The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-20
LETTER FROM THE sourH.


SAVANNAH, Ca, June %, 1865.
MY DEAR -: Our regiment broke up
camp at Fort Meigs on Friday evening, June
3d--1aarched out beyond Fort Stevens, that
eve land dusty march it was,) bivouaked
there that night, and on Saturday morn march
ed back oWashington city, down to 7th street
wharf where we took boat for Alexandria, to
embark on transport for this city. We got I'M
derwag about 6 O'Clock p. NJ, and within
half hour were hard and fast aground-two
tugs and our engine were not enough to get US
Off We were detained until near morning
and then made successful effort to get off
and away-W Wednesday following at O'Clock
p. III. we disembarked In this city. During
our trip, the weather was very pleasant and
the sea smooth-but the ssMetis" rolled heav-
ily--and two days out, they could raise only
five pounds of steam, owing to the boilers foul
ing. From what little experience I've had on
steamers at sea, Ibelieve we were extremely
fortunate in having had such fine weather on
the trip, otherwise, we should not have ar
rived here so soon as we did.
Fort Pulaski, lbrick) stands at the mouth of
the river. From the mouth of the Savannah
river to the city on both sides, the country is
low and fiat, resembling Louisiana from the
mouth of the Mississippi to New Orleans.i A
few miles below S. is where the river was OBJ
structed by series of piles being driven across
the river about in the shape and width OF
those driven for r. r. bridges-across flats or
in shoal water. There is narrow passage
way through these piles for steamers and sail
ing vessels. Just above this obstruction and
on both sides of the river are small but forni-
dable bomb-prOOf earth-works. have very
seldom, if ever, seen so strong works. Heavy
guns were mounted. These works could read
lily have withstood any amount Of shelling-
From them up to the city is continuous series
of rice fields, under cultivation. should
Judge Savannah is located on the first COM
paratively high land, that you reach in coming
up the river The city front has the appear
ance of long disuse. A street lined with ware
hou es extends along this front, but you go up
an abrupt rise Of from 30 to 100 feet from the
water level, to get into the city itself The
| city is well laid out, very many of the streets
are densely shaded Most of the buildings are
well built, very many are fine buildings; but
| all of them have an ancient look, owing either
to the climate or to the bricks themselves. The
bricks are very coarse. AT or near the end of
Bull Street (56 street runs back through the
| city at right angle with the river) is small
but very neat Park-just before you reach it,
/ you see Pulaski's monument, a white marble
shaft with relief of mounted man, Pulaski,
| Judge. We are camped outside of the first
line of earthworks about a quarter or third
of mile from the Park. / was struck with
the quiet ofthe city when we marched through
it. 1t seemed duh, stagnant, almost dead
Since then I've walked about the city dur
ing the business portion of the day, and
there was the same lack of activity and hustle.
One Sunday evening after dress parade walk
ed to the Park and through the length of Bull
Street, (it is the Promenade.) There were
numbers of people white and black, citizens
| and soldiers promenading, and the street at
that hour had quite lively appearance Poop
lie were seated out on the stoops of the houses.
All are quiet and civil, and yet the old resi-
dents are sore, very sore-as is natural they
! should be. I believe this still life is charac-
teristic of Southern cities. They have all
more or less suffered from this war, if not in
actual conflict and eonfagration, from its par
alyzing touch. People at the North cannot
without actual inspection realize this. They
have no more true idea of wars work than
one has of heaven. One thing, notice here,
which have seen no where else in the Allan
tic States. The yards and grounds attached
to houses are surrounded by high walls, over
six feet I should think. 1t may have been that
the nature of the peculiar institution" re-
| quired this. | can account for it in no 9TH
er way. .sH ~
Some few miles from the city in souther-
| ly direction is an old cemetery-quite an extern
siye one, well laid out and shaded by large,
old trees. 1t is one of the curiosities. When
or by whom it was laid out, / cannot learn,
nor does any one seem to know. / shall take oc-
casion to visit the earth works outside of our
camp some short distance, said to be very
strong and scientifically laid out.
Our camp life is monotonous enough The
weatheris hot, and showers not unfrequent,
and though we are camped at no great dis
| lance from swamp, mosquitoes are not near
! lyso thick as Harris found them In your quar-
| tiers at Washington. Sand-fies are plenty
| We are, at our present camp troubled by no
other insects or bugs, though there are large
red ants, which sting numerically if they get
on to you. We have nothing to do except
dress parade, and ahaf hours drill later in the
evening, (if pleasant each day, aud the regu-
lar Sunday Inspection. Reading matter is
very scarce. We. keep in the shade of our
tents as much as possible during the day and
| pass the time as best we can. So far the health
of the regiment has been extremely good,
though the men partake very freely of cucum-
pels and such kinds of vegetables We have
had ever since we have been here an album
dance of blackbefries and blueberries water
melons and musk melons and canteopes are
| plenty. Very many are shipped to New York
| by steamer.
Isee by the Savannah Republican, notices
of meetings holden Ia different sections of
this State. and copies of the resolutions passed
at them. They desire strongly to reorganize a
State Government and to return to their re-
lations with Uncle Sam. The Resolves so far
as have read them are moderate; no intense
| devotion expressed; but in one section alone,
does "cloyen hoof" peep out. and that is in
regard to vagrancy and its preventative. That
snnacks very strongly Of the old slavery spirit
. an illcllneu 70 lhlllk the persons assembled
~ ~ tnose nneeSlngs meant an they resolved Haq
.i'esg peeli gerry setohg oeeotton ezpresseu,
snVtlu iook upon thein as nypOcrilcai Ior II Is
no S:,l n human nature 10 KISS the hand that
s sS nugn less % love warmly ana strongly
V We p oa, snae crusaes 0nI Iayorlte tneory-
1911 Ion ail.a opsy power teih
perez Win justice ana mercy even II It does
treau upon your theory OF system. 10 me It
seems as II tne events OF the past four years
i y ts nave weighed upon every thinking man
~ tne SCUM IKE Mucous nightmare; and
Wlen, at last, the curtain tails, 1t falls over