, 1864-07-02
From Our Special Correspondent
Nopu1s I&rtrD +! Irpa ~ 1sff

The past week has beeu an exciting one
with us Norris Islanders, for We have been
flooded with I'll sorts Of rnmorB as to the
fortunes Of Grant and Sherman. On Thurs
day, the 10th, VIC thought some terrible dis
aster must have befallen our arms; at p.
N. on that day the rebels opened every Gun
md battery around their whole Nne-sulli-
vnn Island, James Island, Sumter, Ripley,
Pinckney, the city batteries, and their two
rams. We thought certainly it must be
grand jol1ihcatfon. The only circumstance
that gave us any hope WAS that the guns were
all shotted; but, on the other hind, they
were fired at random. in every direction. In
its scenic aspect the display was magnificent.
To-day We learned from rebel pickcts that
JET. Davis visited tho city on the 10th, md
the firing Was to show him what could BE-
done In case Of an emergency. Possibly he is
'nosing about for place for Lees army to
fall back to when it is whipped out OF Rich
mond.
And then on Monday or Tuesday we had
another pretty little episode. The rebs sent
in flag Of truce to the General commanding
here, to inform him that number of Feder-
al officers taken prisoners In Virginia {and
among others Gen Trueman Seymour, who
led the Union forces at the battle of Olnstee,
Florida) had been sent to Charleston, and
were now confned in the part Of the. city
"withln range" and exposed to our shells,
and that therefore the Union General had
beat stop his fire on the City! Gen. Schim-
eldnig Immediately sent word to the front
to "giye them fsEtJ more shells inBtanter.n
Twas talking to-day with black man who
recently got away from Fort johnson, on
James Island. He was twenty-four hours
ont on the sWamps here, wnding, swimming
and scurtling along before he made Uncle
SANS lines. He started In the night, aud
asleep and slept through the day on the
ma1sh, the long grass keeping him concealed.
] asked him how he got Off In the first place.
He said he used to 60 ont md carry Cap'n
his blanket On picket, and SO learned his
ground. He had seen some five or six of the
Charleston. Ono Of them, Sergeant Sim
mons, Ind his arm shot off close to the
shoulder. Simmons was pale aud weak, and
but half fed. Furthermore, he says that
Charleston hnB sent all her forces to Rich
mond, and the forts are no more than half
the Sunday the 55th Mass. had the skirmfsh
on James Island. They rang the bells and
turned out firemen, citizens, Heveryholy to
the rescue" All accounts agree that there
are very few troops in aud about Charleston.
Pursuant to the sentence Of court mar
tial, Wallace Baker, OF tie 55th: Massachg-
musketry,' on the 18th inst. at Folly Island.
He had been found guilty Of mutiny having
refused to obey the orders Of Lieut.. Els
worth, had struck him several blows aud had
endtayored to take his sword from him. The
sentence was executed within few hours
| after it wnB transmitted to the. office in COM
mand. Eight shots took effect, and he WAS
| killed instantly. hear it intinatcd that the
matter of pay was closely connected With
| Bakers insubordination. These coloEed
troops have served without pay. some Of them
almost year and o half. On Wednesday, the
18th, an officer Of the 21st (colored) Shot. 9
nan for refusing to do duty. 1t is fearful
responsibility the Government Is throwing
on the officers Of these regiments-to comps
the men to be soldiers when the Government
will not recognise them as such. Again, Gen.
Foster has refused to muster Lie1t Swatls
who was commissioned Tor bravery nt Olus
tee. Swails was private In the 54th{color
ed) Massachusetts volunteers and greatly dis
tincuIshed himself in the batt1e above named
and In recognition Of his gallant conduct was
commissioned By Gov. Andrew Second Lieu
him; and here Is another fight to be fought
The Government will not pay him as a sol
| dier, nor reward him, when deserving, will
promotion. swails Is almost white, but th'
day has not set como ~heh 3ust'co can y
or. I might ask this question of even th'
most conservative. If q white regiment hal
been systematically kept ont OF It's pay fo
sixteen months, would you not expec
insubordinntion, nay mutiny? More than 1
soldiers duty has been required Of thesa
colored troops, and, under the circumstance
their conduct has been deserving Of I'LL th'
praise that can be bestowed upon 1t. Ths
colored troops are quietly awaiting the re
turn OF Col. Hallowel, who has gone tt
Washington, to urge upon the Goyernmen
consideration Of the case Of these poo
people. They expect Of him, perhaps, NOR
than human being can perform. Trul,,
they are fighting in holy cause! Gen
Schimeldnfs says that one or the other o
these things must certainly be done by th
Government, immediate recognition, OF i'm
mediate muster out of the service. Nothin,
lees than this will be Justice.
The SD q. s. colored troope, arrived fey
days ago and arc now encc1nped on thi
Island. Col. Higginson il North now, an
report Eayeth he will resign bis colonelcg
The TACT Is, no man can hare anything to d.
with emancipation and not very soon &c
| sick Of his occupation. It Is "kickin!
acainst the prickB :" all the time.
Tho sanitary condition Of the regiment
here Ii pretty good, although symptoms
! seuryy still exist JUAN.