Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-22
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

| niost any thlng-to hard work. hard beds, md
soldiers fare. Indeed the irst prepares us for
The others; and after exercising all day, we
can sleep anywhere and relish almost any kind
OF fare. The life that We are leading seems to
agree with US all, aud we have this consolation
that whilst acquiring some military experience,
we are at the same time undergoing harden
ing process, and together with fund ofhealth
are attaining capability Of endurance, whicl,
may serve us in good stead in after life.
During the past week we have been hard at
work upon some of the Channel batteries. On
| Monday the construction Of one of these bat
teries was specially assi.ned to US, and our
whole company armed with spades and wheel
oarrows addressed themselves manfully TO the
task. Officers vea with privatcs in handling
the spade and rolling the wheelbarrow, and in
little over day the work was completed.
Our skill and industry received the encomiums
OF Colonels Dearing and Lamar, who had the
direction Of the matter. and who paid US the
compliment Of naming the work the "ALbe-
vile Battery" These gentlemen by the way
are Aides TO Governor Pickens and are doing
good service on the leland, in pressing for
ward the work Of construction. They are ac-
tive and efficient gentlemen who do not scru.
pie to take off their coats when the occasion
requires it.
On Saturday our company, together with
the Columbia Rifemen, were employed in
dragging heavy guns from Cummings Point TO
the various Channel Batteries. The object
was to strengthen these last, by the removal of
the and 10 inch Columbads from one of the
most formidable batteries which bear upon
Fort tSumter-Gen. Beauregard relying chiefly
upon hismortars to effect a reduction of the
Fort, should bombardment be pece esary-
The General is said to hold tha opinion that he
can bring Anderson to terms with his bomb.
shells in six hours. The task of REMOVAL was
heavy work, and occupied us all day and
portion of the uight. when we were relieved by
other companies. The design was to accom-
p''sh the matter as rapidly and secretly as nos.
sible, so as to elude the observation of Major
Anderson, and thus furnish no occasion for any
change in his armament. One hundred and
fifty men at time were attached to each gun
and in day and night the removal was ac
complished.
In such and similar labors we are daily ac-
quiring some experience of hard work. Sun
day affords no respite, and detachment of our
Company have of late been enjoying Sab
bath rest in unloading timber raft, standing
for half the day, up to their knees in the ealt
water Some of US are disposed at times to
complain of the character of the work in which
we are engaged, but SO long as our employ
ments are healthful we will cheerfully per-
form to the letter our stipulations to the
State.
The weather during the past week has been
very variable, but upon the whole, very pleas.
ant, both by night and day. At this season of
the year our tents are very comfortable, and
with our mattresse7, and good supply of
straw, we manage to sleep very soundly. In
the way of diet we have made decided i'm
Provement upon the hard buiscuit aud salt ba-
coE with which we commenced our Campaign.
and are receiving very excellent beef and ba.
ker's bread from the Commissary. In addi-
tion, we hsye frequent mementoes from home
in the shape of yellfled boxes Of provisions,
which with additions made from private
funds, enable US to welcome our visiting friends
to very bountiful tables Each mess is sup
Piled with servant; some Of them very good
cooks whose performances would occasionally
do no discredit to their home training. Our
greatest want is the scarcity Of good water
lhe small cisterns are soon exhausted. and then
we are forced to rely upon digging shallow
wells getting supply of braekish water.
As You may imagine. we all read with grsut
interest the conflicting dispatches of the past
week, respecting the probable evacuation of
Fort Sumter by the General Government.
Some Of the more incredulous were disposed
from the very outset, to regard this avowed
intention Of tho Administration, as a mere
r'tse degaerre, to cover an anticipated attack
and the naval Preparations at New York and
elsewhere gave countenance to the assumption.
Dispatches to that effect were received from
well informed sources in Washington, putting
Us upon our guard, and bidding our authori.
lies relax nothing of their vigilance. In pur-
suance of this advice. every preparation was
made for defence, the batteries were strength |
ened, new troops placed under arms, and all |
commanded TO be in readiness to meet the en-. |
emy at moments warning. Buta week has |
passed without bringing the anticipated attack, |
and there seems to be no longer any doubt but |
that necessity will compel the General Gov
to evactlate Fort Sumter Gen. Beau. |
regard regards Anderson as entirely in his |
power, and will probably dictate his own |
terms. And this too without resorting to a |
commandment but by 90 strengthening the |
hare0r defences as to cut of the promised re |
let and forcing capitulation. To this end,
the much talked of Floating Battery will be
removed to stono inlet, and every available
gun removed to strengthen the batteries which |
command AeVsnous channels. The surrender |
Of The Fort, is mere question of time.
The surrender of Fort Sumter. however, is a |
very dIstinsta aasstisa from that Of The evacu. |
alton Of all the Southern Forts, and the recoe- |
nstsea ~f tho soathern Gon8sderssy. Still it
= serg decidsd stsp 10 that direction, and We |
know NOT hows soon. Liue1ln and his Cabinet |
will be forced to choose the most eligible OF the
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