The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-12-23
From the Marion American.
The Palmetto Regiment

Alden! adieu. nay native shore
Fades o'er the waters b;ue
The night winds sigh, the breakers roar
hnd shrieks the Wild sea new.
f"n sun that ssts upoa the sea
We follow in his flight
Farewell awhile to him, and thee
My native l"nd-eovd night.
On the 26th Of January the Palmst-
toes embarked from Mobile for All un-
known destination. Major GLADDEN. with
three companies embarked OH The ship
EIlersIie ON the 2eth Of January; ou the
2srh Lieut.. Col. Dickenson with three
companies embarked on the ship Oregon,
and ON the same evening Col. Butter aud
the remaining four companies embarked
on The Old Alhambra. The Oregon and
A'hambra laid that nigh' in M"n,ie BAY.
early ON the m"ruing m the 29th under
a bright sky, aud strtf .reshenluy breeze,
we weighed anchor, uufr ed our sails,
aud so"n were tar out on the stormy DO.
som of the Gulf Of Mexico.
viii not sltempt to describe the swell
ling emotions Of our hearls 40 we stood
with steadiast eyes, gazTg on the funi.
blue crest OF our native land rs II faded
into ind'stinctness, and finally sank be
meath the ~arery HORIZON. We we're now
out ON the wide and slorn, Gut; I've
meath US only the blue waves-abuys Dc
only the blue skies, and around uS waste
OF waters-the sun went down ia a bed
OF crimson glory, The STARS came ont from
the quiet sky, we bade our native land
good night" and retired 10 our first Sleep
hal q Al, ,E,,..
ing, fond Inernnres ut home, and friends
would permit US 10 sleep
We were going, We knew not where
We had embarked under scaled orde,-.
which were not To lie opened unu We
were out at sea. Wh"n opened we we've
informed that Vera Cruz was our desti
nation. and we Knew that i'll 4 lew day
we would have stern work To do.
We started with ,iIs old Ahambfa as
our companion, hut the greater speed ot
the Oregon, in a few hours LETT The s,o.y
ii'nhering Alhambra lost in lhe dis, ance
The sun of the second day roes clear
and bright, and with AvoIing breeze We
sped gahy on. We passed the mouth of
the Mississippi, which fe>hens the yull
Tor hundred miles with It's turhid WA
tiers. 1t will not ninge with tie waters
OF the gull. AT the distance of SKI,
miles from lis mouth, could have put
my finger on the line Of diStincl, euess
aud separation bstween the salt blue of
the gulf water, and the muddy green OF
the Mississippi. Al! was we'll, unuI the
evening OF ths third day, when fierce
terrific northar came upon Us with a sud
oenness which almost snapped the m.sts
and capsized the vessel. Tnrourh the
epe"sns trumpet the captain gave his
quick, prompt, teegraphic commands, the
sailors merrlly climbed the masls, and
with every rag Of sail taken down, under
bare po:es, The ship was prepared To ride
out the fury Of the storm. A chilling rain
drove us below deck, where in darkness
and gloom and terror, amid noise aud con
fusion ihdescrlbable, in sickenino, i.tid,
loathsome, pent up Air, we passed night
OF suffering whose horrors no Iauyu.ue
can portray. All Of us were suffering the
FIRST 'hroes aud qualns OF sea sickness,
whose hea<ings responded to the heaving
waves. The howl'ng winds kept ii, nu
sic to that night Of horrors. Our stom
achs were ehurned to gall, our heads al
most bursting with sea sick agony, rs we
tossed and turned that night upon our
hard beds, wooing a sleep which came
not. as brief respite to our sufrrnos.-
The morning came but it brought little
mitigation OF our sutfrrings. The muun
tai1 waves still dashed with terrible fury
against our ship. she tossed aud heaved
and pitched, while every timber creaked
and groaned with the shocks. and the
waves dashed over her Prov, ard sMep,
down her decks. il was a fearful aud an
awful scene. We could not stand Oh deck
without imminent danger of being thrown
overheard, aud the few vino braved II.
We're seen hugging the rnasI, and cIinrin,
on TO The ropes, to save them from lelny
Dashed to death again: the vc>set'S sides,
or thrown over INTO The gnif Another
night of horror came and the sioim still
ragged IN lis fury. Two or tIrre .rmes
the vessel caught on fire, SO rrck e,s
hai become that when at night the cry
WAS heard that the ship WAS on fire, | nev
er rose from my bed. Let IL burn WA.
my answer, for death will hea rellefto us.
Such IL the desperation of SEA sickness.
II makes nsn pray for death, believe
the 'eriest oovard, under violent sea sick
ness would welcome death,
For three days AMI nights the storm
spent It's fury upon us without abatement,
after which il gradually sul.sl,ied, aud the
iour'h broke on US ny calm as quiet As Az
tntants siunber. IL was dead cagm.-
Not breeze stirred, The slIs hung droop
ing with their weight, and tie Los,n OF |
the gliIt was P!acId aud wave!ess as the
blue sky above us.
, such WAS the scene on the Oregon.--
from Tie narrative, oil brother solder,
who was on The AIhambra, | Wi! yrrs a |
description Of the storm, aud us etferts on
the AIhamhra.
The Regiment embarked under sealed
orders to be opened at sea, the PURPOSE
pe'ng 70 prevent newspaper pubIicatious
concerning the Object Of the expedition.
AL we're eager TO learn their destination.
and as soon AZ the distans ,,,,,as or IL