The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-04-23
THINGS ABOUT CHARLESTON.


extent the Inconvenience and hardships at.
tending the present war. Many of the large
mercantile houses are closed the better class
oil the retail establishments are opened only
part oi the day, and business generally, except
among the few who specializing upon the
necessities OF the people. is almost at a stand.
still The great difficulty which non.producers
Of provisions throughout the country have to
encounter in getting supplies for their families 3
at living rates, is peculiarly fel: by the people
OF Charleston we are disncliucd to repeat the
extraordinary prices which we were told are
oeuig paid for provisions Of our own raising
Such rates are a scandal upon the country aud
should be put down if there is any way by
which 1t can be done. Whether the producer,
Or those Ybuy from him to sell again, are
fesp"hslbhesF the cxtortiJn, we cannot say !;
but evidently, either one or the other, or both
o' these classes are growing rich by means of
the unreasonable advantage which they take Of
'he necessities OF the people Nor is the mania
Tor gam, or spirit OF avarice, confined to the
provision business. 1t pcrva,Ies other brauch,s
" ""ue articles OF domestic necessity es-
Pee'a''y' are sold mt fabulous prices. Goods of
! almost cvey description are several hundred
per cent cheaper in the up.country, (where
'"ey can be got at allJ than they ar. in Char.
hs'oh vi course it is uvowcd that these pric.s
are induced by the risks OF Tin. hlork,d.. I'm,
the Knowing oncs say that the ''old stock" is
cohSt'uet'cly made to run the blockade and
subjected To blockade rates
There must be considerabl, uumh.r or
troops around Charleston, judging Gom the
number oi officers 60 be seen about Tia. Hotel.
ASIDE from the Il reign population. there an.
comparatively very icw able bodied civilians j.,
Tie ''y' 1t is said that about six hundred OF
''e 'ohe', between the ages OF - aud 45
years cuined consular protection and we,.
exempted ON military conscr iption or dr,,,
and it is complained that this class constitute a
large proportion OF tue cxto, TONERS in the City
aud are making money out OF the wants of th,.
families Of better men, who ave in the Sc, VIC.
oi tiIe county These Foreigners arc rotccted
~ their business aud in their Persons aud pro.
J perty by cur Government, aud Vet they ,etus.
TO share in the defence Of the Government
| They are, under the circumstances, All iucum-
brance, aud Congress shou,t pass a law, which
would have the effect, either to make them
consent to share the Burdens Of the war, or to
drive them from the country.
Tux l2ru 5. Z. RhGIMENr
The main object OF our journey was to visit
this Regiment. We found it in the vicinity of
forotaligo. Four Companies of the Regiment,
including one of our Lancaster Companies,
(the "Blair Guards') were 1t another POINT,
ana these We d'd not see. Capt. Vanlarding-
hams Company is i'll excellent hcslth-be,ter,
We were informed, than they had crjoyed at
any previons time, during the eight months
that they have been in service. There was
some sickness among the late recruits. Capt
V. looks Iema' kaby well, and i, getting OH
hney with his Company. lie mas the rare
quality OF being able to command the respect
ot his men, aud at the saiuc time via their es
teem aud good will His men all like him
The same remark made OF His Company in res.
pect to health. will apply to the Regiment
generally.
Ihe 18th Regiment is now commanded by
Vol. Barnes, Col. Dunovant havi:g resigned
Col Barnes well dcserves the position The
9Th Regiment has the reputation Of being the
best drilled Regiment on the coast, aud thi-
proficiency Is attributed TO his superior quail
tiles as drill officer. As corlln inder, hi \
merits have been tested both in the camp and
in the field, and his Rrgnent-both officers
and privates have unbouuded confidence in
him. The Regiment now numbers near 1000
mel. The two companies from this Distric t
will receive about 20 more recruits, each.
| The men seem to bear the hardshps and
dangers Of soldiers life with admirable spirit
and iortitude; true many Of them wish 10 get
home-'sweet homc"-to see their families -
The deprivation Of this pleasure is the greatest
cross 70 the soldier and there are few, We im-
! agine. who have not tried IT, who appreciate
the tremendous sacrifice which he makes in
tearing himself from those in whom all his
| earthly affections are centered.
We have been promised a regular correspon-
| dence hereafter from the 1 9Th Regiment, from
NJ d. J. Carter, who has recently joined Capt
Vanlandinghsms Company Mr. q has been
connected with our Office for about six years,
and !. inown to some Of our readers As the
Local editor OF the LEpGsR.
Owing to reasons, not necessary to mention,
we did not ZEN ain as long with this Regiment
as we had anticipated; and for the same rea.
sons were deprived Of the pleasure of visiting
other Regiments on the coast, containing Lai.-
caster Companies.
THE LANDS AND CLIMATE on InE CoAsr
The rishest lands in South Carolina are the
lands now in the possession OF, or threatened by
the enemy. The country around Pocotalgo is
highly productive; cotton will grow fom Ave
TO eight feet high, aud we were told that lower
down, OIL the Combahee river, the land Is still
more productive. The little preparation for
planting now going on, does not seem calcula.
ted to developc to perfection the strength of the
lind. We believe that an energetic planter
from the up.country could make fortune in
this section in n very short time did the cm.
I