Anderson Intelligencer
May 26, 1914
Page 44
SOME
WHO SERVED
Anderson
Soldiers, Some of Whom Have Passed Away – Part 3
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RICHARD C. WILSON,
of Hershy Creek. Joined the 20th
Regiment in May, 1863. Returned in May,
1865. In that time had one furlough of
ten days and Fleet Clinkscales who now lives near Bolton was his lieutenant.
Spoke of a battle on the Potomac where the opposing armies marched side by side
for quite a distance. Says the bloody
battles were not as gruesome as witnessing the shooting of three deserters on
Sullivan’s Island. Mr. Wilson regrets
that he kept no diary during the war as memory fails him to tell much of his
experiences. He, like many of the old
soldiers, can’t be brought to____ of his bravery. He is a grand old man and has lived a
temperate life. Now that he is in his 79th
year he is still hale and hearty and like his old comrades, the salt of the
earth.
S. R. COBB—Joined
the Light Artillery, Co. F, did duty on the const. of Edisto Island. Mr. Cobb was that of a lanyard puller. Mr. Cobb has such a youthful face that it is
hard to realize that he is now nearing his 70th year.
J. P. COX—Served
in Co. G, Second Rifles. Mr. Cox’s war
record is one of interest not that he had many close calls, but from the fact
that he has it in him to make the best of the situation and to hear him talk
war, you would never forget for the time all its seriousness. When asked if wounded during the struggle he
replied, “You wouldn’t expect a man to get shot with the good legs I had.” Yes, Polk Cox found fun throughout it
all. Even the morning after he reached
home and was wakened by a Yankee pulling toes he told him to hold up and wait
till he could show his parole papers, which he did after the Yankee handed him
his trousers. But in the same room was
his brother Newton Cox who had no parole and when the Yankee asked for his
parole he quickly replied “it is downstairs.”
Then the two brothers realized they had to get busy for the yard was
full of Yankees. But the Cox boys were
too smart for them and as they marched down the stair steps, Polk slipped his
parole into his brother’s hand, so for the time they were safe. But Polk knowing they would have to show it
to the crowd and all at the same time, he told his brother he had better get
away which he did by slipping through the house to the back and, jumping from
the kitchen window, made his escape.
H. A.
GRIFFIN—Entered service in Co. D, Hampton’s Legion; he was one of the band and
began his duty in Virginia, from there to Tennessee. Was at Chickamauga during the fierce battle
there where many were killed on both sides.
From there to Lookout Mountain, then in a severe fight at Willis Valley,
where our side was badly defeated. Then
to Knoxville, Tenn., where the regiment was held in reserve. From there to Bull’s Gap, Tenn. Then back to Virginia where he did picket for
some time. In several battles around Richmond
farther down at a tight fight at Riddle’s Shop.
Then back to Richmond and soon surrendered at Appomattox.
J. P.
MATTOX—Served in Co. C, Palmetto’s Sharpshooters. Mr. Mattox was in several fights, and has
promised to give an account of the Seven Days’ Fight, which we know will be
very interesting. Captain Prue Benson
and Col. Sloan were in command.
J. F. MITCHELL—Entered
the war in 1861. Served in Co. K, Orr’s
Regiment, until close of war. Was never
a prisoner, but received a severe wound at the battle of Chancellorsville, he
has never fully recovered from this wound.
This battle was fought the 3rd of May, 1863, and Mr. Mitchell
believes to have been one of the worst in the Civil War.
J. D.
PINSON—Entered the army in Co. E, Hampton’s Legion. Was in the war from the beginning to the
end. Says he believes he was in the
first battle and also the last. At
Riddle’s Shop Mr. Pinson happened to an accident, which came very near ending
his life. In preparing to enter this
fight his horse became unruly and scared, then fell back and Mr. Pinson was
pinned beneath which dislocated his left hip and disabled him from service for
three months. Mr. Pinson gives elsewhere
the battle of Sharpsburg as he saw it.
LEWIS SMITH—Served
his country in Co. I, Second South Carolina Rifle Regiment, was wounded once
but not seriously. Thinks a hymn book in
his breast pocket saved his life as the ball passed through this book and was
somewhat spent. During the fight of the
Wilderness he stood near the tree which was cut down with balls. The tree measured 18 in. through. Mr. Smith is now very feeble, and regrets so
much that he cannot attend the function.
Mr. Smith is a farmer and one of Anderson county’s best men.
B.
C. SMITH of Toney Creek—Volunteered in Co. H, First
South Carolina
Regiment. Served as a guard on coast and was not in any
battles, but did duty from Charleston to Fayetteville. Mr. Smith was but a youth at the time of the
outbreak of the war, but nevertheless he was a brave boy.
C.
T. TOLLISON—Entered the service at the first of 186_ in
Co. E, Hampton’s
Legion. Says his first trying time was on the 23rd
of October, 1863, in Willis Valley in Tennessee, near Lookout Mountain. Told of an address that night about 11
o’clock from Gen. Mart Gary, who knowing there was a hot time ahead for them,
asked that all who felt they couldn’t stand the racket to step to the front,
but not a man moved. That night the
countersign was “Jackson.” Mr. Tollison
says he thinks it a miracle how men escaped with their lives. He told of one battle where they fought for
two hours within thirty-five yards of the enemy. Mr. Tollison has reason for believing war the
worst thing on earth. In leaving for the
war three brothers and two brothers-in-law accompanied him, and out of the six
only two returned, Mr. Tollison and one brother-in-law, and this brother-in-law
more dead than alive. Almost shot to
pieces, and has been a helpless cripple ever since. Then, continued Mr. Tollison the death of my
three brothers killed my parents. They
died with a broken heart. Mr. Tollison
was in many severe battles but never wounded- only heart sore because he was the
only “boy” to come back to the old home.
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]
