The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 37

PAGE 1-D SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1961 GREENVILLE, 1 C. i Later Congressman From Georgia Price, First Man Enlisting Here For 'War', Used Ears To Pinpoint Cannons7 Fire By WILT BROWNING "Sergeant, put your ear close to the ground, listen, then tell me which way the guns are firing." Obeying his commander's orders, the short, robust sergeant would kneel to the fround, place his ear against the warm earth and wait for the cannons' thunder. When it came, the sergeant over and look dowa on those hallowed precincts. I wanted to sleep on the ground, put my ear near to Mother Earth, and feel the delirium of the tramp of armies. I jl A'M4 4 re Tt SJt entered the village, we beheld the lifeless form of Captain John L.

Marr of the Warrenton Rifles, the first Confederate killed in action!" Heroes were born with every battle ot the Civil War, but a would rise from the ground and accurately point out the direction in which the discharge of the cannon was traveling. Forty years later, time had dulled both the pains of Civil War and the little sergeant's He tried the sound test again shortly after the turn of the century during maneuvers on a well-known Civil War battlefield but could not distinguish directions. (Editor's note: Bull Run and Manassas were one and the same, so Mr. Price must have remem man, probably braver than the bered them years later as three front line warrior, became a hero instead tw0 battles.) 4 CA-Minnt- DfiriA nvA hie I i Ta 1 okcc wanted t0 hear if p05sible( This fs how he tells it: "Fairfax Court House continued to be the storm center of the would say to me when distant guns were heard, 'Sergeant, put your ear close to the ground, listen, then tell me which way The commander who had depended heavily on his sergeant's "acute" hearing was Col. J.

B. Kershaw, who headed up a group which included the Butler Guards of Greenville. The little sergeant Vas William war cloud. Bonham's South Carolinians were in advance and were to be the first to receive the shock of battle. Private Charlie Jackson of the Fairfax Rifles, a brother of the pf Jas.

W. Jack- the guns are My hearing was then so acute that I could tell quite correctly, from the vl jrfson killed by the Zouaves at Alex brations on the surface of the ground, the direction the dis andria was assigned to tne brigade as a guide. He knew the charge was going P. Price, the first Greenville man to enlist for service in the Civil War and the first sergeant of the VI. ..1 I- roads, streams, fences, land sutler uuarus.

"Fairfax Court House. Its Real inp houses people from "And so, when reaching the historic Manassas fields I went at once to the extreme right, not far from Thoroughfare, where Jackson's forces began their PIS iniancy. nc ucuanrc my and Phantom Armies. A War Reminiscence of Incidents, Accidents and Episodes" was written by Mr. Price 40 years after the messmate, and when in camp slept in my tent if he slept at all.

Model shows how Sirrine project, costing more than $500,000, will appear. S. Pleasantburg Drive runs diagonally across lower left. Pleasantburg Shopping Center lies to right. Sirrine Awards Contracts On Big Office Building wonderful attack on Pope, at the 2nd battle of Manassas which J.

E. Sirrine Company, Engi-iover the ground floor executive jacent to the ground floor execu- glass doors, to a reception area area from the main office areas tice offices and conference rooms, which will feature colorful plant- ana provide space for display of i i i ended on the heights at the Lewis House, where victory crowned the Confederates at the First and Second Battles of Manassas. "I witnessed at 1 o'clock A. M. as they were supplied with amunition (sic), and bade them 'good hoping that in 'their "When not on duty, as a guide, he was often on the trail of the lonely vedette and picket at every cross-roads.

I sometimes feared that it was not a phantom soldier which so disturbed these frightened Federal soldiers at dead of night. The northern journals were filled with alarming accounts of the nightly deaths of ncers and Architects, has award- office suites to form a covered ed construction contracts for its Tho fir- rPa will aWins. The north wall of thp Inhhv pnoiograpns ana renderings or walkway on three sides of Sirrine projects. contain the main lobby, employejwill be covered with special fa- building, giving an unusual three- own new office building to be located on S. Pleasantburg Drive, just south of Pleasantburg Shop dimensional effect, and at the lounges, field, accounting andtbnc to emphasize the local tex tile industry that the airrine com- same time shading the large win-1 pubic relations departments and ping Center.

George Wngley first few battles of the Civil War! and shortly after he revisited an old battlefield, the scene of military maneuvers. The original manuscript of "Fairfax Court House" is owned by Olaf Otto Mr. Price's great-grandson, of Savannah, Ga. Mr. Price, who called himself "the old sergeant" in the writing, was the uncle of Greenville attorney James H.

Price who owns a post-war listing of members of the Butler Guard. Mr. Price, of Greenville, describes his "Uncle Bill" as having been a rather heavy man who stood about 5-8. The little sergeant in his 73 vedette and pickets. These poor pany has long served.

In the center of the wall will be a large oil portrait of Mr. Sirrine, who found president of Sirrine, announced completion is scheduled for January 1962, to coincide with the dow areas. The building, with an all supporting service facilities, exposed structural motif which such as blueprinting and dupli-will make extensive use of South eating rooms, file rooms, chemical Carolina products, will be of white and bacteriological laboratory. first baptism of they would be victorious. I then laid down on the ground again to listen to the booming of the cannon.

But these ears of mine had become dulled after seventy winters and when I essayed 'to follow the I found that the added forty years to my life since I 'fought my last company's 60th anniversary. ed the organization in 1902. Special lighting will add further to model shops, etc. fellows, going on duty at night, would bid their comrades adieu forever. I suspected my friend Jackson going on these mid-night forays.

"Showing him a northern newspaper that had found its way into my hands, and reading to him one of these gruesome stories glazed brick and glass. A landscaped garden will enclose a re The general contractor will be Yeargin Construction Company, A visitor will enter under a the dramatic effect. Cherry pan-modern metal canopy, through els will separate the reception flection pool on the north side, ad- and the electrical and me chanical work will be by Davis IP Mechanical Contractors. made my locomotion too slow to The new Sirrine headquarters will provide 32,500 square feet of A two story glass enclosed stairwell at the rear of the building will serve as entrance directly from the employes parking area to the first floor offices, or to the second floor engineering and architectural offices and drafting rooms. In addition to space for 130 draft ing boards, the second floor in-eludes conference rooms, a library and 21 offices for engineering department heads, secretaries, project managers, etc.

Carpeting, resilient tile and stone flooring will be used alternately in different parts of the building. Masonry, cherry panel-ins and glass walls and partitions will be used. Acoustical tile will alternate with iluminated plastic ceilings. This will be the first building in McAlister Plaza, an office development project announced. J.

E. Sirrine Company, organized by J. E. Sirrine in February do effective field work." He then left the battle area, bought a New York Herald and read of a "phantom army ot 20,000 strong" hovering over Fairfax "to prevent any attack on Washington." He still had many friends at Fairfax and wanted to witness the "phantom army." air conditioned office space in a unique two-story design. Total construction and site development costs will be in excess of one-half million dollars.

The building will be situated on a three-acre plot, to take full advantage of the natural grade, and so as to provide landscaping areas and ample parking. The area behind the building will be an employe parking area for more than 100 cars. Visitors' parking wiil be provided in two areas in front of the building. In Fairfax, he was the guest of he smiled as Iread and then said: 'A brother, whom I loved, was murdered by these Zouaves: his blood is being avenged. We will soon be even'." The young soldier's midnight missions ended when Sergeant Price called the attention of his superior officers to the newspaper reports.

The two Confederates remained friends. "He fearlessly stood by my side during the thundering of the First Manassas and went with the "South Carolinians Into the very jaw of the cannon's mouth. This brave hero gently passed out of life at his home in Chris-tiansbure, only a few years ago, sending me, as his life ebbed away, his 'undying love'." years became known for a num-becoT occupations including. Journalist, editor, congressman, and lawyer. He also is listed as founder of the Greenville Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, and North Georgia College at Dahlonega.

"Uncle Bill and father came here in 1855," Mr. Price said. His uncle practiced law here for about five years in the firm of Orr and Price. Orr of that partnership, already having been a congressman, later become governor of South Carolina (1866V While carrying on his law practice, Mr. Price also served as editor of the Greenville Enterprise.

The war came and able-bodied men were signing up, Mr. Price being among the first. It is believed he was the first in Green a prominent citizen, H. M. Fitz- hugh.

"His wife was the little girl who poured water on my feet when "I Called to see them after the great battle. The servant 1902, is one of the few engineering organizations anywhere that has a continuous record of 60 years of service. The office was originally located at Main Street and Mc (See SIRRINE, P. 5, Col. 3 Loading and truck delivery facilities will be provided at the south end of the building.

The upper story will extend man, still active and spruce, was none other than Jack Rowe, the colored man who, on June 1st, 1861, helped to carry the dead body of Captain Marr into the clerk's office." This Is how building will look at ground level, from front, ville to be sworn in, because of As heroes were created at bis standing in the Butler Guard every turn, the soldiers, eager for battle or fearful of its con roster. 'Flopsie Plays A Tenuous Role County Library Pioneered In S. C. In Many Of Its Services, Then Lost Ground, Now May Be Expected To Show Gains Officers, of course, were not enlisted and the enlisted men were recruited in order to fill manning requirements. Mr.

Price was the first on the list and assumed the rank of first sergeant. There were three other first sergeants listed below the name of the editor-lawyer. By ETHEL A. STEADMAN The Greenville County Library, in many of its services, was a pi who has been with the county library staff continuously since 1913, tries to meet the individual needs of the people she serves. She supplies specific materials upon request.

for the benefit of adult mem- (so books which have been deliver-'has been dubbed for all too obvi-bm of outlying communities, led to her care and has them ready ous reasons, stopped next at the A station may be in a home, In jfor the bookmobile's visit, when home of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. a store or in a community cen- are exchanged for a similar Vaughan on the Goodman Bridge ter.

In any of the above instan- number of new books. Mrs. Brock-j Road. Elizabeth Marie, the 3' 4-ces, some responsible citizen is man commented that television, year-old daughter of the in charee of checking books in improved school library facilities, Vaughans, displayed as much ex- oneer in South Carolina and the Southeast in its initial phases during the 1920s. But, due to insufficient funds, it has long since For example, at Stroud Memo- He contrasted the Fairfax he last saw to the Fairfax of the Civil War.

"The town was so quiet. There were no pickets to hail any one with 'who goes there'; no tents, no drum beats, no rushing of horsemen through the streets. The phantom army was as quiet as that great phantom army that hovered over Dothan in the days of Elisha. I went to sleep fearing nothing, but believing if there were an army of evil spirits in the environs of Fairfax, there was yet another army more powerful than all of these, 'for they that be with us are more than they that be with During his visit to Fairfax, he met old friends, talked of the days 40 years before, reread the original manuscript of George Washington's will which he had read into the Fairfax Court records while there with dropped out of real competition. and out to his or her neighbors and friends.

These individuals perform this service on a voluntary, nonremunerative basis. sequences, also did foolish things. "I remember the night those two brave Virginia boys. Gor-don and Tyler were killed by mistake." the old sergeant wTot. "Kershaw had sent these noble youths to inform General Beauregard and General Fonham that he was In sight of the enemy's camp, having passed successfully around the pickets, and to send reinforcements, when firing began.

The night was dark and as these young cavalry men were pass-Ing the 'Sesession of Abbeville, who were placed in ambush to capture a company of cavalry that was cut off, they received a volley of rifle buliets, and with their horses, lay dead in the mad." The sergeant had established close friendships in the little town of Fairfax that would last out all his years. The townsfolks and facility of transportation have citement as. any sny youngster Hospital at Marietta, a regu-caused a slack in the demands of will in the presence of visitors, lar stop, one of the resident pa-her community for reading materi-jShe was decidedly fond of Miss'tients asked for a book on birds, al, but that her own family par- Cox and of the books filled with Miss Cox rummaged through Hciilarlv hr eranrichilriren pn- nrettv oictures and adventure- "Flopsie's" supplies and cam Even so, the services offered are numerous and varied, and may be expected to be improved and ex panded significantly when the city On the day previously indicated, joys having a constant supply of some stories which the librarian up with the desired material within a matter of minutes. and county library consolidation Cox went fat0 three homes '2 ff6Cted July 1. nnA Ana ahsinfanpH fpnpral ctnrp! 1 brought especially for her, The staff attempts to provide The older Vaughan children look Next on the route was in aban i on u.e rou On a recent day, for example, tn irk an(1 pav.

h(V)k, f(ir fh. doned communities served on that par- -un- book-1 Variety rdin eacl general store owned by 10 lne 01 ye Latjon incll(iine fajriv evr A Snrinefield on the mobile with equal enthusiasm, station, inciuaing a lairiy ecn -fiT That mnrnin-j thev had arisen ear-! distribution of mysteries, ro- Mrs. ticular route of the bookmobile. Miss Mary Cox, county librarian, visited four community deposit stations, a school and a hospital, carrying "Free Reading for Bates Crossing Road. She allows lier than usual to arrange in al-imantes' nmroricai noveis, west-phabetical order the books which erns and relate to known The first home visited was that of Mrs.

Billy Brockman off the White Horse Road. Mrs. Brock- members of the surrounding community access to the building and to the books left there Miss Cox as due to pick up. man has authorized the u.e of her niau noa oumwi.v. w.v.

v. luuuuumiy unci tis. iney iidvo devised symbols representative of each community station which "Deposits" are exactly what urpFiia nt rm-nj wiwi From a long and intimate from the library the name implies: a specified home as an adult deposit station! number of books which are sup- jfor well over 19 years. Every "Flopsie," as the medium-sized plied to predetermined stations I two months she collects the 25 or, bookmobile which made this trip were always glad to see the return of the battle-weary Southern knowledge of the people with tare consulted as a guide to avoid whom she works, Miss Cox, (See LIBRARY, Page. 5, Col.

4) ers. 'Then the alarmed family took the Butler Guards, was honored by a judge, the editor of the local newspaper and the townspeople. "I was delighted with my visit to Fairfax. It will doubtless be the last time I shall see this 'loveliest of It will soon have a railroad (finished since I began to write) and more 5 courage, knowing tneir irienas were victorious, and that the Confederates were coming again! banks and more millionaires to build it up. Its citizens are Farther down on the list in the private rankings was James M.

Price, brother of Mr. Price and father of the man who is now the Greenville attorney. The brothers marched off together but they separated when the sergeant was wounded during the Battle of Lewinsburg near Washington. He returned to Greenville but for only a short stay. He went to Georgia and a law practice and was elected to Congress serving from Dec.

22, 1870, to March 3, 1873. His brother. Hardy Price, was a lieutenant in Cobb's Legion of Georgia. The old sergeant died Nov. 4, 1908 only four years after he authored his manuscript.

Basically, the area around Fairfax, is the scene of the story told in the old sergeant's manuscript. It begins: "Dear old Fairfax! It was here that the storm of war lowered for sixty days in the summer of 1361. It was here that the writer was mustered into Confederate service with four thousand young South Carolina soldiers, the flower and chivalry of the Palmetto State." Exploring the eircumstancrs at Fairfax during that first year of the Civil War, Mr. Price wrote: "It was the scene of daily occurence in June and July of '61 when the nnorganix-ed, poorly equipped Virginia cavalry were chased through the two principal streets of Fairfax, and in turn would soon be chasing the well-armed and well-drilled 17. S.

cavalry over the same streets, driving them onder the inras of Fort Corcoran on the Potomac. Alarms and false alarms every night. One excitement followed another so rapidly that sleep was almost out of the question." LL ic i good, staunch people. "I hope that phnntcm 8rmy of good spirits will always encom pass it about, and protect it, as did the hosts of heaven in an cient times, protect the goodly village of Galileau Dothan." Thus ended his manscript. A paragraph used at the end of the first section best describes his feelings of pity and love to wards the Virginia community of After happy greetings, and many tears, our shoes and stockings were taken off, and the children busied themselves in bringing cool water and bathing our swollen feet, now black from fighting and marching over the fields and turnpikes of Manassas.

This little group, with some neighbors, counted the great guns as thoy fired en the previous Sabbath, and how our hearts were moved when the mother told us that th." children gathered under the great oak in front of the house and prayed that God would take care of Uncle Charlie and Mr. Price in the The final section of his manuscript deals with his return to the battlefield 40 years later. "An Irresistible oVsire came over me to visit the recent army maneuvres (sic) at Manassas. There were to be soHi-ers from all sections of the Union and they were engaged in fighting mtavc battles. The same ground to be 'fught over that witnessed three battles; Enll Run and the first and second Manassas.

I wonder if the spirits of the many gallant soWiers who fought the real battles and quit this life on thnse battle fields, and now rest i from "rude alarms' would hover it A ii i IP 'I Fairfax. "And the village of Fairfax soon resumed its wonted cheerfulness and the people hoped that the war would soon be over. Little did they think that it would be four long years before the heart of the country would rest in peace. And during that space of time, Fairfax was to be buffeted between two fierce armies, the people now looking first to one, and then to the other side, for bread for the children and aged who were compelled to remain. But peace Finally came and these big hearted people gathered together what they could and began their lives aver again." MR, OSTEEN MISS COX In his manuscript, Sgt.

Price recalls the first Confederate killed in action. "Early in the morning of the ferst day of June the Confederate camps, for miles around, were active. Firing was heard at Fairfax! Kershaw's regiment wps soon on the march, and as we MISS COX and Mrs. David W. Osteen of the Oil Camp Creek Road are Miss Marr Cox.

county librarian, and Mr. Osteen, who, with his wife, serves as "community librarian." In the photo at right. Miss Cox is preparing to leave the Osteen home In "OopsSe," as the medium-sired bookmohi'e assigned to this route Is known to the library staff. (Greenville News photos by Ruth Walker). Among services offered the citizens ot Greenville County by the Connfy Library ere "deposit stations" collections of books distributed by the hook-mobile service to various points within the county.

These stations may be In private residences, stores or community centers and are the responsibility of nnpaid volunteers. Shown (left) swapping old books for new ones In the home of Mr..