Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-14
AFFAIRS AT PORT ROYAL.


The correspondent OF the Boston Trarsller
writes from Hilton Head, Feb. 22d, as fol-
lows
The new pier, which was Just being commenced
| at the time I left for the North the Goth Of De-
eember last, is now nearly finished: the work has
| been pushed on day and night with great rapid-
n.y. and is strong and substantial piece OF work,
| built under tie inspection of Col. Edwart W.
! Serreii, the popular commander Of the Engineer
| Regiment Volunteers, New York, who had the
| efficient aid OF Capt. Frederick Z. Great of the
same regiment The above named regiment, being
| made up chiefly Of mechanics, have performed
nearly all the labor in building the pier they
| having travelled from two 10 four miles distant
| daily to the woods, and cut every stick of the
timber for its construction; they have also cut
| the wood to make the charcoal used at the forge
for making the bolts and other iron-work required
in its construction. The dimensions of the pier
| are as follows: 50 teet wide and 400 feet long
with cross pier at the end extending 100 feet
each way from the main pier, thus helping to
brace it. and give more strength and solidity -
| the whole.
The number of piles driven was over eleven
hundred, t e pile-driver being brought from New
1ork expressly for the purpose, and the engine
for operating it was mostly made here on the
! spot The wood used for the pier is composed
entirely Of pitch pine, the piles being from 10
10 inches in diameter, one-half the width of the
| flooring of the pier being logs prepared with a
sROoth surface extending the entire length. the
entire length, the other side being Of thick,
heavy plank.
Vessels drawing 81 feet Of water can now lay at
the end Of the pier, and discharge their cargoes,
and by laying down plain iron rail track, it
can be rapidly conveyed on platform cars [. the
shore, and directly into the immense storehouses
which the Government have lately built, and
which are situated opposite the end of the pier.
near the beach. An enormous amount of ordnance
stores and army supplies have been received here
since We first landed on that glorious day for our
country, the 7th of November last. Large
amounts Of stores Of various kinds for the U. S.
Qusrtermaster's Department, are almost daily ar
irving, making business lively and brisk. There
have been erected, since took possession Of the
place, nine ten storehouses. varying in length
from 100 to 500 feet, lbesides quite number Of
smaller buildings. used for various purposes; al
50, two or three stables one Of which Is over an
eighth Of mile in length.
Tho new hospital building situated on the mos.
prominent part Of the Island, near to the beach
and abuat half a mile east Of the Fort is p-ogres
| sing rapidly to completion. The dimensions are
80 feet IN length on each side, forming what is
| called hollow square, with portico extending
| entirely around the building. Other particulars
| relating to it will be communicated alter having
made special visit TO it for the purpose
1t Is the opinion Of many officers of the Navy
sut others here, that there is not better haIb5r
Aot LAoio an lflFL-IL point on inc
coast, south of Fortress Monroe, TO build up a
great military depot and navy yari than a. th;s
place. The water the opposite side a. Bay Pui1t
being quite deep close in upon the beach, is con-
siierei capital and we'll adapted location for Z
navy yard. II is well known too. that the most
extensive and valuable live oak forests in this
country are situated within less than fiJy miles
Of this place.
Cotton still continues to come in at this place.
where it i ginned and prepared for shipment, the
ginning establishment having as much on hand as
can be comfortably attended to, the black opera
tives feeling much better satisfied with their mode
of employment than under their former employ
ers. Their pay varies according to their age
able-bodied men receiving frou six to eight dol
lars per month, while the pay for young negroes
is from four TO six per month. Orders have been
issued by General Sherman respecting the employ
ment of eontrabands in the various regiments sta
toned here, requesting that every favor should be
shown them in regard to furnishing them with Ia
Dor suited TO their condition and ability, and that
the remuneration for such services should be az
liberal as circumstances will admit.
Strict orders have also been issued from head
! quarters concerning the molestation of private
property BY the soldiers, in order that a proper
| distinction may be made in cases which occur,
even in this rebel hot bed, where the owners Of
abandoned property still remain true to their
tional allegiance, have been forced ct the hsyo
nets point to all the rebel cause sgsiDst their
own inclinatiOns-
Negroes continue to come from the mainland in
large numbers, escaping from their masters near
Savannah, and further inland, and this island l.
fast becoming one Of the largest black colonies in
the country. How they to be dealt with as they
continue to increase is difficult to imagine. s.any
Of them are without employment of any Kind, and
subsist in many instances upon the corn and pota-
toes left behind by planters, which they uncere-
moniously appropriate. This resort, however. .eiu
soon be denied them, as the crop is nearly ex-
lad and ha nd will f-or,
Appearances, be improved this season.
Government will undoubtedly provide for them
in some way, that they may not want for necessa-
~ food.