Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-29
Army correspondence.
81. HELENA ISLAND, s. c.,
January II, 1862.

DEAR SIK:--Having little time to spare
4 embrace the opportunity TO write tu YOU
ana viii try 10 give you description Of wha
l. nave seen since leaving Fortress Monroe
we left Monroe December 5th at 6 clock
p. M, on the Cosmopolitan. We were YER,
much crowded, the men being packed like
crackers, las close as they could he without
breaking. and no allowances made for fat men
but when soldiers travel they cannot choose
their mode Of conveyance. We had a rough
passage, and the bowels of q number became
like the mighty deep. agitated. could see
at any time number Of persons with their
heads over the railing. mouths open, throw
ing up thsir government rations-the onlv
consolation being an after thought of tha,
good old s9ng, "And would were in Djxief''
Ii was amusing to see the boys turn into their
bunks. slowed away rs tight as they could be
packed no room allowed for kicking. but no;
one grumbled we only thought of the cause
'hat compelled us to be in such plight and
vowed that if il lay in our power, Seoesh
nhould be crowded worse than we were. and
for every time the ship heaved we would heaye
an extra lead pill at them.
Before entering Port Royal we were spokeu
ny ona of the government gun boats they
cruise around the entrance of the harbor in
all directions. The harbor is a fine one. but
at the entrance there is a dangerous shoal cal
led Martins Industry. | think Mr. Martin,
II he was industrious, Was not wise, or he in
tended to turn wrecker, and the more vessels
destroyed the more he made; if this was his
intention. he Made good job off We lay
"f Hilton Head 81 hours awaiting orders
Hilton Head ia large island | cannot state
the size. not being able to gain much infer
nation in regard to its dimensions. The
government is doing great deal of work here,
building Publications. workshops, stables
stnrehous s. hospitals, &C., with the intention
of making this the southern depot; they have
built a long dock for the vessels to receive
and discharge cargo; the dock is not near
long enough. the beach gradually slipping of.
so that vessels of heavy draught have to lay
of and discharge in lighters, surf boats &c
A dock is about to be erected which will en-
able vessels tn discharge at food tide should
think the channel is about 1000 feet from the
shore, and judging from the way the men are
working At the dapk, one half of them will
not live long enough to see the baik head if
the same hands stay at it. they will '.livs and
die in Dixie" There were but few buildings
on Hilton Head built by Sscesh, but those
were good. There were not many southern
soldiers here, but they had the best of quar-
ters-much better than those Furnished nv
our government TO us, and from all | could
hear must have been used in the best manner.
Their quarters were good wooden brildings,
with comfortable sleeping apartments, and oil
things taken, went to show that they were
not furnished by northern spectators Their
fUrtifcatiDns were built of sand. and went to
show that they had good engineers, but they
had no covering for the gunners. and it made
hMf Far . n L., I i -
TO shell them. / should like to have had an
opportunity to e. over the island, but this
WAS impossible.
We were taken from the Cosm opol;ian on
small steam bnat. Bay Point, where the reb-
els had erected another large sand fortiicasion,
and had 1t mounted with heavy guns. nine in
number, but. as on Hilton Head, the gJnners
were exposed, ami Icing Ike other men, com
posed of fesh and blood. they were not shell
proof. and being of II nervous temperament.
could not stand the Etock-so tlay cit on a
double quick-copied from tie Bal Rhn tac
tics. Will" at Hilton Head. / saw our Pea@a
regiment of Ziuaves, who refused the Has
per's Ferry muskets, when leaving Fortress
Monroe. They are now d,;ing ia the u.d
style Of tactics, with the unarn. cd Labore2s'
Regiment, and are shoulderisg shovels ami
Stacking wheelbarruws, AMI making them
selve. generally useful. Some have turned
sailors and row small toats u oading vessels.
carrying officers on their backs from the
beach To the small boats. When the boat 10
loaded, they wish gne accorI colrageously
dash their osFs IN the wa:er, as did tae Lady
Of the Lake when padding in her light CO
noe. Others have beep promoted and are III
IruRted vi th government carriage, and like
m any sporting men, drive four n hand, bit
for fear of hurting their horses driVe oRiy en-
0 walk. Being Of an obliging disposition
they carry all kinds of mcrchardiss and me-.
nitions Of war to the store house or wherever
Who would not be soger
and do his country service" At Bay Puin!
Our regiment being considered trustworthy,
we were detailed TO protect the Islands that
the seceah were driven from, consequently
we we're divided; three eomlanies at Otter
Island two on an Island above Otter, | for
get the name of it; four companies on Port
Royal Island, and one company divided be-
tween Ladies and ST Uslena Island. We are
all kpnYn to be honest and gentlemsnly and
have been sent here to guard government
,captured) property. and protect the cotton
interest Where the cotton is stored at the
landings We have a guard established both
night and day for fear Of its being burnt. and
also part of our duty 10 20 keep the cOlored
individuals straight, who if loft alone, would
be Ike the Kilkenny cats. eating ose another
w hen the Southerners frst lsst these Islands
the Nigs broke open the houses of the plan
.ers. destroyed the furaiture. took what they
wanted. and what they oopla not aSe they ds
stroyed; broke open every thing that was lock
ed up, and acted as if they we're bereft Of
reason: rode the horses Fs if the Old Nick
sent for them, killed the cattle and sheep, and
when we came here destruction met our eyes
on every side; books of the most renowned
authors laying strewn oil over the floors like
chaff in barn yard, looking glasses broken,
planes of the most costly price completely de-
stroyed, and carpets taken from the floors and
cut up among them. And Ehsn we first
came hers, and asked by whom this was done.
We were told that the frst Yankee sogers that
csma done it. A. first we believed il. but