Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-02-17

ed him to task in your columns, as having
done great injustice to the Fire Depart
ment of Charleston. Strange to say, about
the time of his writing, costly seated in
Yorkui11e, your correspondent was attend
ing g fire on South Bay in Charleston, on
Monday evening, the LIST instant, when all
vigilance was necessary, to stay the devour-
ing element-a cal! Of his company roll, at
that time, would surely have admitted one
absentee. Now, it was never intended by
me to reflect on the Fire Companies, prop
per, but only those who neglect their duty,
and being exempt from military duty, are
properly expected to perform their civil, as
important. Your. correspondent stated that
details were made from the State Troops to
work the Engines in this he is borne out
by the city press, who have awarded great
praise to the soldiers for the invaluable SER
vices they rendered on several occasions
It may be that the up.country soldiers do
not understand all the technicalities, and
modus operandi Of the city experts, who
would rather building should be destroyed,
than that the flames be not arrested secun:
dem. arten, but it is certain that much
hard work was done, and if they we're an.
noyed by few harmless shells, they were
not scared a,oay from the city! The Fire
Department is essentially necessary to eve
ry city, they desesasdfy oocspy high pO-
sition in the community and are justly en-
titled to all immunities, save that they are
still amenable to public opinion. "E'"
does not contend that everybody should be
in the war, far from 1.-THE farmers that
have been taken from their homes the past
six months, were improperly made a part of
it-but the time requires that every one
should be an his place, and that place is
most assuredly where the cause of our COM
mon country can best be served by all her
citizens, even if oeternal vigilance is the
price of liberty"
The President alludes to the loss of a
miniature cut or effigy of his engine, that
has been lost or stolen in Charleston, on
which he places much value-if the same
care had been taken of the miniature of
some Engines, as the originals, they would
have been sent with them to the upper dis
sricts, to bide the. fate of Charleston. AS
to the commissions of the "Chief Of the De-
partment," he had better reserve them for
his "ohosen people," who may wish to avail
themselves of bis "tubs" to get out of the
lines when occasion offers. The alderman
ic Saucho had but loose way of doing bus
siness, if all his important papers were kept
il old barracks, which we're even found un
tenable by some of the soldiers who left
them as soon as they could procure more
christian quarters.
The York companies did not occupy
them, but heard of an er parte statement
that did not seem to meet with general
credence then or now. Among the compan-
les on duty there vera many reckless boys,
as substitutes, who might have destroyed
what they thought old paper; If such was
the case, proper representations should have
been made at proper places by proper per-
sons, end any wrongs might have been
righted. Common sense ahould have taught
this; and "E" regrets that even the mis-
conception of his remarks should be made
use of Ct tais safe distance of time and
place, to give color Of imputstion against
civilians Regiment" even by inuendo.
Mr.. Sweegan appeals rightfully to my
knowledge of the Firemen of Charleston
during earlier years-they have lost moth.
ing by my maturer opinion may they still
go on prospering in their vocation, and
when the up, country and the down meet
again, may it be more of one heart and
mind than any ccptinued newspaper disqui-
sitions on subjects like the present are apt
to foster.
In concluding my correspondence from
the s.drum head" Messrs. Editors, 1 send
you New York Herald, of the I'd inst,
whose NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. may interest you,
as we'll as the accompanying note some of
your readers
"PosT "I,"
JAMES RIVER, SIGNAL LINE,
February s, 1854.
Dear E.: l enclose you late copy of