The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-08-14
HEADQUARTERS ADV. PIcKErs, 55TH P.V,

HEADQUARTERS ADV. PIcKETs, 55TH P.V,
Port Royal Ferry, s. c., July 20, 1868. !
Mr.. EDITOR:
This being ''rest day." will give you a
few lines about affairs in this department. The
health of the regiment is very good. 1t is spo-
ken of as being the healthiest in the South. We
are on picket at Port Royal Ferry, and often
have chat with our ''friends across the way"
They are very friendly about this time and Of
ten send us tokens of their friendship in the
shape of. a few ''minnies." There are but two
regimentss on this island, the Others having all
gone to Charleston. Hunter has again been re-
lieved and we hope never to return. The Ad-
ministration found that experimenting on ne
grocs would not reduce tie strongholds about
Charleston. They have sent him to a depart
ment where he will again find the ''free Ameri-
can" in his primitive state. He should have ta-
ken Jim Montgomery and his negro crew along,
as all the old negroes are gathered up down here.
Almost the whole negro population Of South
| Carolina have received the 'blessings of liber-
ty" at the hands of blood thirsty Davy. Gen.
Gilmore has relieved him, and is ''the right man
in the right place." The men have great con-
/ fidence in HIM. He is now blazing away at
Charleston in earnest They have been fighting
for the last ten days, and the suppositon is that
before ten'more Charleston will have fallen. Be-
fore our forces began operation against Charles
ton, Gen. Ripley viewed with his glass our po-
sition, on Foly Island. and said "they have on
ly small force with two pieces of artillery
mounted" The same night he sent two hum
dred and fifty men to drive in the advance pick
ct and capture the two pieces Of artillery. Our
forces on Folly Island had prepared TO attack
them on the same night and while the two hun
dred and fifty were advancing they were attack
ed, driven back and the half of Morris Island
captured. We can hear the cannonading plain
ly. Even now, as write the roar of the artil-
lery is distinctly heard, sounding like distant
thunder. The following news just came: Nor
ris Island in our possession-ten batteries and
Fort Wagner captured-Battery b, on Cum
mings' Point destroyed-our forces have been
badly cut up. The 10th =. V. can raise but
two companies. Some of the Bedford county
boys have ''made their last charge and fought
their last battle' The other regiments have
lost half their number. We lost great many
many men at the storming of Fort Wagner, as
we were repulsed three times. There were five
hundred wounded brought to Beaufort this morn
ing, among whom are Generals Strong, Sey-
mour and Terry. Two negro regiments were
engaged q Massachusetts and Carolina reg't.
The latter was commanded by the hero of Cam
bahee, and they couldn't stand it, suppose
he found the difference in charging on battery,
from the capturing of a few ''nigs." The 1st
S. G.. made raid up the Edisto river in which
they lost the steamer Milton and two pieces of
artillery, and brought back few old negroes.
One that saw them says: 'TThey are the dirti-
est, raggedest, leanest specimens OF dark hu-
manity ever saw" Isn't the Administration
kind in providing an asylum for the old worm
out negroes of the rebels. We expect an at
tack here, if Charleston falls. There was an
alarm on the right of the picket line last night.
The enemy came across in boats but were driv-
en- back by the fire of the pickets. Maj. Filler
is in Charleston, prisoner. He was on the
staff of Gen. Strong and was taken while lead
ing charge. The men show great bravery.
They are all eager to get trial at the place
from which was fired the first shot that inaugul
rated the present war. 1t seems as though the
rebellion is to end where it began The last
mail brought in glorious news, news that warns
every heart. If all reports be true the rebell-
ion is fast waning. Gen. Gilmore says he will
take Charleston if it costs his own and the lives
of all his men. Prisoners taken say, eff it be
true that Fort Wagner and Cummings Point
are taken, Charleston is "gone up" The reb-
els across from the Ferry can't swallow be-
ing whipped in Pennsylvania by militia. The
Rebs told us that their army was in its element
in Pennsylvania amongst the rich farmers. l
suppose they didn't think so when they heard
of the battle of Gettysburg.
Truly yours, o. b. S.