Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-26

and plumes and jack boots, would have done no
dlscredit to face, figure, and bearing, to the gay
est cavaliers who ever Numbered at the heels of
Prince Rupert. Their horses, full of Carolinian
fire and mettle, stood pcketed under the trees
along the margin of the beach Among these
men who had been doing the duty of common.
troopers in patrolling the seacoast were gentle
men possessed of large estates and princey for
tunes; and one who stood among them was point
cd out to me as captain of company for whose
uses his lberality provided unbounde1 daily liba-
tons of champagne and the best ,uxurieS which
French ingenuity can safely imprison in those
well known caskets with which Crimean warriors
were not unacquainted at the close of the cam
paign. They were eager for news, which was
shouted out to them by their friends in the steam
or, and one was struck by the intimate personal
cordiality and familiar acquaintance which exist
ed among them. The heavy guns, mounted in
an earthwork defended by palisades, covered the
beach and the landing place. and the garrison was
TO have been reinforced by regiment from
Charleston, which, however had not got in read
mess to go up on our steamer, owing to some lit
tie difficulties between the volunteers, their Off
GERS, and the @ Iartermaster Generals depart
ment.
mention these particulars to give an idea of
the state of the defence in which South Carolina
holds itself, for, unless Georgetown, which lies at
the head of this inlet, could be considered an
object of an attack, one seeks in vain for any
reason to induce enemy to make his appear
ance in the direction. A march on Charleston
by land would be operation of extreme diff
Guilty, through a series of sandhills, alternating
with marshes, water-courses, rivers, and flooded
fields.
Arrived at a deep chocolate colOred stream,
called Black River, full of fish and alligators,
we find fat large enough to accommodate We
hicles and passengers and propelled by two ne
groes pulling upon n stretched rope, in the man
ner usual in the ferryboats of Switzerland, ready
for our reception Another drive through more
open country, and we reach fine grove of pine
and live oak, which melts away into a shrubbery,
guarded by gateway. passing through which we
are brought by sudden turn into n planter s
house, buried in trees whicd dispute with the
green sward, and with wild fower-beds every
| yard of the space which lies between the hall
door and the waters of the Pedee; and in few
minutes, as we gaze over the expanse OF fields,
just tinged with green by the first life OF the
early rice crops, marked by the deep water cuts,
and bounded by fringe of unceasing forest, the
chimneys of the steamer We had left at George
town gliding, it were through the fields, indi-
cate the existence of another navgable river still
beyond. Leaving with regret the verandah which
command enchanting foreground of flowers,
rare shrubbery and bearded live oaks, with
each graceful sylvan outline distinctly penclled
upon the waters of the river. We enter the house
and are reminded by its low browed, old fashioned
rooms of the country houses yet to be found in
parts of Ireland, or on the Scottish border, with
additions made by the luxury and love of foreign
travel of more than one generation Of educated
Southern planters Paintings from Italy illus
trate the walls i'll juxtapostion with interesting
portraits of early Colonial Governors and their
lovely womankind, lined with no uncertain hand
and full of the vgor of touch and naturalness oil
drapery of which Ccpey has left US too few ex-
empars, and one portrait of Benjamin West claims
for itself such honor as his own pencil can give.
An excellent library filled with collections Of
French and English classics, and with those pom
derous editions of Voltaire, Rousseau, the Me-
noires pour Seroir, books of travel and history
such as delighted our forefathers in the last cen
tury, and many works of American and general
history afford ample occupation for rainy day.
But, alasi these, and all things good which else
the house affords can be enjoyed but for 5ref
season. Just as nature has expanded every
charm, developed every grace, and clothed the
scene with all the beauty of opened flower, o.
ripening grain, and of mature vegetation, on the
wings of the wind the poisoned breath comes
borne to the home of the white man, and he must
fly before it or perish.
NV black friends who attend upon me are
grave as Mussulman Khtmutgars. They are at
tired ia liveries, and wear white cravats and Ber-
lin gloves. At night when retire, off they 90
to their outer darkness in the small settlement OF
negrohood, which is separated from our house by
a wooden pallisado. Their fidelity is u,dOGbted.
The house breathes an air of security. The doors
and windows are unlocked. There is but one
gun, a fowling- piece, on the premises. Noplanter
hereabout has any dread of his slaves. But
have seen within the short time have been in
this part of the world, several dreadful accounts
of murder and violence, in which masters suffer
ed at the hands of their slaves. There is some
thing suspicious in the constant, never ending
statement that I'VE are not afraid of our slaves. "
The curfew and the night patrol in the streets,
the prisons and watch houses, and the police reg
uatons prove that strict supervision Mt all events
is needed and necessary. My host is kind man
and good master. If slaves are happy any
where, they should be so with him.
These people are ted by their master. They
have upwards of half a pound per diem of fat
pork and corn in abundance. They rear poultry,
and sell their chickens and eggs to the house
They are clothed by their master. He keeps
them in sickness az in health Now and then
there gifts of tobacco and molasses for the de
serving. There was little labor going on in the
field, for the rice had been just exerting itself to
get its head above water. These fields yield
plentifully; for the waters of the river are fat
and they are let in whenever the planter requires
it by means of food gates and small canals
through which the flats can carry their loads oil
grain to the river for loading the steamers.