The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1864-01-09

long shut out from every energizing influence. and
Port Royal the finest harbor On the Southern coast,
would be worth something. "Think Oft, Colonel
Van Wyck," he exclaimed, turning to the Colonel,
"you could stand on the floors of Congress and
battle for freedom, but you could not come to
Port Royal. Speaking of General Gilmore he
said, General Gilmore makes you work hard
and we work hard but no man in the Department
of the South works harder than General Gilmore
himself" He closed by saying, "We are going
to fight out this war whether it be two years or
thirty years longer, by the help of God and the
black man."
Dr. Brisbane, one of the Tax Commissioners,
was next called on. He briefly alluded to his
early school days at this place. and to his labors
as an abolitionist Unexpectedly to himself be-
yond all his hopes, he stood here to-day, seeing
that his labors, mingled with those of others, had
been successful. Slavery was dead and only a.
waited burial. He believed that as sure as there
was God in Heaven, all would speedily be free,
throughout the length and breadth of our land.
| A well written poem, apropos to the occasion,
penned by Mr.. II. G.. Judd, was read by Mr.; A.
P. Ketchum and congratulatory remarks to the
schools were made by the Rev. L. D. Barrows, D.
D., Ganernl Saperintende Of instruction.
| An elegant sword was then presented Colonel
Hiccinson by Rev. NJ. Hail. o colored preacher, in
behalfof twelve of the prominent colored residents
of Beaufort and vicinity.
| Mr.. Halls speech in presenting the sword was
directly to the point and told more than was ex-
pressed of the high appreciation, in which Colonel
81. is held by his men and their friends.
Colonel Higginson accepted the sword, not for.
himself he said, but in the name of that regiment
which it was the greatest honor Of his life to COM
mand They had not yet made assaults like that
on Wagner, but it had been their honor to conduct
an enterprise of as great danger that OF storming
the fortress of preladice against the black man.
! 1t was they who had made Fort Wagner, Port
Hudson and bIilliken's Bend, possible. Fifty thou
sand black soldiers were now marching through
the breach which their bayonets were the first to
storm. He had been presented with another
sword. not so fine q one as this, which was taken
| nt Willtown Bluff by his soldiers. They had cap
tured it from the rebel Brigadier in command OF
that place and his men thought it was about good
enough for Union Colonel. He trusted IN the
name of God that the ore now given hin, he
should never disgrace.
A benediction closed the proceedings at the
stand The good hits Of the various speakers
were applaudcd with visor which showed their
entire appreciation, and cheers were given with a
will for President Lincoln, General S;eXton, Gen.
Gilmore, and others
After the speaking the procession WIS reformed
and marched to the tables in the rear OF the camp
where eight roasted oxen, quantity OF hard tack
two thousand loavcs Of bread and two barrels OF
rolasses were awaiting consumption. These pre-
parations received due attention from the multi
| tude present, the barbecue closing III tllne Tor
those from abroad to take the steamboats, for home
in good season.
( friend suggests that something ought to be
said about the music. He is right. have ali
along been intending to do ii. Ii was furnished
by the regimental bands of the Sth Maine, and the
18th New York, in their best style To those who
Lnorr these hands this will LIE SufficiCnt-tOr the