The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-22
A Visit to the Lancaster Crews.

morning, we were Joined at Kingsvillc BY
Lieut.. X. G. Billings, who was returning to
his post on Sullivan's Island from three
weeks furIough. Imm ediatey on our arri.
val at the Charleston Hotel, we had the
pleasure of shaking hands with several
members of the Lancaster Greys Messrs
X. Nj. Sims, Il, r. Nesbit, Josiah Brlk, Dr.
!. Wylie and others. Mr.. Sims is now lst
Seargeant of his company, and is fit to fill
a position many degrees higher TO natu-
raj abilities Of no inferior kind, is added a
fine military education, he being graduate
Of the Citidel Academy in Charleston. lie
is u gentleman of noble impulses his uuas-
snming disposition and natural rrpugnance
to office seeking, may for time impede his
progress, but eventually his merits will DO
appreciated and receive their just recon.
pense Of reward.
We spent n very pleasant afternoon and
evening IN the City with our Lancaster
| friends. Mr.. 5. and ourself visited, on inyi
tatlon from one Of the psoprietors Of the
House OF John Fraser g. Co., the splen did
ship, John Fraser, of the line Of Charleston
and Liverpool packets. then in port aud dis.
charging n cargo Of salt. TO land rLber,
like ourseli, m inspection of this fine YES.
sci was no ordinary treat. The Captain
an admirable specimen of an English gen.
tlemnn and seaman, conducted Us through
with seeming pleasure, and contributed
much by his conversation TO our very Rmi
ted knowledge of sea faring matters. Tie
is fair representative Of the irrcproncha'
bic ard worls-kno~n Commercial House of
JOHN FRASER & Co. When the Ship
John Fraser, can q" to sea again under ex.
listing circumstances, is doubtful The Cap.
tain, however, in alluding TO the difficulties
before US, seemed TO be convinced that il
will not be long before 'all will be right
Lieut.. B. J. Witherspoon, wh ON We were
much pleased to meet, came over 10 see us
during the evening. lie is looking well
nnd is M frank and jovial as ever. With
his happy disnosit'on, it is no wonder that
he is general favorite among hi. brother
Cavalry to the Infantry service: he is the
Sd officer in Capt. Butler. Company. station.
ed on Sullivans Island.
On Friday morning. 10 company with
l.euts. Witherspoon and Billings, Messrs.
Sims, Ni,bet and Beik. we started on u Wis
IL to the Camp Of the Gregg on Morris Is
land. The Boat that runs regularly from
the City to the Island is an unliqualcd affair
that travels at the rate of about two miles
an hour. II lis speed could be increased BY
any means it might hep the temper Of it's
Cap'a:n, which seemed sadly 'ou, of sorts
on The day referred to more steam escaped
from him in the discharge Of his functions
than would be sufficient, if il could have
been applied, to have propelled his craft at
moderately Increased rate. In due course
Of time, however. after touching at Forts
Johnson and Sumter, We arriveI at the Is
land. We did not 20 in For, Sumter, hav.
ing no permit; some Of our uniformed
friends being more privileged, went in and
brought us pieces OF bomb-shell and other
relics OF the battle They reported that the
damage inside the Fore was being rapidly
repaired; several hundred hands were EN-.
plOyed in this labor.
At The landing on Morris Island, the
guard with crossed bayonets disputed the
passage Of those Of ns who had no permits,
much to the Indignation Of some Of our
friends in the regular service. The faithful
sen,inels kept US at bay until nm order from
head quarters through Lieut. Crockett, of
the 'Greys' who met us at the landing and
oiiicia'ed for US, made it all right. The
labor OF procuring permit to visit the
Island is enormous, as we know from ex-
perience our friends who applied at the
proper quarter 10 the city for US, more than
once, were encouraged to believe that by nm
indefinite perseverance, they might eventu-
ally succeed.
walk OF about mile aud half brought
Us to the camp Of the 'Greys' IT is need
less to say that we greeted the sieht of so
many familiar faces, among whom were
many OF our warm personal friends. with
high degree Of pleasure. II was our first
advent in a military camp. Being near the
hour for dinntr.a good many were engr
ged In the IN the interesting process of pre-.
pairing that meal. Although comparatively
new hands at this kind Of labor, we can as
sure the ladies' that they do no discredit TO
the profession, II the table at which we
were served was fair specimen Of the
skill Of the camp. We never devoured a
dinner with greater relish than we did the
one on Morris Island, and if outside indca.
tions amount to anything, our friends, the
Lieutenants from Sullivan's Island, can Ell.
dorse ali that we say on this score.
We were glad to find the men all look
ing we'll and cheerful some had been
slightly indisposed but were improving -
They were getting on as well as the barren
and uncomfortable situation OF their camp
would allow they expected TO be moved
to some other point, probably TO the inte.