The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-09-06

oapt DEFINES IS a0odt to become the historian of his
own exploits, and two firms in New York have an.
the republication of his book now preparing
IN England "The Cruiser ofthe Alabama and Sumter
| from the Private Journals of the Captain" The news
papers are now referring to volume of naval sketches
written by sEMMEs when board the United States
vessel, the Soe's, aording proof of fair literary
ability.
cHARLEsroN-The subjoued article, which we ap-
propriae from tho Carotnian, Of Friday last is so
Just ana no fellcltously expressed that we can not
deny ourselves the pleasure of republishing it. although
somewhat long for wee sheet:
| Every newspaper in the Conlederacy keeps corner
ior the brief daily report of the siege of Charleston
when these terse bulletins first began to appear in the
columns Of thea and the Mercuyv. thew. were
read with an interest peculiar as it was profound
ana universal Theif meagre colorless descriptions.
ther calm aconic narratives; above all, thsr cool
summary OF shots that missed and shots that. hit
were found to be more darkY and terribly suggest
I've than the minutest details of the most elaborate
letter-Wrter could ever have been Gradual,r
however ths repeated pcrusal of these pregnant b,t
monotonous paragraphs caused them to assume the
character o thrice told tale" until at last tbsv
lost IN the familiarity of their scenes and incidents
almost all their power of affecting the Imagination
In reading them now it requires an effort unop our
part TO hi out the picture OF Which they arc but the
'aint outlines Yet they shadow forth too real and
heroic story to be altogether devoid Of intereat
while, ever and anon, as we glance them ove- 70.
encounter phrase neither particularly new nor a.
all feIlclous-generally indeed, it is but tbe bars
record OF an oft occurring incident-whicb, .soma.
now or other, seems repete with the same dresd
rkp1t tbo Sr,t
Ihus it happened not long ago, that in picking up
copy of the Courier, our eyes fell upon y clauss
"hich simply announced that "the enemv is nn,inc
up new gun bearing upon the city" Az Is hv
enchantment tho noble old seaport rose befora
our view in all the grandeur and pathos Of il, nra.
sent situation Tho lower part the town. with ;,s
vacant dwellings, its shattered hearth stones, It's
dshcveled gardens, lbs empty streets, its dumh
spires and deserted churches; the "Neck," as the
oher division Of the city is called where the brave
anu o"stnng inhabitants Of this besiegod place are
conducting their ordinary avocations, within sound
ot the enemys guns, and not so far Off from those
guns out that an occasional shell helps to varv the
oull ro"tne OF their business the lovely bay which,
e" short years ago. was throneed with shps from
o'ey quarter OF the world, BUT which is now almost
"S ioney ana oesolate as when it's waves were dis.
''o@"' on'y Dy tHe ctIlOe OF SOLITARY Indian
Sumter still brsn'sIiug its flag, lying like fallen
giant across the threshold of the harbor: Moultre,
watching in grim defiance the sea-coast op,oste ~
the long, low line of Morris Island dominated by that
infamous hag glimpse of which rri,ates one ~ mucb
as to drive for moment all the poetry of tba scene
from the head; lastly, the dim Atantc stripped of its
solemn and mysterious influence by the presence of
'hFee or four prosy looking Yankee blockadcrs IN
word, the whole theatre ofthe touching drama which
has been going on for the last fourteen ontbs with,
and around the metropolis of South Carolina Law
mapped out beneath our sight. No poem no naintno
could worthily embody such a scene; for it derives a
principal charm from thoughts which the moot and o
painter could after ALL but tantly expiess-vetr will
i've roughly sketched upon the page of the historian
with all its precious memories of SUFFERING hrava,, or,
d"red and danger galantly met, az ion, , .,,r,.o
ana iortItude are admired upon the eart ~. ,n
auty in South Carolina especially, to H., +, t.r,ro,
'resh IN our minds The air is shaken VIII, .,, .r,
ol lar greater though not more heroc battles ~,
nave ever taken place. could ever tax, ,.,c., IT, .
renee OF Charleston; and there ia O tb 90 ..., -.