JOHN O'MOORE CARSON, eldest son of JASON HAZARD
and JEAN O'MOORE CARSON, was born at White Oak Hall, Polk
Co., N.C. The family moved to Spartanburg Co., S.C. in 1854,
but MR. CARSON held his citizenship in N.C. and was one of
the signers of the Ordinance of Secession of that
State.
At the outbreak of the war, JOHN
volunteered and served as a member of Company C, Holcombe
Legion. While stationed at Adams Run, he and two others
volunteered to reconnoiter on Edisto Island, an account of
which is given ....' Head Quarters Third Military District, March
16, 1862 Adams Run, S.C. .....General Orders, No.
13.
by order of GENERAL EVANS.....
{ John Carson afterwards
transferred to Tucker's Cavalry, Company Seven.}
The following letter gives a little more on the
expedition for which he was commended:
Camp Blair, March 17, 1862.
" Dear Ma, I wrote to you on Friday that I would be on
a scouting excursion and might be absent for ten or
twelve days, but the fact of the matter is that Colonel P.E.
Stevens called for 3 men on Friday evening to go on a very
dangerous excursion. Sergeant KIBBER and Private SHEALY and
I stepped out and volunteered to go. [ It is said that John
was the first to volunteer to go ]. We then received instructions to
pack up as much provisions as we could carry and prepare to
start on a scouting expedition to Edisto Island. The Yankees
hold possession of that island and are supposed to be in
great numbers.
I was afraid to tell you about it till I
got back.... Well, we left camp early Saturday morning and
proceeded to Pineberry, took a boat, and paddled down the
Dawhoo River toward the coast. We wandered about all day and
all night.....we got lost and finally arrived yesterday
morning. We took a fresh start and across Watts Cut....then we
went forward about two miles to the first house...and squatted
behind some bushes to reconnoiter. We had been there only a
few minutes when we saw a buggy drive up containing 3
Yankees. We waited until they got close when we stepped out
and accosted them, ' Good evening , gentleman'. They
returned the salute in great surprise, when we ordered them
if they had any arms, to give them up. I forgot to tell you that we
were armed with a pistol apiece and a spyglass. They
surrendered and gave up their pistols...then we made them
unhitch their horse and turn him loose... the men turned out
to be lieut. colonel of the 55th Pa. Regiment, a first
Lieut. of the 42nd N.Y. and a government agent, who has
charge of the negroes on Edisto and was planting cotton for his
Majesty, Abraham. A pretty good haul , I think. The colonel
promised us a furlough on the strength of the capture and I
may be home in a week or so.
Send me something to eat by
MR. TWITTY.
Write soon to your
affectionate son, John Carson"
[ Copies of original papers furnished by Mrs. S. M. Carson,
sister of
John].