Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-07
Letter from a wheeling Boy in soutI,
,CarollmR.
CANP STEvENs, S. q, ~


Letter from a Wheeling Boy In South
| Carolina.
CAMP STESESs, Sc, April 20, 'G2.
Editors Lntetlgencer:
Company A is again on advanced picket
duty. Monday morning saw us in line
for this place, to relieve the Highlanders.
This we did, after march of ten miles
through about the wettest rain aud the
stickiest oyster shell mud it has ever been
my lot to endure. The sand and lime of
the shells make mortar, aud 1 am sorry for
the "fghtin' clothes." Those long, fiat
miles of sand and pine trees, pine trees and
sand, and iutermiuHble drizzle, making the
soldiers load weigh double, were enough
to damp the spirits and bring on tho blues.
But now's the time for s'gay aud happy, .
aud with the merry forlornity which that
song brings and so we'll expresses we
PlOdded on, ave are for the Union STILL .
roaring from a thousand thrOAts. Arrived
at Camp Stevens, guard of forty luckless
souls is detailed to go on picket stations ut
intervals stretching five miles further. Yet
Camp Stevens is place that is popular.
Our only duty is to serve twenty-four
hours out of three days, no drill, no Es-
tigUe duty, nothing but fishing and black
house and negro quarters Cleaned, mind)
of large plantation, with the mansion
house for the commissioned. They are
cooler than tents. Crabs and fish are null
titudin0us in n creek or bayou fifty miles
off, and dew.berries ditto on shore.
| u Is only two miles to the enemy across
the COOsaw. This stream is bordered by
wide swumps with cuuseways projecting
US far as the channel for the road. AT the
end thereof on this side is Il ferry house,
and therein a picket. Yesterday morning
the sunbeams had just began to CLINT the
door-pOsts, when biz, whiz, came secesh
ball, knocking some brick off the chimney
and flying along the comb of the rSOf.-
Who said that those parties did not retire
Five shells burst on the causeway while
they ran in, but by watching them coming
and falling fat, and by luck, no one was
hit. One of those fellows about as big as
u crow, only coming faster and right at
you, is not funny. Ii you dodge it, the
burst may come right of you or left, aud
you are hit anyhow. One unbursted was
picked up atterward. 1t was twelve
pound rified shell. About dozen were
fred, and then away they went with can
non on adouble-Quick back into the woods.
The old Sherman battery will punish their
impudence next time. The house was of
course again occupied Immediately, our
boys having merely run beyond range of
the rebel guns, as they had no means of
fght but their muskets.
l The cotton business is quite profitable
in these Islands. Sergeant Elliott aud
squad went on au expedition for some of
the staple. They accompanied revenue
cutter as extra guard Lett here for u
twenty mile sail in an ordinary row-boat,
upset in a bayou, spilled themselves aud
guns thereinto, and fished the same out
i again. Loaded 80, 600 lbs. cotton on first
day and 81 900 lbs. second day. This Mt
Gny cents per lb., a fair estimate believe,
would realize the handsome sum of over
$50, 900 for Uucle Sam.
Last week "thunder snake" invaded
our Eden. He was found crawling over
the floor of our tent at bed time. Noodle,
the Captains contraband cook, says "dey
pizen; dey bite; you swells mp and de doc
tor hab to come" Next morning on tear
ing up the boards beech rattlesnake, q
yard long, was reposing on the ground.
have nothing to say. Just think oft.
Beaufort has been enltvened by u concert
of the I9th regimental band, said to be tue
second in excellence to none in the o s.
Certainly the affair was treat to all. II
was given on the Saturday night previous
to our going Ontpicket, as they wished the
Roundheads might have a chance to hear
them. CT course no sOrdid visions ofthe
70 cents admission had anything to dc
with this determination. However, the
t'75th are all right. They and the Tooth
have resolved themselves into Mutual Ad.
mirotion Society, engendered by cricket
and good fellowship Meet q Highlander
where and when you will, and half his last
priced chew, or drink. or blanket are yours,
By this tune you have no doubt heard ol
1.-The gaIIantry of our comrades of the 9Th
Michigan regiment at Wilmington Island
Il They Wsre given an honorary reception or
sItheir return to Beaufort. The brigade
were drawn up to form three sides of 9
Il hOlloW-sQuaEe. IN Arms were presented
while the Michigan boys marched around
the inside, in our front. They were halted
ia line so as to- make fourth side. AS
y they passed, each regimental drum corp!
salnted their colors with three rutles.-
; Gen. Stevens then, having uncovered hi
head, said, from the centre OF the square
WFelloW.soldiers Of the glorious 9th, NJ
are giving you the welcome i promised
. land all these voices join in Welcoming you
Three cheers for the glorious sth !" They
IWere given with will. Afterward the!
responded with as"hip, hip, hurrah !" 70
| the. flag, and we formed their escort o
,lhonor to headquarters.
: Lieut. Silas Benham, of Washington
Pa, is here acting as aid-decamp to Gen
i Benham, our new commander, who relteV
ed f2l Gen. Sherman. Inahim many of u
q we're pleased to meet an old school-felloy
and friend. He is worthy man, and,s
hear, a good officer.
= Rhere is nothing more of interest I
friends Ais ='sest 50 stS-t -
= All the boys are doing finely, and th
\ warm weather, think, will be even bette