no way of reinforcing his handful of worn out soldiers; while Grant had a horde of foreigners to swell his army, that were offered large pay to fight for the Northern side.- Many of our boys came home without taking the oath of allegiance.- The rail roads were torn up, so our Southern boys came the best they could, and so many found their homes gone, and their loved ones in destitution. There were no floating banners and the fife and drum were silent.

The last of April, and in May our Chester boys came, my brother William had broken down, and fainted by the wayside. Our town was filled with soldiers trying to get home, crowds would go marching through, very different in appearance to what they were when they went away, now there were no guns, and often, no shoes, and many ragged uniforms: Wheelers cavalry seemed to be everywhere.- They had fought and now they helped themselves to whatever they saw, in the line of commissary stores.- In the cellar of a store occupied by Mr. Gunhouse there were a quantity of medical and commissary stores packed away. A man by the name of McDonald knew of it, he was a Charlestonian, had not been in the army, but ran the blockade, and was helping himself to whatever he could get.- In this cellar was a cask of wine of Colchicum, he , McDonald marked it as Malaga wine, and the soldiers seeing it drank of it, it was a deadly poison, a few drops being a dose.- Willie McLure heard of it, and invited Col. Secrest, my brother William, and others of his friends to take a glass of it, thinking it was Malaga wine, my brother being sick did not want to go, but did go, and though he only took a sip of it, he died,- just two weeks after he came home. Willie McLure died the same night he took the poison, Col. Secrest the next evening, and my brother the next morning.- It was in the early morning he died and the mocking birds were singing in the hedge near the window, I never hear the song of that bird now, after so many years, without it's bringing back that sad morning. My mother was crushed, and ever afterward was sad.- No one knows how many of the soldiers died from the effects of the poison; it is said they sank and died all along the road side, for days afterward.-

I remember when the funeral of my brother being preached.- Hoods brigade was passing through Chester up the street, past our house, they came shouting and hurrahing, before the gate the hearse was standing, and the street was filled with carriages;- my cousin, Col. William Lewis, went out, and asked them to be quiet, that a brother soldier lay dead in the house, and although hundreds seemed to pass after the request, not a sound was heard, but the tramp, tramp of their foot steps.

It was not long after this that Col. Bee was at our house, my mother was kind to him, and he gave her a silver mounted rifle, it was of the most modern and beautiful workman ship, the times soon afterward were so troublous that a soldier told mother it was unsafe for her to have it in the house, so she gave it to him, and lost her prize present.-

There was much sadness, and much to be laughed at, during the war, one lady whom I knew would not wear a sun bonnet but went out in the broiling sun, bare headed, because her husband was enduring hardships in the camp:- another would scarcely eat a square meal, because her husband was on half rations.

One laughable thing was, two little girls, Julia and Fannies playing:- Julia proposed playing, " Sherman had come," Fannie took the proposition in a literal sense, and tore around generally breaking things in the pretty play house, and ended up biting the head off of Julia's doll, there was a sure enough fight, but Sherman was not there.- An older sister of those children had out-grown her best dress:- from her mother's wardrobe she had resurrected an old black silk and with the silk she put a frill at the bottom of her dress to lengthen it, and a huge puff at the top of the sleeve to make them longer,- with pride at being so nicely dressed she went with pride to the depot to feed the soldiers,- there was a long car with some twenty or more coaches and every coach and platform packed with our boys, standing on the track, one soldier caught sight of the made over dress, and with a drawl in his voice, very suggestive, of the southern cracker, called out, "Boy's come and see the Brigadier Gen! Look at his epaulettes," meaning the puffs of the sleeves. In a minute there was a mass of weather beaten laughing faces, turned on the poor girl, and many laughable expressions, passed from mouth to mouth.

President Lincoln was assassinated in May, I believe; it was said that President Davis was in church in Charlotte Sunday after the assassination on Friday night,- the minister spoke of Lincoln's death, and intimated Jefferson Davis would be held responsible for it.- The friends of the President advised him to go West immediately and escape from the hatred of the Northern people, he started but was captured in Ga. And taken to grim Fortress Monroe, and by order of Gen Miles put in chains. The Northern papers were filled with caricatures of him, but they were false, he was always a cultured dignified gentleman.

Mrs. Davis wife of our President with her three children passed through here on her way to her home in Miss. It is said she spent the night in a box car at the depot, the next day she tried to get to Mrs. Dr. Mobley's but as the roads were so bad, and it was raining. She stopped at the Woodward Baptist Church, stayed all night and went to Mrs. Mobleys the next morning.- Little Winnie was a baby in long clothes, Mrs. Mobley took her, put her in the arms of each of her daughters, so they would always remember they held the daughter of our loved President. The two little sons of Mrs. Davis were dressed in Confederate uniforms each had a small tin cup suspended by a leather thong in the button hole of his coat.- Mrs. Davis's mother was staying at Mrs. Hintons, my Aunt. A courier rode up rapidly one day handed her a sealed package, and she left immediately, we supposed she was told of the Presidents capture.-

After Dr. Babcock came home (he had been promoted and was one of the surgeons of the 6th Reg., then was in a hospital in Richmond) He saw so many sick and wounded soldiers there, exposed to the weather, and unable to get home, he decided to get a vacant house and open a hospital. He procured the houses on a lot in front of our house, the property belonged to the estate of my Uncle Richard Kennedy and had been used as a carriage factory, there was one very large building with a upstairs, this was filled up and down stairs with cots, procured from the government supplies packed away here.- and, these cots were soon occupied with the desperately sick, and men whose wounds had been so neglected, that many an arm and leg was amputated. The smaller houses on his lot were used, one for the Drs. Office, the other for the commissary stores, and another still for a kitchen. Dr. Babcock did noble work for the soldiers, the out houses at his own place were filled with cots, and many a poor fellow found a quite and comfortable resting place.- As soon as the critically ill who were in the hospital were convalesced, they were sent to a private house, Young Gilmore Sims, a son of the author, was taken by Mrs. Anna Kennedy and nursed back to life.-

My mother had the furniture moved from one parlor and had it fitted up for her boys, she asked for the friendless and the poor, and the room was never vacant. One poor little fellow from Ga. was so grateful, when he left, he took my mothers hand and wished her much joy, and that every hair on her head might be a tallow candle to light her soul to glory, it was a poor speech but the best he could do.- Another little boy was from Marion, S.C. he was a mere lad, 14 or 15 years old, and was pitiful to see, so thin and white and covered with vermin, mother took a servant and bathed him and cut his hair, putting fresh clean clothes on him, he was real pretty, after his ablutions, as he lay back on his pillow, his forehead so white and his eyes so blue.- The poor fellow died, there was no strength to build on.- Still another of her boys was a skeleton, named Jolly, poor Jolly was always cold, and would stay in the kitchen, by the fire, the servants would get very vexed for, he was neither neat, or particular.-

Mr. Lester was Dr. Babcock's clerk, I think he spent most of his time at the window looking out for me. He became very intimate with our big dog Rover, and many a packet of sugar Rover brought me, it was tied around his neck.- Once Mr. Lester was sick, I wrote on a piece of paper, "How are you" and gave it to Rover, he came back after awhile with a loving note.

There were two other hospitals in Chester, one in charge of Dr. Preileau, in the old academy, the building now used by Mr. Joe Walker as a private residence, this hospital too was filled with the sick and wounded.

Quite a number of brave soldiers died here, Dr. Babcock had them buried, at the cemetery, and had their graves marked, with the names of the soldier and, the company he belonged to.- On each Memorial Day, now, the graves are strewn with flowers, and some day we hope to have a monument, bearing the name of each of the Chester men who wore the grey, and were so brave and loyal to the Confederacy.-

Many years have passed since the stirring days of '61 to '65, how very many of the boys in grey that used to sit in the moonlight in old Virginia, and sing "Mary of Argyle," and "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground" have passed over the river, and, are resting in the shade on the other side.- How many of the officers and men in authority are gone,- Pres. Davis, is in Hollywood, on the banks of the historic James River, close by his side sleeps Winnie, the Daughter of the Confederacy! Alexander Stephens is buried in Ga. And brave Gen. Hampton in Columbia, Beauregard, Hood, almost all, are gone,- Longstreet, Gorden, Rosser, Joe Wheeler, and others, whose heads are white now, and who are only waiting their time, are left.

"The mighty troop, the flashing blade,
The bugles stirring blast,
The charge and the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout are past:
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal
Shall thrill with fierce delight,
Those breast that never more may feel
The rapture of the fight."

"Gather the sacred dust,
Of the warriors tried and true,
Who bore the flag of a nations trust,
And fell in a cause though lost, still just
And died, for me and you."

Contributor: lili li née Loretta McKay Masters