Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-15
Letter from a Wheeling Boy In South
Carolina.
ON PICKET, SEARRooK FERRY, I
January 9Th, 1862. [
Editors Intelligence:

Editors 4ntetAgenceT:
The rebels got their New Years gift from
US. On Tuesday our entire brigade from
Beaufort marched on the fine shelI-road
that leads ever the island towards the rail-
road, down to this place, ten miles. The
bayou between here and the main is one
hundred and fifty feet wide. The cell
ebrated Highlanders (79th New York regi-
ment) were met here. They had been on
picket ever since our landing, and were
qUartered in village of slave huts. No
secesh have been on the island for a month
The Scotch received US most Hospitality,
and placed eatables and fires at our dispo-
SAL They are really the "bully boys,' and
armed most grOtesquely. The o. S. give
them old hint-lock muskets altered to per-
cussion. These are warranted to hit
county if a mans nerves are steady. At
Bull Run, Hilton Head, aud around, they
have picked up Enfield rifles, Mimic mus
kets and Belgian guns, until three fourths
of them are now armed well. never saw
a more, genial, intelligent, whole-souled
set, and they understand their "biz."-
Under cover of night we marched down to
the ferry, and were hidden in the bush
within half range of the enemy's Shells
We were quiet though. A daylight four
gunboats dropped down the bayou, and
commenced la Hilton Head. The rebels
did likewise, only more so. Then the
troops crossed in flats. The Round-heads
had the honor to be the first in the cap
tureG fort. and the last out on our retiring.
One large seige gun was found, the rat
tail file taken out, and it is now a loyal
| cannon. This was on Wednesday after
noon. At night our company, the Wash
ington, Pa, boys, we're thrown out as pick
cts, and renamed until Thursday noon,
within speaking distance of the enemy
at sunrise our regiment had slight Skin.
mish. Our loss was none, rebel loss kill
ed. During the darkness, the whole region
was Illuminated by the blaze of cotton, fir
ed by the planters, by the light of which
we could see the secesh among the trees,
just across narrow cotton field. They
sent flag of truce and took two wagon
loads of wounded away in the night. Some
who were left behind were fearful proof
of the horrors of the bombardment. Oae
tall fellow, evidently a planter, with black
hair and eyes, and very handsome, was cut
clear in two. Two others were found dead,
terribly torn, lying beside the former. A
gold watch was taken from his person.
The 10Th N. Y, aud 9Th Michigan regi-
ments stOrmed masked battery on We'd
nesday. Union loss killed and wound
ed, secesh loss unknown. One poor fellow
was found here, and cared for by us, whose
bowels had been entirely carried away by
a shell. BE Notwithstanding, lived two
days.
Some idea may be given of the value OF
the contrabands to US by this affair. A
small negro boy, Is years old, saved the
two regiments from being cut to pieces, by
telling the Colonel not to go down the road
they started on, but to take the one which
he pointed out. There was masked bat
terry in the chaparral.
Upon telling the wounded man, who /
mentioned above, that if they understood
us better, this would never have happened
he replied that he did not know anything
about the justice of the war, he left that
tor those who kHetO more, to Judge. He is
a specimen of the majority Oftheir soldiers
Let not wealth. position, family influence
or honicd eloquence save those who are re-
sponsible.
On Thursday morning our forces with
drew to this side again umder n storm OF
shell from the boats. The woods were
: torn for three miles around. The rush OF
air as the heavy balls went over our heads
cause no little inclination to "joke" among
the boys. Some came down very near our
front, so dangerously near, that CAPTAIN
IemPleton picked up piece of one burst
ing about so feet off. Capt. Rogers of the
Navy from the masthead saw a whole
, company who were in battle-line 90 down.
: every one, after the bursting of an eleven
inch shell. The negroes say only three OF
them escaped. "AuntY Dr." an aged, es-
capped slave woman, says, 'sFust de boss
men go down, dey no big hearts, dey run
den dc Virginuy calvary dey go, dey big
hearts, dey no run like de boys at Hilton
Head. But, Lor IL massy, de fust rotten
shot, pity pat, pitty-p0t, pitty-pNt, come
de tornado OBJ hoofs, one lead two boss, one
tree, four, five, whar de rider? Gone to de
deobll long ago" Take itall in all, it was
the incest little thrashing they have got
yet. The darkeys come in by crowds, in
boats.
Company A of the ROundheads wash
ington county, Pa, company is now
stretched along the shore for six miles. rs
; pickets. This will be our duty for the next
three weeks, probably, being relieved each
twenty four hours. When off duty. we
quarter at the large ferry house on the
shores brink. Every night we close the
shutters and blinds on the side next the
water, for fear the enemy should sneak
down to the other side, and seeing the
windows lighted, plump in n shell.
Since my last, we have lost another com
rade Mr.. James Lowry. of Middletown,
Washington county, Pa, died on the Doth
ult., of coast fever. Another is added to
the noble band who have sacrificed them
selves to save their country. All of us
are now as we'll as could be expected
Friends will send letters via New York to
Beaufort P. o.
AT Beaufort all is quiet, detachment
being there as guard. The Union popula-
ton, Mr.. Alden, or as Johnny Malonev
says, "the secesh Union man." has opened
a store, and is driving thriving trade in
groceries and dry goods with the soldiers
If any one wishes to send packages to
friends here, Adams Express Co. have u
regular Office in Beaufort.
The rebel Picke:s have just appeared