Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-08-04
Letter from the Department of the
Gulf.
HILToN HEAD, S. c.,

rlouc lsttle bTeeu mountain SlhIe mas
sent no regiments to this department,
have concluded that Vermonters know
comparatively little of us here on the
Sea Islands. Therefore have thought
it might not be uninteresting to the nu-
merous readers of the Herald to hear
from us occasionally through the medi-
um OF letters written in moments
snatched from business hours. 1t has
occurred to me that, whatever may be
the upshot of the rebellion, a great peo-
pie will have gained a knowledge OF the
geography, characteristics and resour-
ces of great country, which resources
lying, as it We're, hidden from a race |
indolent and self-satisfed will one day |
be developed by more vigorous man.
hood, revealing sources Of national
wealth and strength of which the world |
has heretomore never dreamed.
After a voyage from New York of
four days, whose monotony is only re-
lieved by gazing over the ships sides,
watching the roll and tumble of the
huge pillows, or with glass, sweeping
the horizon, looking out for prowling
Alabamas and ubiquitous Floridas, or
more calmly observing the gambols OF
schools of porpoises, reading, chatting
with friends, and last but not
of least moment with that green eyed
demon of the deep, sea-sickness, we at
last see, far over the waters, the shores
| of the Sea Islands, almost on level
with the sea, but rearing aloft their
tall, palm-like trees, and revealing to
us. wanderers from Northern cline,
new world.
In few hours, the good steamer Ar
ago steams up alongside the crowded
dock, and after half hour waiting for
the boarding officer to give us permit
to 60 ashore, and another half hour
spent in hunting for baggage, and ell
bowing our way through crowds of men,
among horses, trucks, boxes, bundles
and huge piles of commissary, quarter
master and ordnance stores with which
the long dock is loaded, we stand at
last upon the sacred soil of South Caro-
lima. the cradle of secession and rebel
lion.
Hilton Head is low, sandy island
lying parallel to the mainland and about
twelve miles in length. On the north
ern extremity of this island is the mill
tary post also called Hilton Head OF
Port Royal. Like all the Sea Islands,
this island though sandy is exceedingly
fertile, giving growth to q luxurient
vegetation and producing with little
cultivation abundant crops of cotton,
(the finest in the world) corn, rice, &C,
likewike q great variety Of tropical
fruits, including figs, oranges and pome-
granates. On these islands are many fine
plantations, now carried on by northern
men and northern capital and worked
by hired labor. Here are the residences
of the Popes, the Elliots, the Calhouns,
(once owned by John C.) and the Dray-
tons, Qast occupied by the rebel General
of that name.) But
"Massa run, ha, ha
The darkies, stay, ho, no."
and thus it is that there are many thou
sands of slaves on these islands, now
free, however, their chivalric masters
having skedaddled for more genial dis
tricts, leaving the Yankees and mig
gers" sole possessors. l am told that
a person should not judge the negroes
of other localities South by those of the
Sea Islands. was astonished at their
ipferiority as race. / should say that
the majority of the native negroes on
these islands are physically imperfect
many are frightfully deformed, and a
large proportion are affected with lung
and scrofulous diseases. This am told
! is perhaps explained partially by the
fact that when a cargo of negroes ar
rived at this or any other of the numer
GUS small islands along the coast, they
were bought by the half dozen planters
who owned the whole island, and wert
seldom if ever allowed to visit the mair
land or neighboring islands. Hence
they intermarried closely and their pol
. icy being rapid multiplication, the.
became sadly degenerated both physi
= cally and mentally. Another peculiar
!. ity noticed is the amost unintelligibl
y gibberish which they speak. This to-
= may be explained, when we know tina
these islsnds were stocked by direct i'm
: portations from Africa. The numerou
a channels, creeks and bays unknown
but few navigators, afforded excellen
= hiding places to the SLAYER, where h
was accustomed to run in and discharg
| his cargo of human Beings large SUI
70 plus being bought by the planters alon
! the coast.
But however low and degraded the
10 may have been, the noble work Of in
d provement is in progress, and general
Ie they seem inclined to take advantage I
ID the opportunity. Schools have been e
= tablished and, Northern teachers,-Go
l bless them-are lahorinp faithfully ar