Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-10-24

NEW sERIEs-Ho. sEveH.
" And there was n little Isle,
Which in my very face did smile,

a small green Isle-it seemed no more
Not wider than stones throw o'cr;
But in it thorc were fruits and trees
And o'cr it bcwtlc soft breeze,
And by it there were waters flowing
Aud on ii were young flowers growing
OF gentle breath aud hue"
| was con dn,Orc sailor, and every dav
| climbed the tall masts up the little rope
ladders, and under the shadows of the sails
enjoyed the cool breaze, willie below on
deck there was scorching heat On thd
5th day of February, and the 8th day of
onr voyage, saw far ont to the South a
little lSlet 1t was Lobos, the rendezvous
Of the army which was to becaguo Vera
Cruz. Lobos is sweet littlo spot, two
miles in circumference, ard formed coral.
It's soil is fertile, and was oyergrown With
tropical plants, and trees and vines shooting
in rank luxuriance. Here were lemous,
and figs, banyan and palm trees. Many OF
The banyans were completely thatched over
with evergreen vines and formed cool and
shaded arbors, through which the sunlight
fell in soft and subdued rays, under which
the cool sea breeze found its way, tanning
our heated brows with its refreshing cool.
ness, and reviving and strengthening us
with its healthfulness and purity AS In
the distance saw this green little Islct riso
from the waves, and as a nearer view ex-
posed its fruits and clamberiug vines and
shaded bowers
~ thought if there's peace to be found in the
word
The heart that is humble might hope for il
here"
But to be contented with such home,
1 L
apder Selkirk, for the Iset has seldom ever
been visited by tic footprints Of man.
naye heard tradilionally, or perhaps con
jecturaIly, that it was the point OF rendez-
vous for the British" in 1914, before their
attack on New Orleans. a little fact may
tend to confirm this belief On the Island
there was a grave, and on a tree over the
grave was cut representing the British
flag, and the figures 1914. a fleet could
not possibly keep together in long voy-
age so that point of rendezvous near the
place of attack would he an indispensable
prccaution. And as there is no other Is,
and'nearer which would have been dis
tant enough from New Orleans for secur.
ty, it is probable that Lobos WAS the point
of rendezvous for the attack on New Or
leans.
On the evening of the 5,h lay of Febru-
ary lS47, and on the Slh day of our voy-
age, the ship Oregon cast anchor Of the
South side of the Island of Lobos. Six
ships with volunteers were already there
The Ellersie, with Major Gladden. and 800
Palmeltoes, had arrived two days before us.
a part of the Louisiana regiment, and the
lst Pennsylvania regiment under Col. Wyn
koop were also there.
On the day of our arrival at Lobos the
Abbeville company Ito which belongoD
lost its first victim to the seyerities of the
campaign. John Hall, quiet, modest
young man, died OH the 5th of February at
sea. IIcwas buried on the Island on the
next morning. A detachment of pioneers
with pick axes was also landed ON that
morning TO clear up n camping ground for
us. This was a work of great difficulty
Tho growth OF trees and vines, and under.
growth on the Island was dense and luxu-
rian;. AT the very waters edge we en-
countercd the projecting and impervious
thicket, and the ramifoalion of vines held
acres of growIh knit and woven together
We would cut tree from its roots, but IL
.supportingit were cleared away. But after
puS,Ltsss s}S2bor an opening was cleared into
the Island. tadaa' i,Qsa third morning we
landed in force, and renewed the wotk.-
the beautiful trees were ruthlessly cut down
Tie roots uprooted, broad streets were open
ed, and the declining sun of the 7th OF Feb
ruary saw magic city Of canvas erected
on the desolate and uatrodden Island.
On the 4th day another terrible north
ern blew up, and fretted the gulf into di.
abolical tempest. Our tents were blown
down, and il required great ingenuity to
fasten them so as to stand the violence of
the wind. The waves rolled high and fierce
and were dashed into clouds of white mist
over the breakers. Neptune and Eolus are
in q fierce and terrible struggle,
Sand the battle rnges long and loud,
And the hollow winds do blow"
Our sufferings arc eycruciating-,they
rise 10 the subime of agony. There is no
water on the Island, and any communica-
ton with this ships is impossible. Even
when the storm was milder, three separate
attempts were made to put cask Of water
on boat but they were dashed to pieces
inthe attempt Now, il would be worth
the lives of all the boats crew, even to at.
tempt to reach the Island The ships pull
hard on their, anchors, but being sheltered
by The Island. they escape q wreck Bot
we have nothiag 10 drink. Our salt pork
increases oeF tbilst, our yitals ate censum.
ing With heat, andswe have no water. And
yet q wido eSpaiise OF water surrounds us.
and plays atow feet THERE'S So :