he assured the eager troopers that the man they supposed to be a Confederate soldier, was only a citizen at the house as a visitor. They were at once pacified, made apologies and rode away. The United States army had indeed arrived, and to look upon it, the delighted Union man sought without delay the principal street. At the end of two squares he found the way barred by a sentinel. In the halt thus imposed upon all persons, he was entertained by the outspoken displeasure of the company--chiefly ladies of the neighborhood--at the incoming of the “Yankees.” One of them--a truly amiable, but for the time deeply offended matron--gave free vent to her feelings until the current of her thoughts was diverted at the suggestion of a bystander, that the town might well be thankful for the protection the United States army afforded it from robbers. Only a few nights before they had stolen from her a valuable pony. This recollection turned her resentment from “Lincoln and his hordes” to the source, as she thought, of all present woes to the country. “If it had not been for South Carolina,” she complained, “we should not have had all this trouble!” Gen. Burnside, on his arrival, established his headquarters in a large mansion recently vacated by its owner, which stood near the principal street and had a spacious front yard. From its covered porch a large United States flag was lifted up, and in its drooping folds the welcoming crowd wrapped themselves with beaming faces. Expressions of joy from the people rung upon the air. They hailed the General as their deliverer from a hated power and the oppression it inflicted; and also as the representative of their beloved nation, clothed with its authority and armed with its sword. Some of them were so glad that they scarcely knew what to do with themselves. In the overflow of their emotions they could have clasped him in their arms, or, if opportunity had served, have drawn him in a carriage with their own hands all over the town, that everybody, men, women and children, might look upon him. Meanwhile he bore himself with dignity and gentleness. Briefly he addressed them with words suited to the occasion and full of friendly sympathy. Then, his attentive hearers, elated with joy as with new wine, were eager for more discourse. An adjournment was made to the court-house, and from its front several citizens addressed the assembly in the open air.