Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-09
CANr oF l42nd y. y. Rcg't}
Folly ISLAND, sept. l4th. !


C,Nr oF l42nd y. y. Rcgt}
Folly ISLAND, sept. 18th. !
.usssrs. Editors.
We had been remaining here quietly for
month when on the 9TH Of September we were
ordered without warning to pack up. strike tents
and march. In about an hour We were on our
way along the smooth beach to the north end Of
the Island. Ancr marching eight miles we
reached the shore of the narrow inlet that sep
crate th, island from Morris Island 1t was
about midnight when We reached this point and
we encampel for the remainder Of the night ou
the dry sand a little back from the shore.
The next morning we crossed the inlet on the
transport Croton, and having stacked our arms
were divided into fatigue parties and much
against our inclination had to spend the hours
of the Sabbath in harl labor.
Our party was sent to the fortifcations near
Wagner and it was our business to carry shell
to the heavy guns. We had quite an exciting
time dodging rebel shot and shell that fell around
US part Of our company were set to move
gun and place It on new carriage. The gun
was a hundred FOUNDER weighing between five
and six tons We moved it a distance Of forty
/ rods by hanging it under huge truck Wagon
and hauling it with long ropes or hawsers, our
team being composed Of fifty men.
! The gun was soon moved and placed upon its
! carriage and we then resumed the work Of mov-
! ing shell weighing from two to three pounds
! each and at the same time dodging the shells Of
/ the rebels. We were quite ready at sundown TO
return for a nights rest to the iore OF Folly
Island The next morning % men were de
tailed from each company for fatigue duty near
Fort Wagner We had already heard that Fort
Wagner had been evacuated during the night
previous and that our troops held possession Of
it. but hardly knew whether to believe it. We
soon learned the truth of the report, for having
marched along the eastern beach of Morris
Island. about three miles, we came to the begin
ming Of our fortifcations, along which we passed
right into Fort Wagner to report for orders, and
tbourh we remained but a few minutes had
time to see that the rebels hal good reason for
leaving the Fort,-not however for want OF pro
Visions for they had left quite a stock of bacon,
barl bread. &c but from the awful effect of
our shot and shell. for every thing was broken
and .liyered in pieces There were not a few
dead rebels left in the Fort when it was evacuat-
Ell.
1t was about noon when we reached Fort
WAGNER. and we found ii convenient to try some
| of the rebel hard tack for dinner. We found
them not bad. as we were very hungry but 1t
was noticeable that they had a very large pro
rortion of branin their composition.
We worked all day carrying material for fac
ing the embrasures for the guns on the iortihca-
,;ons while the rebels were doing what they
could to stop Us by throwing shot and shell
from Fort johnson. We were pretty well pro
,ecte1 bv breastworks but not by any means out
# d,nger Most of the shell burst in the all
,bove our heads and the pieces were generally
thrown bevond US upon the beach or into the
sea Some went entirely over and struck III
the sea or AS the boys said went fishing
Near bv Us. but one man was killed AMI on'
wounded. although there were narrow escape'
enough to keep up the excitement
close somewhat abruptly not having 'liiie
write more at present. j. a.