New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-05
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
EAisis IsIaud-'rhe Freedmen.

Although uutil recently this island was scarcely
snown beyond its immediate neighborhood, and
was not laid down in the maps, yet the nture his
,orian will give ito name place in bis record OF
these times. Perhaps few words in relation 10 It's
geographical aud civil and social position Will be OF
Interest to your readers.
II ia one Of the outer islands, and has fine beach,
shout Is miles in length, washed by the Atlantic, and
extending between the months Of tho North and
South Edisto rivers these rivers are respectively
the northern and southern boundaries OF the island.
Ga the Wes. it is separated from other islands by
narrow creeks. Its width is abont 3 to miles.
Like ali the other sea islands and like most of the
Atlantic coast. Edsto is low, fia, and msrshy. The
nach bordering the South Eds;o river is three miles
wide IN some places, while at the north of the Island
the fields Of corn and cotton extend 10 the bank OF
tie river The island is cut up By various cree Ks,
boriered with wide marshes, which at high tide FUR
pish easy communication from the rivers to the plan
tsiions in the interior. The soil is mainly rich
sandy loan very productive, and repu:ed to be
superior TO that OF NOS. OF the other islands.
The forests are mostly yellow pine live, and other
species Of oGk liquid amber or sweet gum palmetto,
macnohs, with occasionally red maple. Mach OF
size woodland is grown over with the palmetto, and
shrubs Of various kinds and tangled with vines, rem
ring h,.a-- progress through it, as it is in many
. her things slow and tedious. Occasionally an old
Geld may be seen growing up TO sapins pines; but
this is b. common as through the interior
Of this State and Georgia.
The public roads through the leland are the best
ever saw in the South. Instead OF beicg compelled
20 ford the creeks as is ususi, we crors them on
bridges; of late however they getting out OF re-
pair; but they show what has been done.
ditch, and hedge, or fence. extend on both sides
sll public roads, whether through field forest.
\ here the forest has teen cleared one or both
SIDES OF the road the native rees Of the fire: growth
ere tbougbtfully left for shade. The thick foliage
0 thess trees, and the hanging tufts OF long moss
growing from their branches completely shut out the
suns ray in many places, even n, mid day.
With Ggh; breeze, just 10 fan the rider and
brush away the gDats and nUfketoes, criye along
q sse roads Is delight Along the roads, at inter-
wis Of half mile TO three miles, s,and the houses
the rsitors who lied SOON after their loss Of Port
ROYAL.
Shady lanes, sometimes entered through gates,
lead 80 distant plantations. The houses are
generally two stories in hight, beside the Easements,
which seem never TO have been much used. The
rn-barns, co.ton-houses, and toohouses were gen.
cgay burned down. SunGry heaps OF ashes, IN
which nav be seen the iron-wOrk o. cotton-gins,
wagon carte, acd farming ools, show the despera.
ton 10 which the Rebels were driven.
Considerable attention was paid 10 Landscape and
ornamental gardening. OF the really fine grounds
snd gardene may be mentioned Seabroos's, Hopkin-
sons. ToWnsends, and Mrs. WIN. EddlDgss. There
are all occapied by soldiers or superlu,endents. /
Tie SpfIag glorv Of the gardens ia wanug and with
the natural fall Of the flowers and the wa,ton de-
sruction of them 10y y,tors, they are not now very
inviting. The most impOr' ant feature, becaufe the
most necessary on plantation, Ia the NEGRO quar-
tiers. The cabins always IN sight OF the house,
aid usuaily quite near IL. As a general thing the
cabins now occupied on this slaud good the
inmates a; present appreciate. The Inhabitants
cid not leave here 10 sUcn haste as from some OF
the other Islands; they took along with them their
most valuable household goods and their negroes,
With the exception Of who sTo old and not mar
betsble. Perhaps dozen were le.l IN thai way,
ana are now staying on the plantations WneTe they
belong. On the Mitchell place old june y tend
ing his corn, peanuts, aud Okrs and planting bis
"Dotato .lips," "a if nothing rad happebei. July,
an ancient sduare.iaced BLACK NAH, rli holds the
Keys 70 tis masters retidence. 1 inqui ed OF him
whvn he expected DR.. Beckett ,his masterJ TO re- !
tuIu Win hearty, significant laugh, he rephed;
Demo, Mesa; 1t berry 0isariin' L'eiyluihg
Of value Lad been carried AWAY. j only found
few Of the Doctors library BOOKS. which thought
bso better take care OF. Only about twenty plaia-
slo~s are occupied here; all The Others have been
visited more or less by negroes, soldiers, cotton
sgen,s ard supeIintendeuir. These nj help them.
,oIvr 10 whatever they like. The carpets are all
ADJ ropraed 10y the negroes, who pnt The "ii-cio'h
o. .beit own cabin floors. aud made up the wooden
arpe ii,to pants. -,
Ire oumJer Of the colored population on the
b!aud 10 ABOUT 300, nearly hundred having lett
n few Veeks ego 10 a-s'.t IN some Work near
,barlcston. This population consists OF nch women
p children; whole families and parts OF families;
s1netimes a father with bis Children, sometimes the
n cher; frequently only one parent without hny OF
the children Most OF these c.mo across IRON W ad-
u aw and Johns Islands, and some from Tue NAM
: Winter they we're collected IN Village oil race
4 ,at R,v Point near the old Rebel fort, under tie
.ec IGN Of our gunboets. " hie there, about my
the ueu MOUNTED on Secesh horses, ana armed
q, auskrts went up 10 tho ferry some ten mies.
. give battle to their old enemy. The Rebels were
,Ile obuosrle side Of tie river; a .cW sIcs were
xela,se3 killing one and wOlIding nev.ra on each
te Ihis was probably the frs, Union cavalry
% pau o. South Carolina. Ao0u, INC nrs' OF
asc, the negroes ventured out upon tne heafess
7 sDtatious aud commenced planting. Very soon
s.sr. tbev were found by the Government SupeFin-
teLdents. These Immediately procured cotton seed
from other islauds where The ginning had c0ul-
renc,d aud began TO plant II. MANY obstacles lay
the way Of success, such lack of piowH, noes,
fnesbes, and seeds; these having nearly al Desh
.f)yed. When these dl.hc;llle5 wero paTtldIy
~ One by arrivals OF supplies from the North,
er3,rose. The soldiors burnt up the rail fences,
bed and destroyed their gardcns. killed sheep,
esuiiry from the negroes, and III two Instances,
y c,.on them in their cabins, for e.usng 10 give
u heif chickens The prevalent feeling among NIL
j llei here il that the superln,cldents pave no
/ ne a. out here and tnst DegrOeb have no night TO
n j. allowed that privilege they shonid Do re-
I 81 TO their OLD masters. This 10 moro especially
o. the PcunsyIvauis regiments. The = lionel Of
.,esr regiments actually cent one hundred and
o., miles beyond his llues and allowed them TO
s,Ithin three miles oi rebel tort which ne
-. u be occupied at the time. have the named
a4s and know whereof speak. Beside the
o ary duties Of oveneeing the WORK on tns pan
"a ons ind procuring rat;ons Tor The people. the SUI
~ tis.sndent must be somewhat OF n schoOiDheter,
- Ixsesor tHrFI