Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-07-18
JAMES ISLAND, 5 C., !
June -, ls62. )


bullets, one Of then tearing the eanue oil my !
saddle. 1t flashed across me quick as lightning
that this was the euemy's picket, and three men,
one for each relief, as it is called, or watch.
stopped and drawing my revolver, gave them three
shots through the hedge They ran for the woods
and at my second shot, one man dropped his
musk ct, but whether he was wounded or not, do
not know. Meantime squad Of infantry came
out of The woods. and two masked batteries, one on
each side of the field, opened on our batteries
One IF our III ht batteries came up at this time
and shelled out the masked guns. The enemy ap
pearcd on the left of the woods, though about
to attempt to outfank Us. Our cavalry had, by
this time, swelled to the number Of fifty, by the
staff officers their orderlies, &c, from headquar
tiers. We were ordered to charge the enemy's
cavalry, which numbered about seyenty-fve,while
our infantry engaged theirs
First came the order to "iorm line then
"maTch, i" "gallop march, charge Over the
cotton rows we went, cur horses Gu the dead run
sabres in the right hand, pistols and reius in the
left, over a deep ditch, where We left two mn aud
their horses founiering in the mud, over another
ditch, and through a hedge composed mostly OF
briars, which started good deal more blood than
the enemy bullets and then into the enemy.
don't remember much excepting a confusion Of
blows and shocks, the flashing Of sabres before ny
eyes and the stunning effect Of pistols fired close
to my ears. remember one man presenting
double-barrsled gun at my head. and struck it
aside with my sabre. TIE blade gliding down
the barrel saw the blood spout from his hand
which covered the lock. Twas in the rear rank.
and did not find 1t so hot as those directly in front
Of me, but I had enough oft. One side of my
whiskers was considerably sinsed, AMI browa
spot made along the side Of my cap.
It was over in a few moment, lor the enemy
broke and ran for the woods, whore we did not
dare to follow them. Our bus!e sounded a re-
treat and We "about faced and troited away
But as soon as they faw our backs they appeared
at the edge Of the woods and gave US vollcy, bata
harmless one,with the exception ofaf-w scratches.
We left Edisto Island a week last Tuesday, AID
have been almost ever since in the saddle, ani 10
the rain, until the last three days Out of So
hours Of the time l was twent -four ia tho sd
die. We are near Forts sumter AMI johnson;
and the shells from johnson and other batteries
are whining round Us all the time, but doing com
paratiyel7 damage, though on different days
three men have been killed From
Edisto We marched TO Johns Island, which lies
further north and towards Charleston. Il raiusd
-. liz a. ] -
reaching our camping ground, We found it an open
cotton Geld. Can you imagine how a man would
feel under such circumstances Nothing 20 make
one comfortable, except what is carried on the
horses backs not even tent perfectly wet through
and the rain still pouring in torrents. At last,
stakes were procured aud the horses pcketed.
Before dark most Of Us had some sort Of a covering
built: but at roll-cal we were Informed that we
must sit up and be ready 20 saddle at one o'clock,
as it was expected an attack would be- made on
the enemy that isht. such miserable looking
wretches as we were; sitting around the fires in
pools Of water, pulling of boots and wrin siug
out our stockings The streams Of water which
came from them seemed hardly an addition to the
rain already pouring down. At o'clock came
the order 10 march. We came into line with two
companies Of Infantry, and portion Of a h. I.
Battery. From that time till . o'clock the follow
ing afternoon. we not cut Of the saddle, excep
for few moments at time, when searching
houses or the like, and With nothing to eat.
About daylight We drove IN tue enemy's pick
cts. but found the camp contained only about
hundred cavalry. All escaped, though we had
brisk run Of three or four miles after about twenty
OF them; but their horses were fresh and ours al
ready tired. In enc house We routed out three
officers and found their breakfast Just as they sat
down to it. 1t was tempting enough, but VIC dared
not touch it, for fear Of poison. One officers cap.
left behind in the hurry had large brass palmetto
tree the TOT, with the letters: g" 5. C. c. (Frst
So. Car. Cavalry. There were only few shots
exchanged all day.
The next day we were turned out again at l
o'clock, A. NJ, and were nearly all day in the
peltng rain, marching to the northern part Of the
Island. We camped in pretty little village cal
led Legreeville, near which we were until yester-
day, when we moved to St james Island. It was
a terrible march, the infantry threw away coats
and blankets, and many lay down by the roa lside
in the mud, perfectly used up. We we're quartered
q, the village two days, then came over here and
bivouakeed under some pine trees, near an open
cotton-feld. We are lying directly under the
guns of several gunboats, but the enemy's battery
can throw shells directly iato camp. Itisastronr
position. though. The front and right Of the camp
is on a creek, ana Stevens division mile or two
on the left. The rear is entrenched
The gunboats have just opened AMI the she'll,
come thick and fast over our heads. We have
tents pitched wells dug, and cook houses built;
all this work, we may have orders
to move at any moment. l should think there
might be 1000 troops here. Each day seems to
increase the difficulty Of taking Charleston. The
arms Of the enemy's troops that we have seen are
very good inieed-the cavalry have a sabre, car
bIne and heavy horse-pistol; their arms are about
equal to ours. All southern troops are dressed in
home-spun suit, and the Charleston regiments
look very neat and nice; and guess fare very |
we'll.
June 18th. l have sad news to tell you to-day. |
Day before yesterday, expedition was fitted
pat against Fort Jackson. twas composed Of the 1
lst Mass. Cav, 2sth Mass, 81 R. 1. 81 y. H. and
Tooth Penn.-abOut 5000 troops in all The at
aek was opened about A. NJ Field batteries
got into positiOn-some guns within musket range
II the fort, and where every ell was striking in
o the fort. Three charges were made on the fort
y the l0Oth, the 2sth, and one of the other regi
nents. Three times was the American flag planted
n the embankment, and once all the enemy driven
rom the tort. Still no reserve cane up and cur
Orces could not hold it, though every man fought
D his las. gasp. Many actually cried when they
Tvre ordered Of the field. The men on reaching
ne embankment turned and yielded for wan, Of
Tiers to support them; but though I