Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-25
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS,
SULLIvAN's IsL>Np, Moultric House,

n
statement or 30, which occurred in my last let.
ter The fret was an error Of the printer. in
which was made to say that the Moultrie
House. is one-half mile from Fort Sumpter"
1t should have read "Fort Moul,rc," which is
itself. believe little over one mile from Fort
Sumter. and together with the Moultrie uouse,
IN oasy Iange Of its batteries. The other was
an error OF my own. in which I spoke of
strong batteries being erected at Pelican's
Point. These batteries nrc Mt no great dis
tance from the Moultrie House, and on the d.
rect road to the Point, and are designed to
command Maffat's" Channel, the nearest shin
Chanel to the Island. The armament at the
Point consists of one brass II pounder, guard.
ed by n single Company; the companies at the
Monltrie House being each in rotation detailed
for this duty.
Since last wrote you we have entered upon
rigid course of. drill ing, which trust will in
the course of time make good soldiers of the
most OF us. Some OF us are rather raw re-
cruits but rs we have the right spirit, and
disposition to learn We will soon acquire the
step and bearing Of soldiers AS q matter of
interest to your readers would append the
daily routine cf our duties in Camp: At half
past o'clock, n. M, the drum beats the "Rev-
ellie" which awakens us up to the roll. CALI
and after answering to the call of our names
we are dismissed for the purpose Of putting
our rooms in order At halfpast I o'clock,
the drum beat Of "Peas upon Trcnchcr,'' in
vites us to breakfast. At anarter-pnst s
ba nr,n
tlnues for three-quarters Of an hour. At 0
O'Clock Guard Mounting takes place. At 10
o'clock Squad Drill is resumed, and continues
until quarter past II o'clock. After n inter.
mission. sqad Drill is again resumed at l2
o'clock and continues for three quarters of an
hour. At o'clock the drum sounds the call
to dinner, "Roast Beef" At o'clock Com.
pany Drill commences and continues for three
quarters Of an hour. At four o'clock we have
the signal for Dress Parade, when the whole
Regiment is reviewed by the Colonel and Staff,
and after the performance of various evolu.
tlons receive the orders for the following day.
AT o'clock the tattoo" is beat, which in
vites US to roll.call and Mt half. past o'clock.
the "taps" upon the drum is the signal Cor ex-
all lights.
ihua' you see we are pretty constantly em
ployed during tue day. and have not many mo.
ments for general amusements. These duties
however, with the exception of guard mount
ing are comparatively light, and agree finely
W 18th the Moat of US. Guard. mounting is the
most onerous. and is performed by each pri-
vate and nou-ccmmissioned officer ip due rota
nrIS afo,o and
officer are daily detailed from each company,
and they remain upon duty for 24 hours
Each sentinel stands guard for 2 hours at a
time, when he is relieved for 1 hours-,hus
eaoh one of the guard is upon active duty 8
hours of the "a. With n loaded musket on
his ahoulder, and good supply of ammun-
lion in his cartridge box, he walks the prsscri
bed iimite. suffering no one to pass the lines at
night without the '''countersign" over his poia
ted bayonet, and during the day passing none
except superior officer, or one bearing the
permit of the officer in charge.
The above is the ordidary routine of daily
duty in Camp; but occasionally the monotony
is relieved by our being called npon to perform
some special duty. For instance, we NAV be
detailed to fill sand bags for the ramparts of
Fort Mou!trie, Or to excavate bitches at the
east OF rs, which command the Channel. Or
again. it may be assigned to US to form q part
Of the Camp Police, to sweep the quarters.
aud environs-to1 handle our brooms, spades
and wheelbarrows, and TO do duty generally as
street scavengers. In that capacity our detach.
ment few days since, under the command of
Lieut.. Edwards, performed the lass of eeques,
over the body of a deceased horse, which had
been cast by the ocean surf in too close prox-
Unity to our Camp. Our friend Kerr, the Has
kel!s aud others. did vigorous service on that
occasion. as indeed does the whole corps when
called upon to handle the broom, the spade, or
the musket. Our men work cheerf,ly, and
are ready for the performance Of any. duty,
and in this respect have received the encomi-
ums OF our officers, who are prepared to set
them a proper example in meeting the require
ments Of the service.
On Thursday last. we were dispatched with
two days provisions to Pelcan's Point at the
eastern extremity of the Island to relieve the
Company which was stationed there. Here
we were required to guard brass 2 FOUNDER,
intended in conjunction with our mnskets TO
prevent the landing of any troopsa at this point;
and here commenced our experience of tent
life. The Point is somewhat famous In revo.
|utionnry story. for the debarkation of British
trooPs' and to prevents similar importation
Of Unole Sans CuntiDentals,. was the duty as
signed us. The enemy did not approach, but
nevertheless we guarded this outpost with all
The iligehce of men. who awaited an advan.
cling foe. Our guns was loaded, our sentinels
armed and posted, and we had each ten rounds
Of ammunition in our cartridge boxea Here
lid my first service in the way of standing
guard /; and as paced for hours upon that
surf beaten shore, With the chilly winds of the
Ocean blowing upon me. 'Wh,lst the sentinel
stars kept their watch in the sky" fully re-.
allied, "What shadows we are and what
shadows We nSrsue." With the morning
,owever came more cheerful thoughts and a
pleasant "row" on the water furnished a de-
ightful solace after the fatigues Of the night.
Dur Camp was loo ated near Trnesdale's some