Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-05-23
Cprrtspondrnte.
From tlc 18Th Maine Regiment.
SUR ISLAND, April lG, 1862.

Sur ISLAND, April l6, 1862.
EpIroR AnERIcAS -
To the gcologist, it seems to me, this IS
land must lc d, stitutc of varied attractions.
lie would find no granite, nor marble, nor
slate,-none Of the numerous varieties oil
rocks SO common at the North, not even soil
to attract or amuse-n9thns but sand. white
sand. and that, too, in the most uuattractiYe
of forms.
If Dame Nature. in her very widest freaks
of fancy, had conceived the idea OF making
an island by throwing sand from the main
land before northwest gale, intending 10
loGge it here, ami if she had accomplished
what she undcrtook-then this island would
not be unlike what it nov IS.
Shin Island is Il low, narrow island, about
seven miles in length, and perhaps, on an
average. ono halt mile in width. 1t Is thc
lowest land ever SAW. As we approached
it on our passage hither, We SAW number
Of tall mastcd ships, which, 10 all appear
anee were lying at anchor far out ia the
waters OF the Gulf Of Mexico. Presently
licbthous,-as if by magic, it seemed-raiscd
its form above the ocean and stood, appar
catly, gazing, an idle spectator, stern and
hoary, upon the approaching ships and
them directly, almost numbericss white tents
wers seen, seemingly 1oatins motionless up
on the waves. thought Of " Eldorad9,
and all the illusions connected herewith,
aud almost expected to sec the Objects We
were approaching vanish into ar; but no
. few moments proved that near or under all
these objects described, was the reritahie
Ship Island, in quest Of which we had been
sailing for days. \ half hour suiheed to
bring Us at anchor near its shore.
Notwithstanding the unloycly features be-
fore named, this island is not without It's re
d5cming qualities We are blessed with
health inspiring brcczcs from the Gulf; and
then, too We have an abundance ot good
water, which in this southern CLINE is no
mean beycrace To obtain plentiful sup
ply, it il only necessary to dis hole in the
sand to the depth Of Two or three feet, into
which plaeea barrel, and hencctorth aqui3us
plcnty is the rewa;d Tor the labor bestowed.
Ia this bret description, refer only 70
that part OF tie island on which We are en-
camp4d. The eastern end Is higher, and Is
covered with hard pine growth, to which
we are indebted for wood. The manner Of
obtaining feel here is indeed a novel one
When wood is wanted, u whole company is
detailed for that purpose. They are provided
with axes and ropcs, and are sent four or five
miles UP the island 10 the woods. Arriving
they Gu, down sufficient quantity OF hard
pine for fuel 70 each les rope is fastened,
10 which several men are obliged TO attach
themselves and drag it 10 the shore. This
done. raft is built. and then commences
the process Of transportation. Now these
logs will but just swim, and it would bc an
utter impossibility for the men to get upon
the raft and pole it down and ncle sam :
officials not Icing disposed to furnish boat
for the purpose OF towing, the only alterna-
tive is for the men to wade in the water,
showing the raft before them, for the distance
Of four or five miles.
Ship Island is situated eight or ten miles
from the coast OF the State OF Mississippi,
and is oil much Importance as place OF rendez-
vous Tor troops. At the time Of its eyAcua-
tion by the rebels, it boasted Of a large ho-
tel, u summer resort for Southern chivalry.
This hotel the S0uthrons destroyed, to pre-
vent its falling into the hands OF the enemy
The old fort was, however, allowed to re-
main unmolested Upon the site OF this
fort, understand. the Government will
shortly erect new one and that Congress
has appropriated the requisite funds for that
purpose.
The soldier here is obliged to make one
great sacrifice it is seldom that tidings
reach him from loved ones at home. Intel
liscnce from absent friends is one OF the
sweetest pleasures of life. Nor is the delight
less, when the happy recipient is soldier,
separated from his home and friends by
Estates discovered, discordant belligerent,' y
and surrounded by men, with but few OF
whom he can claim sympathy or friendship.
Not one word has reached me from my friends
at home since left Augusta, Feb. 18th
We have a regular mail here but once a
month; and then, probably, from seine cause
or other, not one half Of the letters written
for this island reach it. Vessels from the
North have brought papers up to March p,
from which we learn that the Federal forces
are doing noble work.
The temperature here now is about equal
to midsummer in Maine The transition
from the SHOWS, and ice, and biting winds Of
kennebec winter was somewhat sudden
but We stand it we'll