Crog Bronson and General Robert E. Lee by Carl F. Hill

CROG BRONSON AND GENERAL R. E. LEE By Carl F. Hill

By: Randy Burbage.

One Florence policeman became a local legend. His most notable performance, however, was not in the line of duty. Among the duties of the local police was meeting the night passenger train at the station and escorting them passengers to the hotel. On one cold night, J. C. “Krog [Crog}” Brunson of the police force had this duty, when two drummers from the North arrived on the train. When they entered the Jacobi Hotel, the two visitors eyed a portrait of General Robert E. Lee hanging in a prominent place. One of the men made a derogatory remark to the effect that apparently some Southerners did not realize who had won the Civil War.

To Brunson, who had served in the Pee Dee Light Artillery, the sentiment was unpalatable. Removing his officer’s badge, gun, and billy club, he approached the man who had made the remark. After announcing that he was acting in the capacity of a private citizen, he proceeded to pummel the visitor about the head and the shoulders. His duty completed, “Krog [Crog]“Brunson reassembled his paraphernalia and continued his watch. As the victim reported the incident to the proper authorities, the Confederate veteran was called before Mayor Jerome P. Chase and the city council the next day. The aggrieved drummer demanded that Brunson be punished. After deliberating a short time, the judges called Brunson before them to receive their verdict. Acting for them all, Mayor Chase declared Brunson “guilty of the proper performance of his duties.” He was then “sentenced” to a ten dollar per month salary raise and a week’s vacation with pay.