, 1861-12-17

no 1Gose11ent yet" .F6rsifN9 fN9nQ's-Gtn. -A9e3s- |
man TO the Gabi,a= 057ee- WhH Dizie's Land
Their or, ttn,ril7sng Troops Wareho,t@s T.
ing built" Crackers s"--Rhat Billy" says
What Of the =" Irustg Ber7unts''- ''-Fbrtif-
eations-HerNA Of 1foeps-1Re Climate:
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune] /
Ponr ROYAL, s. C., December 9Th.
snce my last nothing Of importance has |
transpircd in this Division, except that such |
arc being made in the way OF erect I
ing buildings and Notifications as would in |
duce the most superficial observer to believe |
that we-arc preparing for winter quarters and |
a great military depot in good earnest. The
troops have been waiting expectant for the Or
der TO advance into the country; but an ed
vance at present does not seem to be in the
programme of our leader. BE is reported TO
have answered member Of the Cabinet at
Washington, in reply to a hint to advance,
that e If they wish an advance made before he
is ready to make it, that theg must send some
one else to take his place.
We learn from the Southern papers, which
you have doubtless seen, that the enemy are
making al possible preparations for visor-
GUS defence erecting batteries at all necessa-
r. points, drafting in all who will not Tolun-
tcer, urging, coaxing, threatening, Worrying
Nothing seems to annoy them 30 mueh--if
VIC can judge from the tone Of the Southern
press, and their conduct as reported BY the
contrabanas who daily escape from thezn-as
the course the negroes take in s,eg7ectfny to
follow their masters in the general melee.
The papers recommend the use Of cavalry
to scour the country and drive them in, or
tsse means to p7erent their eseats to Aeenensyn'
Rather significant that, in connection with
thefact currently believed here, by the n11anf-
nous report Of fugitiyes hither, that the rebels
arc slaughte1ing without mercy all whom they
catch attempting to f1y to our protection.
Cotton houses, corn houses and buildings
are being burned By the Shareholder,
and they likewise threaten to lay their
towns in ashes on the approach Of the Union
iste- do not remember whether in my Inst
/ acquainted you with the fact that several OF
the soldiers at Fort Walker were shot for re-
fnsing to fight, or rather for declaring TINT
they would not fight. This was before our
arrival Two or three are believed to have
been shot down by their officers the day Of our
r.
ing the works, an average Of fifty men were at
work with ball and chain, for attempting to
escape. These were the -slaTeholdipg re-
cruits, called ''crackers," who were forced
into the Southern army; and that the Southern
army is .tfuN Of s,.ch, do not the least doubt.
Much must be deducted from tile statements
Of the negroes, but not so much in matters Of
this sort as you may imagine. On MI points
which could be tried and tested and compared
with known facts, they have been strangely
truthful.
While in occupancy Of the seabrook planta-
| ton, with our company, during the past week,
had long conversations with 'sBi1y," the
body servant OF an officer Of the Beaufort
| Gucrilas, wlo were posted on the Island. He
| is Intelligent and smart-a mulatto. By the
| way, had underrated the general in,
telIgonee of the negroes here. Even the field
hands haze ideas Of their own as to how, why
| and what. They make common cause, and
what ss Billy" hears read from the newspapers
at lis masters table, becomes common
! properly in the "quarters'' with
Gu1nbo and Cuhec, within twcnty-fouz hours
| all hints, all expressed mistrust, eren
hidden fear on the part Of hints incautiously
exposed is caught BY the watchful ears Of meu
and women who have long hoped and looked
! for an event like the present. EYcE
tic looks and actions OF confident masters
| ore trnnslatcd by the Hatchfl eye Of supposed
trusty servants, and arc promulgated among
the "hands.' Talk of strusty servants
who will fight for their masters.
the thing is monstrous absurdity
If such people exist among the slaves, the,
do lot exist in Southern Carolina. There is NJ
suc1, thing. Pinckucy, after his llasty aigh
to the main, resolved to return and burn hi
buildings, some full Of corn and cotton. {Hs
owned Pinckney Island, which lies right oppo
site the Seabrook place. and we made visit
working about 4oJ slaycs.) His trusty ncgrt
William, who had driven on Espetango plan
| tation for over 80 years, and whom he hat
taken with him to the main, discouraged hiu
by saying 1.-THE Yankees are Ill around t.,
island, master, and They viii catch you; lc
INC co. William came with full instruction
in regard to asccrtaining onrforcc, and how t.
proceed, DC, &C., much Of which hc detlilc
10 me, but Mr Pinckney has not seen William
since. II am old, - said William to nc, "bu
want to die rather than 60 back to Maste
Pinckncs-" Set it down once for all, if ii
negroes knew their strength, VIC should have u
saeed ef Northern soldiers to put do'cn this 4t5s
lion. 1t would be destroyed by flames, 1ighte
ty those who are yauntcd- to be ready to d
for its promoters "Master," said .Billy
but Of his own accord, 'therc arc great man
of the rebel soldiers who will not fire q shots
them" "bo you think SOP" Why !?
ttMdccd, sir, I knoar it. hare heard sever:
/ say SO in Master Scrigcn's company {the Cue
/ n+,l e1,c rf{ lin Fo>& l.
cause they ran away, and, when brought bael
declared they would not fight the Union mel
: None Of the crackers viii fight you. Tht
had enough men to make 8 company at wol
with ball and chain for the same reason, an
. more down in the b1ack-ho1e, 1t the Fort, i
/ T for that very same reason. Master SERVE
! and Master Dupont used to talk about 1t a1
say they were afrtid some OF our compa1
wouldn't fight either"
Tic above, somewhat improved into En-
, lish, is the exact language Of one Of tho i
d tc1lfgent mulattoes who had ample opport
c nifty to know, and its sentiments arc corrob
:. rated in every conversation with the ncgroe
;. Concerning our present doings, under Il
= supervision Of Col. Sewell, Of the Engineer
It fortifcatiou enclosing piece Of countr
l. {inc1uding Fort Walkcr) about mile in leug
!. by about three-quartcrs Of mile in width
widest part, is being erected 1t will be
Is approved and scientific principles. There q
being rapidly mounted very large guns fro
.e the fleet, some of which arc drawn from t
n landing By 12 horses. The works arc bcf
i made higher and the bitches broader and dee
IS er than were tho walls and bitches Of Ft
q Walker, which is now but mere point insi
q. I tho outer works, and there arc about 5,
ii ut work upon them constantly. Immense
al pots for stores, one Of which is over 800 Fl
,c i'll length, arc being erected, vast She
+ buildings for hospital and other purpos
is ! are in rapid course Of construction or alrca
r. ! completed. These, in addition to the bui
j. ings found here, the work Of the rebels.
- large bakery is nearly completed The s.
e. Ter was Is large wooden houses, on thcir II
hi nermanence is pointed. Who knows
r. | that in this excellent situation Of land, Il
70 upon this magnificent border, city Of
b mean size may not yet arise to eclipse cy
er Charleston or Savannah? You llarc lear1
n. that Il Post Office has been established he
ds Mr. Jacob Sears, who accompanied the cx
IN aition as snpercargo Of the Vanderbilt, is
#. Post Muster.
he The health Of the troops is now much
cd proved, and it is rapidly becoming healt
h. The entire change of diet and climate, togo
ey carly part Of our stay here, caused much 81
~ ness; but the acclimation seems to be ab
~ ~, over, and all looks well now.
ri To instance the contrast between the
~, and roses on the 1st Of December from t,
AZ and rose bushes sill in full yerdure and b1o'
~ Until yesterdayit has been too warm, but
day it is pleasantly cool. The nights are,
ever, chilly, and fires arc then comforta
,a+ The dews tal1 very heaTy.
a4 There has Ms yet been no reinforcement
nd our army here, but such is expected by us.
* If nanything Of importance happens, You
,r, hear from SANDWICH