New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-31
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

81 "
State Of Things in that City-Depsrture
of the French Consul-Arrcst Of Col. Ser
reil-story Of tho Volunteer Engineer
Regiment.
From Our Special Correspondent
HILros HEAD, S. c., July %, 1862.
We are very quiet here; almost as quiet as bot,
which 10 saying good deal. Every dsy is 30 like
Yesterday and tomorrow In torpor and tOrpidty that
we hose all coun, of time, devoting, will not say
our energies, but what little sefsasertion is left III
NJ. TO keeping out Of the sunlight. With the sky
above US like an immense burning glass, and white
sand below, it ia hot enough to blister salamander.
Last week there came rumor, via James Island,
that Mcclellan had taken Richmond. Ii was brought
to Capt. P. Drsyton of the Pawnee, bys fugitive
negro, who asserted that be had heard the read
on. at Secessionville, and witnessed the dsmay Of
the white recipients. The Captain is disposed to
credit his informan most of us, however, think the
tidngs too good to be true. If it prove So and ill.,
volve the evacuation Of the Rebel capital .fer the
pattern Of the Manassas aud Yorktown "successes'
The scene Of public interest may DO shifted from
Richmond to Charleston; in which event We shall
want few more troops herest least, orders to send
no more away.
One thing is certain, that throughout the length
and breadth Of Dixie, our Southern brethren must
be very bard up for food. Capt. Lyons Of the British
frigate Racer brother to the Minister at Washing-
tom, who recently put into Charleston, " allowed"
on calling here, that tea was selling at IS pound
bacon for more than g. and that coffee could not
be procured for love nor money in tue " cradle Of
the Rebellion" He brought too, request from the
French Consul Of the port the captain Of the
steamer of that nation that he would just look in
and take him away, which was accordingly done
have not heard Of Mr.. Bunch's desiring to follow
the example.
BY the way, all the white wcnen have Quilted
Charleston. With ito deserted streets, its grass
grown whsrves, it's great gap OF blaekened ruins
caused by the fire, 1t must be mi,erable city. They
say, too the 1sg on Sumter has been at half-mass
during the last three or four days, which may DO
confirmation Of the Richmond intelligence.
Gen. Wright with the rest OF his command ar
rived here on Sunday, the 10Th, from Edisto. That
island is now completely evacuated II Is supposed
that these troops will proceed to Fortress Monroe,
unless further sdvices authorize them uaiu here
On the 10Th, Col. Serrell Of the volunteer en-.
gneer regiment, who had been placed under arrest
some days before, was sent TO Fort Pulaski, there
10 await q speedy court.martial. lie is charged
with Onenses stretching over some months, ibvolv-
ing counts too grave and numerous TO specify at
present His removal from camp was, IL IL alleged,
due 10 attempts 10 ncitc mutiny ~ the regiment the
men regarding him as their champion, whether with
or without reason will sppear on the trial The
regiment, indeed has been m unlucky one from lis
ortset; it's history 10 worth telling:
1t originated twelve months sgo. the Governor OF
New-YOrk State indOrsiDg the movement, - pro-
posed by Col Serrell The War Department being
advised with recruits were enlisted with the UNDER
standing that il not accepted by the United States
Government, especially regiment Of Engineers
-or which there appeared no precedent-they were
10 form an Engineer and Artisan Regiment" and
to receive an infantry organization. by the end OF
August, 1861 Gen. Mcclellan requested OF Gov.
Morgan q regular organization for the men under
their present tite subsequent 10 which the matter
was repeatedly discussed III Cabinet meetings, when
it became evident that there netLer law for or
against the proposed anomaly. Meantime the re-
crulting progressed, and on the 18th OF October,
i've COMPANIES Of the Mon,sc0nhed regimen.
to order to that effect, and from
thence, with the naval expedition, TO Hilton Head.
There, AFTER the bombardment, Jour companies re-
manned all the Winter and Spring, doing good ser
vice Oh the pier and Notifications u fifth being dis
patched to Fernandins, Fla, to similar labors. The
present pier 400 feet long, IS feet wide. and afford
ing &c feet OF water at low tide was tho work OF the
volunteer engineers; az also the surveys Of the
island, the location OF railroad, the enarging and
repairing of fort on Otter Island, the building Of
road Jones IslaId, &c. Meantime, five other
companies, recruited at Camp Washington, Staten
Island, had joined, completing the regiment, which
bad received payment as Engineers - more per
month than that accrung to in'antry) but once, for
three months service. The delay in obtaining the
additional payment due, the non-recogution Of the
regiment and hard work, made the men extremely
dirsatsfied-,hey clsmored for money, regular mus
ter or dismissal from the service. At the attack
Fort Pulaski. they were only persuaded from open
disobedience, it 10 alleged. by conditional promises
In justice them it must be said their position
an extremely hard one; every mail brought letters
from friends and relatives at hOme many reduced to
absolute want by the lack OF the much-Geeded
pay. Some affecting instances are mentioned: One
German, who superintendent OF bridges had ia
civil life earned s. day died from sickness, lesv-
ing his captain TO open Letter on the morning of
bis burial announcing that bis wife and child bad
been received Ito the poor.h0use. Another soldier
was discovered wandering at night two miles out.
side the camp, bis hands full of roots and berries
which he said he gathering for his starving wife
and children. He 10 now a lunatic IN the General
Hospital. The entire regiment became demoraized,
Oppressed, aud mutinous the officers were detested,
tteir commands disObeyed. themselves threatened.
Finally the smoldeiiDg passions burst into flame.
A minority positively refused TO work. In conse-
quence, forty oil them sent TO the T0rtugas 10
labor on the fort IN cOurse Of erection there with
ball and chain for the balance Of their enlistment
sentence mercifully RENTED by General Hunter
during the past mon'b. These men were nearly all
Germans, Obstinately b.nt in the conviction tba,
they bad right their side, and the victims Of
Injustice. Among them one, a blacksmith, is said
to have abOred for ninety days in succession in
his shop--frequently all night long-to have been
promoted for good conduct, aud mentioned twice i'll
general orders.
Two weeks subsequent to this sentence, five COM
paDies Of the regiment were sent TO Edisto, and
from thence Johns Island, during which
march the news reached them that they were to be
paid they had been mustered by the order of the
President This the second pay ment in nine months,
nrc IN ths Ia vn,. To- IL. d..
the regiment has not yet been recognized as an en-.
gineer one, nor does 1t seem likely to be. The mis-
take appears to lie in its organization, for which
some blame Col Serrel. others maintaining that be