Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-11-27
VOLUME XXVI.---No. Al.
The Herald's Newport News Correspon.
dencc.


Newport News, va, Oct. 27.n
Last night, at seven o'clock, two deserters
frem the rebel camp at Big Bethel came to
our outside picltets for protection. Their
names are VIM. Dennis and Andrew j. Smarss
and they are both natives of Augusta, Ga,
and priyates in the tenth regiment Georgia
volunteers. The word "volunteersn must
not. however, be taken in its literal sense, for
those men, with others, were impressed into
service. Of course all of their protestations
were unheeded They left Big Bethel at six
o'clock in the morning, and by keeping in the
woods and wading through swamps they sue.
ceeded in making good their escape, although
at one time they were very closely pursued.
They state that the camp at Bethel is about
five thousand strong, an equal quantity OF
them from Louisiana, Georgia, and Virginia;
besides these there are three hundred caval-
ry, under the name of Cobb's Legion" The
camp is under command Of Brigadier General
McClaws.
There exists good deal Of dissatisfaction
among the men Oh account of the insufficient
clothing the cruel treatment, and the want
of promptness in.the pay department; since
May last they have only received two months
pay, and that, Of course, in shinplasters, which
they are unable to get rid of except by buy
ing suffers goods at exorbitant prices. To-
bacco costs so cents plug; butter 80 cents
pound salt 25 cents 1ound; and so on
in proportion. The men are only furnished
with -four and meat tea and coffee are luxu.
ries unheard OF, and to procure an antidote
against the fever, whicL makes such havoc
among them, they dig up sassafras roots and
make kind of tea of them, which they drink
on getting up in the morning. During these
five months they have had to work constantly
on the batteries and all the spare time has
been filled up with iatiguins drills. While
the men are forbidden the use of liquor, the
officers are drunk most of the time, ard it is
surprising, with all the discomfort prevailing
in the ranks, that no n,utiny has yet taken
place. Gen. Magruder, who is commander
Of the entire force in that neighborhood, oc-
casionally visits their camp. and to use the
very words Of the deserters, Whenever he
is in whiskey lie always talks Of coming down
to Newport News to whip Gen. Phelps" But
not having come here yet, and not being viii
ling to receive any Of our invitations, it is
supposed that when he has got over biz
drunk" better reason prevails. The battery
at Big Bethel consists of twelve pieces Of
small riflcd cannon, aud is said 20 be well
manned.
These desertcrs were this morning turned
over to General Wool by Lieutenant Chris
tensen, aid-de-camp to General Phelps. Gen.
Wool, after having examined them very
closely, had them sent over to the Rip Raps.
where they will find work, and receive fool
aud clothing, and where they will also be cut
Of harm's way
Yesterday afternoon General Phelps sent
out detachment of Company D, First New
York volunteers, under command Of Lieut..
Tngersoll, to house belonging to Baker P.
Lee, about three miles from camp. For the
last month the only occupants of the house
have been poor white woman and three ne
crosses. Some days ago Lee sent messcn-
ger 10 this white woman, warning her 10 leave
the house, as he purposed to burn it down
over her head. The woman was, of course,
frightened, and fled in the direction Of Back
River, and when one of our scouting parties,
on Friday last, came to the house, they found
one of the negroes in G dying condition, and
the other two, being old and diseased, unable
to take care Of themselves. Out of feelings
of humanity, Gen. Phelps yesterday ordered
the above mentioned 9etachmcnt to proceed
to the house, and after they had buried The
dead woman, they brought the other two,
with all their baggage, into camp, and had
them sent by steamer to Fortress Monroe,
where the old ladies have friends and relatives.
One of them is "going on hundred years."
and seems, considering her age to be quite
smart. Her eyesight and hearing We're as good
as in young person, and she seemed much
affected at leaving the old homestead, where
she has worked so faithfully, and seen genera
ton after generation pass on before her. 1t
was touching sight to see her carry from
the house, as the last relic, her washing
board.
PowpER.-We are gratifed to know that
the Confederate States will not be wholly
without sources of supply of this indispensa-
BILE article. as the war progresses. The Gov.
ernment Powder Mills, at Augusta, have rot
yet been completed, but temporary works have
been erected, which are now turning out three