Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-07-25


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FoRT PIckExs, FLORIDA
June l6, lS6l I
DEAR FRIEND RoLLA:-It is Sabbath after
noon, and have nothing to do until 6, P. NJ,
parade and inspection-I, therefore de-
vote my leisure hours to pen and ink talk
with you, From Monday morning to Satur-
day night, We are all busy as beavers, in the
work OF f0rtitying our position and strength
ening the place Sunday morning is devoted
to the washing of clothes sewing and repair
ing generally, and the care and cleaning of
our arms. Tbs morning, | washed eight
pieces, in a tub of ditch water, and rinsed
them in the Gulf of Mexico besides | washed
and secured my blanket, sewed up hole in
my pants, and made for myself white canvas
cap aud cape, unpacked and aired the duds in
my knapsack, cleaned and secured out nv ri
tie, polished and Sharpened my sabre-bayonet
and bowie knife, fired of the loads in nv re-
7Olver, cleaned aud reloaded it, aud swept
out aud put things TO rights about my bunk.
and if that is not good Sabbath mornings
work, l am no Judge.
As regards myself thus far, | am healthy,
hardy, and cheerful, though there are some
four or five Of our company in the Hospital,
and looking much as though the gIacis would
be their resting place soon. Yet as general
thing the health of the garrison is good
Qnite an event occurred few DAYS since One
oil our soldiers a native OF New Orleans,
hear, attempted to desert TO the enemy. bv
swimming the bay to the other side. He ac-
comD.iShed a bout three lourihs o. the distance
/ Il miles, aud sank 10 rise no more Il is
thought lie was taken by a shark. The wa
terS in this vicinity being full of them-at all
events he did not i've TO accomplish the pur.
pose Of his black and false heart
Yesterday, we lost man on the G af beach.
who was taken by a shark, while bathing. |
bad only left the water few moments when
the event occurred
The loss of a soldier, by accident or disease,
seems a melancholy event, but such a death is
truly terrible; yet among men who are accus-
TONED to see such things, and are as familiar
with death as with any other companion. the
event occupies the mind only during the pass
jug hour, and with "poor fellow. be was a
good soldier or some other expression be
passes from the mind ami never again occQ
pies the thoughts, except some circumstance
connected with his life. or a similar event,
.
Up to this date, the position Of affairs here
remain the same, except thai we continue our
work in erecting batteries and mounting heavy
guns We have now mounted ten 10 inch
Coumbiads. Five in the fort and FIVE in the
batteries outside besides four 10 inch Sea
Coast mOriars, six or seven 0 inch Seige NOR
tars, aud any quantity Of S iucd Howitzars
and Seige guns, and smaller cannon too uu-
mer0u> 10 mention" and we shall soon have z
dozen rIhed cannon, with which 70 pay our
VERY PARTICULAR RESPECTS 10 Gen. BRAGG
Three Of our batteries are named respective
/ ly, Battery Lincoln" guns, : in. Bat
terry Cameron" ; CulumbiadS. 10 in J " Bat
terry Scott ) CoQmbiadS, 10 H., and one
CoumbIad Battery. and Two mortar bat
terieS not yet named The condition OF the
/ troops here IS quite as comfortable as the most
unreasonable ccud expect Col BRuwN and
the Government have done all that could rea
sonsbly be expected TO make Us coGtented aud
easy IN such GOd-forsaken, aud deserted
place. Though the daily fatigue aud nightly
watch, StIii continue, We now sleep in comfort
able bnukS, protected 10y muSquitOe nets, in
stead Of on the c,ld, damp brick pavement Of
the caSemates, and have a plentiful supply of
good fresh bread and other ratiouS, instead Of
musty pilot bread and rusty pork, as at first,
besides we get q IL gill Of whisky twice q
day, enough to sharpen the appetite aud Kill
the auimalculG in the water we drink and
amoug the good things which we hars had l
can mention sweet potatoes, turtle soup, &c
The weather IS warm, very warm, but not
so much 50 as | expected in this latitude
The sea breeze makes il more eadurabie The
rf~ Ia -Fa ~ -,
PENNSYLVANIA at this season, and | must say |
have experienced hotter days there at this
season than | have here; but expect the
wols. Is 10 come yet, and | won't halo IN
til an ont Of the woods.
JCSE I9-It is Il at night, and am tired.
very tired. having worked hard al day, with
an Artillery Company, bringing from the beach
into The fort some Le4yy rIaed cannon, eight
Of which We intend 10 have ready TO use by
the day aFtt. tomorrow. Il IS nv part OF
the uigbt on dG.y, IN my battery, from
twelve 10 two and as | am very wea-
~, | write the letter 10 keep awake, Tor
if | read or Sit uHOccupied. / AN in daC-
ger Or sleeping. which would be q bad exam
pie 10 ny seltrieS, upon whom | eHiOin such
strict vigilance, and might subject NE 70 some
thing z-.rerIs.y uHF.sEsGui. From the amount
OF war material u0w here, aud YET TO come, j:
would seem tha: something more than the
mere holding OF Fort Pjckeus Is intended
The bare possibilities Of Gen BEAGGs' being
able 10 take the place, even with an army Of
',rsHtg 'housGHG men. are growing daily less.
In the case Of Fort Sumter, Mai. ANDERSON
had but seventy soldiers. We hare one thou
sand. Al Sumter some Of the euemy's bate
RES were almost within raCulsr hraachi1r
range Here his UesreSt battery IS II
miles distant. Maj. ANDERSON could no: be
re-eaforced, even though there was need Of