Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-30
From Florida.

From Florida.
Operations at Charlestop-Gen. Gtlmors-Gol.
Montgomery and his Black Regiment-Ho,o
the First Regiment toas Demoralized-Sdtes of
forfeited Property.
of the State Journal. <
81 FERNAND1NA, Jaly s, 1868.
The recent changes in the command of
this apartment have induced the idea of
an Immediate and vigorous attack on
Charleston, while the rebel force is with
drawn and engaged in other fields. While
at hilton Head, few days since, learned
that the most active and vigorous exer-
tons were being made on Folly Island to
construct batteries that would command
the works on Morris Island, and that guns
had already been successfully planted so
as to do this. But as three OF the Mont
tors lay quietly at Hilton Head, and the
successor to Admiral Dupont had not
come on, it was not generally supposed
that a demonstration on the enemy's
works would be Immediately made.
The appointment of Gen. Gilmore to
the command of the department, is con.
sidered reflection upon Gen. Ssxton, his
senior, and who, from his intimate kuowl-
edge of the affairs of the department, as
we'll as his military qualifications, was Pc
culiarly fitted for the command. 1t is
painful, also, to the friends of freedom and
the policy Of emancipation, to have the
man of that policy thus
overslaughed. 1t is hoped that it is not
designed to effect radical change in the
policy of the department, in regard to the
blacks, but sending three pro.s!avery gen.
erals here known 20 entertain no special
regard for the honor OF Gen. Saxton, is, to
say the least, Indicative of bad faith
toward the freeman.
Gen. Gilmore is young man, and an
officer of energy and ability. From per-
sonal intercourse with him, am inclined
to believe he would be at times hasty and
perhaps rash. But he evinces intellectual
power of no ordinary caste, and stirring
energy almost amounting to lmpetuosity.
He is evidently ambitious of distinction,
as all our officers are, and will seek honor
by action rather than sloth. His force il
too small for the work that is to be done
nevertheless. if he wills it, he has sufi-
cient to keep the enemy busy and vigilant
here, and thus prevent his withdrawal to
assist in other quarters.
In person and physiognomy, Gen. Gill
more has a striking resemblance to Chas.
D. Robinson, of the Green Bay 4dUacate,
though he evinces a more active mind
I think he will be a popular commander,
though there is much doubt of his military
skill oatside of his peculiar forte as an
engineer. ... g..
One of his first orders was to recall Col.
Montgomery and his black troops from
st. Simon's Island, where they had estab.
lished Headquarters as base of operations
into Georgia and Florida. There seems
TO be some doubt at the North about the
propriety of Col. Montgcmery's mode of
warfare, which perhaps is rather irregular
and sanguinary, and this may have in
duced the order for his return to Hilton
Head. But it is perfectly apparent here
that with the present force there is no
other node of securing a permanent ad-
vantage over the enemy. His raid up the
Cohsmbee was successful and productive
Of great advantage, which could never
have been secured but by bold dash and
a blow that would strike terror. By the
same course be could have before this Sc.
cured brigade of soldiers from the slave
population of this State and Georgia, if
left to prosecute his successes regardless
of consequences to the rebels.
Col. Montgomery, too, has incurred en-
nifty from his effort to check the insubor-
dination and decentralization among the
black troops, by a summary execution of
deserter. Owing to the injustice of the
in refusing to recognize and
pay the 1st regiment formed by General
Hunter, there was no power to enforce
discipline, and it dissolved into it's original
elements, and the soldiers were led to be-.
lieve that it would continue to be so.-
Accordingly, when tired of the routine of
camp life they would one by one drop out,
and find their way to their families and neg.
lect to return. Col. Montgomery endeav-
ored to prevent this by double guards and
rigid surveillance, but it was found i'm
possible. When out on active service
there was no desertion, but on return to
camp in the neighborhood of their fami-
lies and friends, after day or two's rest,
seventy were absent at roll call. Col.
Montgomery then, as last resort and the
only effective means Of stopping the leak,
issued and published an order giving a
certain number of days for the return OF
all deserters without penalty, and saying
that all arrested after that time would be
summary shot. 1t WIGS not needed, and
after the time expired an arrest was made
1T would have been easy to have made
thirty the deserter was brought in on
Saturday night, and when confronted by
the Colonel admitted that be knew the
order and was without excuse. "Then at
half past nine O'Clock Tomorrow morning
you must de-" said the Colonel, and at
that moment he was shot. He died
like hero" says the Colonel, land in
obedience to military necessity too i'm
perative to admit Of qualification" l
approve the act most emphatically, and
believe it will take more of the same dis
cipline to correct the evils which have
resulted from the protracted injustice of
the Government in refusing to keep faith
with the colored soldiers first enlisted.
The effect Of this execution was salu.
tary, and the same night sixteen deserters
came in under an order Immediately issued
extending the amnesty for some days to
all who returned voluntarily, and many
deserters from the fleet also returned
None of the more recently escaped slaves
desert as they are all anxious to return
and meet their masters sin battle array"
The 4th of July was duly observed here
by the black population. In fact it was
day long to be remembered, as the first
anniversary of our national jubilee when
it could be said that our flag was truly
the emblem of freedom. L have never
witnessed more joyous and apprecistive
audience than that assembled here on that
dax Tho IN hala affair or; cd