The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-01-23
CAMP of the 55th Reg't. p. V. |
BEAUFoRT, S. c., Jan. 1863. (
Yours, J. 3. II.
MIR. b. T. MEYERS

MR. b. +. MEYERs.-
SIR:-Having a leisure moment, / en-
ploy it by writing few lines for your worthy
paper, which hope will be Of some interest to
some of your readers. We are still quartered
on our old camp ground, half mile back of
Beaufort, on which ground we have been en-
camped since the 9th of July last The boys
of our entire regiment, are in good health al
this time. and they would all like to have an
other "whack" at the rebels like they had on
the 22d of October, at Pocotaligo, and / think
we could give them just as many mimic balls as
we did then, and believe, by the way things
are moving, that we will give 'sNIr. Rebel" an
other call pretty soon.
We are now well prepared for winter Should
any come to S. CO. in every respect. We have
plenty of fire wood, consisting of live-oak and
pine, which is the principal timber of this ISL
and, and we don't spare it in taking it in. We
have also very pretty burying- aground to bury
soldiers 1t is neatly fenced in and made to
look very pretty compared with what some OF
the ''solders" burying grounds are. This ISL
and is of very sandy soil; the wind blows the
sand into our tents just like it does snow in the
North. This island suits the bareiootcd negroes
very well, for the sand is soft and pliable to
their feet. This morning there was quite an
excitement among thcncgrocs of thislittle city.
They were going on boat to the negro cncamp-
ment, about four miles from this place, to have
a speech made to them by General Saxton
Military Governor of this island) about their
freedom, and they appear to be as happy as so
many mice. and they are all sure that this is
their ''birthday into freedom" asked one OF
the negro men, this morning, why he did not
60 to hear the speech, to which he replied, 81
am free man, now, and tink wen go to dc
speech, massa Saxton would put me in colorcd
company and den / mus fight. So | tay at
home and do what tink bin right, case I'm a
free man. We have about 5000 colored
folks on this island at this time, and they are
Just as saucy and stingy, as the rebels them
selves. IF you want to buy chicken of them,
and ask the price, they will tell you to pay so
cts. or leave the chicken, and if you want a doz-
en- of eggs you must pay so cts. per dozen.
We have still our share of picketing to do
on this island, and good exercise of drill each
day, with squad inspection every morning, and
company inspection every Sunday morning, and
that is the chief duty which we have at this
place.
Soldering is trade which we are all getting
tired of, and we all long to sec this numbering
rebellion coming toa close; but it appears that
there is something holding it back. In nearly
every battle which we have in Virginia, the re :
Inducements are always kept back until it is
too late, and by that way our brave men are
ofttimes defeated in the very best laid plans ;
at any rate | think there is spoke out of the
wheel somewhere.
We have now been in South Carolina one
year and 20 days, to-day, and you may easily
imagine, how tired we are of this sandy coun-
try. was at negro church, few Sundays