Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-16
Very Interesting Letters from a
WheeIInR Boy In south Carolina.
JANIS ISLAND, June 80, 1862.

wheeling Boy In south Carolina.
JAMES ISLAND, June 80, 1862.
RdaoTs Latslligsneer :--ILis with no ordi@
nary depression of spirit Que must view the
hustle of preparation TO evacuate our posi-
ton. 1t is wonderful that our troops are
not detnora!ized By the prospect of such an
encouragement,to 10 the enemy. and by this
deplorable failure brought about by Incom-
potency in high places. In spite OF weeks
of exposure, rain, short rstions, constant
labor and no shelter, our tents being left
at Beaufort and NOT coming TO Us as soon
as we expected, the boys are IN good heart,
undepressed1 and working with asYill 70
right things once more. Even the dis
hearteniug event as "that sad, but glorious
day as Gen. Stevens rightly calledit, never
damped the ardor of the volunteers. The
enemY's Notifications it is certain could be
taken by bombardment with the guns now
here. His works occupy miles or more
of the Northern section of this Island. Ex-
tepsiTe batteries must be constructed TO re-
duce the frst fort and entertainments, aud
this with our force would consume weeks
Then the first iiuo taken aud occupied,
new approaches must be made for the re-
duetion of the second line of rebel works.
At this season, and in this low, marshy
ground disease would annihilate MS in such
gu AktEluH 1uA JAGAGk 9HAI
necessary would exhaust US in week and
lay open the system to ready entrance of
death. OF course It would be night-work
within range of the enemy's guns, done
secretly. 1t would require with our pres
lent number every man on duty every other
| night CT hard labor The attack has con
lsequentIy been abandoned. Our retreat is
safe under the cover OF ihe gunooS Be
fore this reaches you we will be oil. Proba-
ably as early as JaIy Sd. as yet but vOry
little sickness has appeared.
The Camp of the Tooth is located uear
the middle of the Island in an cid cotton
| heid. Our tents arriTed last week, aud it
was no small relief 70 have \ dry place to
sleep in after duty. Ingenuity has sug-
\ 7gested a -ew touch in making the most of
comfort from slender resources. Four
1 stakes are driven, forked end up, 10 the
GROUND so as to form the corner supports
L for bed 6 f. long by . #. wide. Two
| poles run at the sides Of the concern paral=
lei and lengthwise. aud support the ends
of barrel slaves placed crosswfse. These
may always be obtained from the ever emp
/ tying barrels of the Qnartermaster. The
whole forms q cool, comfortable aud dry
IInprOmpLu lounge, and refuge from the
s'suakes." It is no small thing to get of
the ground in this country. Our picket du-
Il y uGEc luS1 hOlN 10 0Gy OA4 SSAA-
ception by the mosquitoes. The enemy are
quiet enough, no one shooting on either
u side, bat standing "a hours as a prey to
the winged pests is a trial to the flesh.
heard Que fellow declare. that he felt as if
be was Commissary aud the gallinipers
we're drawing their raiions, aud every one
drew for company. The iremen on the
steamers have an amnEing refuge from
lihem. They put ont their fres and blow
of steam for the night at our landing. a
stream of cold water is turned on in under
the furnaces, aud in an hour all is COOL
The fremen get in on the CRATE bars and
spread their blankets. Biz, zig, Ziz, the
mosquitoes come yiudIctively up through
the bars, hut The current of air caused by
the draft through tue smoke stack carries
them on up and out. The sleeper finds
peace as soon as be shuts the furnace doors.
All is quiet here except an occasional
shell at our men engaged in removing the
guns and ammunition from the battery con-
structed before the determination to evac-
uate. Some of these shots have resulted in
casualty to us. but they are generally inef-
feetive. Steamers are loading and numer-
Gus parties are busy in preparations to
leave. Whittier we go is not known 1t
may be TO Beaufort again. Probably not
out of this Southern Department is the
prevailing opiuion. @.