The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-02

AOi 6Oy AOOO.
this company of six'y-,wo men the Oar
llnoton proceeded TO Fernandisa-
..On arriving. . meeting of the colored
men was called TO obtain euiistments. The
lsrse church Vas crowded. After address
es had been made by the writer aud Col
Beard, one hundred men volunteered .,
once. and the number so"n reached abou,
one hundred and twenty five Sach. how
ever, were the demands OF Fort Clinch and
the Qaartermaster's Department for labor.
ers, that Colonel Rich. commanding the
fort, consented to only twenty -fs 9 men leav
ing This was sad disappointment. aud
one which some determined not to bear
The twenty-five men were carefully seiec-
ted from among those not employed either
on the fort or in the Qlsrterma>ter's De-
partment, and put on board Amid the
farewells and bencdictions Of hundreds of
their friends on shore they took their de-
parture. to prove the truth or the f.sity OF
the charge. The black man can never fight.
On calling the roll, few miles from port.
it was found our twenty five men had in
creased to fit y-f,ur. Determined not to be
foiled in their purpose of bel " soldiers. it
was found that thirty men had quietly 'ound
their way on board just al break of day,
and had concealed themselves in the hold OF
the ship. When asked why they did So.
their reply was.-
"Oh, We want to fight for our liberty,
and for de liberty OF our wives and child
rem
"But would you dare to face your old
masters?'
"Oh. yes. Yes why, we would fight to
de d-ath to get our families was the quick
response.
"No one doubted their sincerity. Mus
kets we're soon in their hands. and no time
was lost in drilling them Our steamer. a
very frail one. had been bsIricade! around
the bow and stern. aud also provided with
two twelve FOUNDER Parratt guns. These
| guns had TO be worked by black men, un.
der the direction OF the captain If the stea.
mer. Our lighting men lmbered one hun
dred and ten, and 6fty of them were raw
recruits. The expedition was not a very
formidable one, still all seemed 10 have an
unusual degree of confidence as to It's suc-
cess.
"November 6 The women and children
about ti0y taken hom ST. Simoud's on
the day previous were now landed 3or safe
ty in 81. Catharine's, a more haz .rdous
work was Ia be undertaken. Much of the
night was spent in getting wood for the
steamer. killing beeves, aud cooking meats,
rice. and cora. for our woLen and children
on shore. and for the troops. The men
needed no drivers lash to incite them TO
labor Sleep and rest were almost unwe.-
come. for they were preparing to go up
Sapelo RIVER. along whose banks, on the
beautiful plantations. were their ia hers,
! bar. h.,e 4 II:
dren. Weeks and months before. some of
the men had lefi those loved ones. With .
promise to return, # de good Lord jis open
de way
'.At i've O'Clock on Friday morning. No
vamber Z. We were under way. Captain
Budd. OF the guabost Potnmska. had kind
ly promised the evening b lore to accom-
psny us past the most dangerous places.
On reaching his station in Sapelo pund. we
found MIN in readiness. Oar little hset,
led by the Potomska. AMI folio wed by the
Darlington, sailed proudly up the winding
Sapeio, now through marshes, aud then past
large and beautiful plantations. II was very
affecting to se- our soldiers watching in
,ensely the colored forms on land, one say
ing. in the agony Of deepest anxiety. oh.
das'r. my wife and ci,ilen lib dere.' and
another singing out, Deere deere my brodder.'
or my sister The earnest 10, sings of their
poor. anguish .rveu hearts for landings. and
then the sad, inexpressible regrets IS the /
steamer passed. must be imagined they
cannot be described.
1.-The first landing was made at a picket /
station on Charles Hopkins's plantation-
The enemy VAS driven back; few guns
and sword only captured. The Potomska
came to anchorage, for lack of sufficient
- fa hov -
plantation. Here we witnessed rich scene
Some fifty negroes appeared on the banks.
about thirty rods distant from their m ster's
house, and some distance from the Darling
ton. They gaxed upon Us with intense fee
lings. alterus,ely turning their eyes toward
their master. who was watching hem from
the piazza. and toward our s;ea ner, which,
as yet, had given them no assurances Of
landing The moment she headed to the
shore. their doubts were disper-el. and they
gave US such welcome as angels would b.
satisfied with Snme few women were so
Glled With joy. that they ran. leaped, clap
ped their han Is, and cried, Glory 10 God! /
Glory to Godl'
-
AFTER relieving the old planter of twenty
thousand dollars worth OF humanity, that |
is. fifty-two slaves. and the leather of his |
tanrery, We re embarked. Oar b ats were /
sent once and again. however, to the shore
for men. VINO. having heard the steam-whis-
tie. came in greatest haste from distant
plantations.
.'As the Po.omska could go no farther.
Captain Badd kindly offered To accompany I
Us with one guns cr-w. We were lad t.
have his company and the services OF the
crew. As We ta only one guns crew Of col
ored men. Above US was . bend in the riv-
er. and high blad covered with thick
woods There We apprehended danger. for
the rebels had had ample time 10 Collect
tn ir forces. Tie men WEIR carefully post
ed. fully Instructed as to their duties and
dangers BY Col Beard Our PARROTS were
manned, aud everything was in reaiinsss
No sooner were we within rif.-shos than
the enemy opened upon rs heavy Gre from