The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-04

ing been subjected for the past six month";
drought, to the cvaporatng process of trop-
ical sun, the little water it contained had dwIn-
died down to swine puddle. Far and near,
not blade Of grass tree was to be seen
1t was dark, long be fore we reached this point
Of the story and if it had been broad day
light. we could not have seen more than we
did. The stars had made their entry in the fir
manent, and the reflection Of their light upon
the surface of the pond, impaired to it the
transparency of clear water tasted it and it
was like physic. Some Of the men divested
themselves of their shoes and hose, and wadcd
into it, thinking to procure better article fur
ther on +; but it was still the same water. which
nothing but some chemical process could ever
render palpatable, as it happened, it proved
unlucky in every way to NIL those who thought
lessy left their shoes and socks on shore it being
given signal for all who were barc-footed
and bare-leggcd to supply themselves And
from the scene that ensued, there must have
been goody number who needed those arti-
cles. Only think of making coffee with such
water! We did use it for that purpose. And
the lapse ofyears can never effacc from our
memories its disngreeable and nauseating taste
and revolving olor. As a last alternative we
brought buckets oft, thinking that it would
become purified by morning but the morn
ing's light revealed no change for the better
The dirt and filth which impregnatel it, had
also entered into the composition of the fluid
itself, of which it formed the principal ingre-
dient. The mounted men who flanked our line
of march during the day, hnd procured toler-
able good article of water further in the couu-
try. This night they sold canteens full of 1t to
some Of our men, who were glad to get it at
any price.
On the morning of the l st April, the follow.
ing conversat ion took place between two of
our soldiers, whom we shall designate as NO. l
and NO. 2. "How's Army stock going this
morning." NO. 2. look here, I II treat YOU if
you never name stock to me again :" NO. ..
Welll you first started it." NO. l. "Well!
'spose did, despise to see man always ma.
king fool ofhimseIf." NO.. Welll have
heard talk of April fools, and I think if there
ever was set of those verdants, we all indi
vidually and collectively come under that ap-
pellation :" NO. and NO. Q. were both orig.
inal characters, and the above incident first
started from proposition which NO. l. had
made to NO. 2, some time back, to tile effect
that he would gladly sell out his etock and
trade in the war including l6O acres of land
NO. 2. remarked to him at the time, also by
way of jest, that he himself had eaten up his
quarter section of land, alludng to the amount
of dirt he had consumed W ith his daily food,
There were good many number ones in the
Regiment Mt this time, who would gladly have
relinq ushed all the present and forth coming
honors of this war which hns only been realized
in the shape of salt pork hard biscuit, and fa-
tiguing marches. Scarcely recovered from yes.
terday 8 fatigues. tn rising belield our CO.
ried column. slowly traversing our route
across the prairie. The general aspect of the
whole recalled forcibly to mind NO. 2's remarks
this morning; for every one, if we are to Judge
from his sober cast of countenance must have
belt its stern reality. In the course of the day
We passed several parties of the natl YES, both
male and female, all of whom were mounted on
their diminutive horses. The meeting of so
large an armed force did notappear to arouse
their fears, nor effect their demeanor in the
least; and to all of our interrogatories relative
returned cheerful answers. The females
were'mounted after the fashion Of the men which
was one peculiarity could not refrain no
ting; and another was, that when they had a
couple ofloose steeds to drive, they tied their
heads and to lis fast together. The sun now
beamed upon US with greater intensity as we
had receded from the seacoast A large num-
Der of the men have fallen miles in the rear,
numbers have been taken very i'll, and not
and Bland our Regimental Surgeons are kind
and attentive to the sick. and in extreme cases,
they are allowed room in the transportation
Wagons, which have been brought along
empty. for that purpose. We have seen no wa.
ter yet, and many of us have not TASTED drop
to-day. At IL o'clock, we deserted the fret ap.
pearance of a human habitation a cluster of
branches looming in the distance which very
much resembled some gentleman's mansion, as
caused by the reflection of the suns rays. The
occupants of the huts were civil and sup.
plyed the Army with whatever their means af.
forded ; and that was nothing but cask of
bad water. and hardly drop to man when
shared out Ho wever, Gen. Quitman station
ed guard over the premises until The column
passed by to prevent the residents from bsi1e
eneroached upon. At 2 o'clock p. M. we are
again in view of the waters of the Gulf Hard
by, is a pond covered with green SCUM, and
inhabited BY scores Of frogs and aligators. We
waded in and slaked our phrcnsisd thirst.
Long abstinence from this life imparting bsye.
rage and exposure to a tropical sunshine rem
dered this filthy water a most grateful luxury.
Near the margin Of the pond, were some wells
sunkeu 10 the depth of IL feet, and the water,
by psrcolating threugh. had become partially
purified. The we'll was crowded with men
from bottom to top Those inside forming
communication along which the water was
passed 70 seose ons.the outside, i had with
many others drank from the native reservoir
before .dis0eyessd this pswly constructed VOL
fwo nile. further On, We crossed shs alvte,,
ofs stream. Is margid 81 ~ either side was
fringed With Palmetto and Paini tssese witch
va the Arst sppssrancs 81 vesst.tiSn N.
Asvs encountered today 12"o faE Ell Hs9:IT "a