The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-04-15
A.nty Correspon Gence.
CHARLESTON, S. C. March, l6, 1865


apparent neglect an, first, ] have not been
with the regiment since the 22d day of Jam
uary, and, as your readers more immed-
lately interested in the movements and we'll
fare of the l04th than in my individual where
abouts, have found it quite difficult to col
lect items sufficiently entertaining to form a
teadable letter. And I'd. since leaving my
command mn health, for the greater part of
the time, has been such as to render letter
writing entirely out Of the question. For the
last three weeks, however, have been quite
well, and at PRESENT feel as stout and robust
as i ever have. THIS is the only time | have
separated from the regiment on account of
sickness, and may God i'll his mercy spare
me in the future from similar infiiCtion.
l was sent back to Savannah from the regi-
mcnt to the hospital by the surgeon on the
22d Of Jan. after one days march from that
city. On my arrival at the hospital at Sa-
vannah, | was informed by the surgeon in
charge that 10 provision had been made thete
for sick officers but as was not in condi-
ton to around the city TO find some
benevolent family to IKE care OF ME while in
helpless condition. he kindly allowed me to
occupy 4 corner, on the floor. in one of his
wards. Here | remained one dav and night
without mOuthful of nOurIshmeHt or medi-
cal attendance, all the while suffering from a
very NlSn IcNer aLC lhc DlOOCF Huh III It's
very worst stages. On the morning o the
2d da7 your.s doctor came into the ward
and visited all the ratients 35 in number,
wher he came to me he pronounced my case
a ves5 bad one, and on nv Informing him
th:, suffered very much pain from lying on
the hard floor, be assured NE that | should
be provided with mattress as soon as one
could bs procured. In the afternoon very
comfortable mattress. and few pills were
brcJvtt 70 me bv one of the nurses. The
mattress did me much good but the pills did
not operate. Next morning the surgeon
called again, felt M pulse and looked 1t my
tongue. and said the med cine he had givcH
me the day before had not produced the elect
lie had anticipated and that my case was
more aggravating than he had supposed
Another prescription was made and in due
lime brought 10 me by the nurse Ills seem
ed to be Just the thing needed for soon
itso operation was over | began to recover.
In a week from that day | was abb to get
out and find more comfortable quarters, and
falling in with DIR. Gray OF Peoria, surgeon
of the SSH H.. ] solicited his attendance
which he freely bestowed and after admins
tering various pUrgatveS. astrlngents, stimu-
ian,s, to1icS bIisters and mustard plaster;
was pronounced fit for light duty on the 18th
day of Febrarv. | reported to Gen. Grover
for duty But as he had nothing for me TO
do he advised ne TO &c to the hospital at
Beaufort, S. c. As | was improving rapidly
concluded to remain whsre | was until
was fit for the field. About TIE 20th, Col.
Hapeman arrived in the city from Hilton
Head and at once made arrangements to
accompany him to Blairs Landing, about 80
miles ADORE Beaufort ). {. on Broad River.
where all the srragg!e-s Of shernlaus army
N |
not get away from Savannah until the 2Ith
of March, Col Haperan- had previously re
turned to Hilton Head. On the murning of
the 2slh inst arrived at Hilton Head Port
RoyaD where was detained awaiting orders
until the 9Th when ordered 10 report TO
Col. Hammersiine AT Charleston, ). C., for
duty This order pleased me for / always
had desire to see this famous clty-this
hot bed of treason and the starting MORT OF
the terrible var in which have now been
Esa;!y three years engaged
| arrived IN the Palmetto City about 6
O'Clock a. m on the Stn inst. The trornng
was mild and the air clear SO that every OBJ
iect of interest in and around the ha-hOr was
distinctly visible. AS the steamer gradually
Goated up the rear of Morris Island.the heavy
sand batteries along the shore plainly
visiable, stretching out their zizZagular lines
far Inland over the hite sandy plains with
high mounds at stated intervals, beneath
which are buried the magazines of the bat
teries. There are four seperate lines o! these
works across the island. indicating the grad
ual approaches which our force haze made
up the island in direction OF Cummings
Point. Everybody is familiar with the many
struggles which our troops had on this island
before it was finally surrendered to the fed
eral forces, so that | shall not now attempt to
l. Il. Il.
bic works along the beach Fort Wagner pre-
sents the most forn.i liable appearance, and
next the works on Cumming point, which
are said to be the strongest earthworks our
forces had previous to the evacuation, altho'
they Go not stand out in as bold relief as
many others. Opposite the point in the
middle of the b " Fort Sumter lies like an
old ruin half sunk amid the surges which
continually dash agaist its walls as they come
rolling in from the open sea. Fort Marshall
Beauregard, Moultrie and Battery Bee, with
all their vast parapets and magazines nearly
covering Suiiivans Island with three hundred
monsfer guns stare you defnantly in the ia I
from the opposite shore as you sail up the
channel directly in front of them, before you
found the point below Sumter and enter the
harbor. All the way from Sumter to the city
both sides of the bay resemble Il vast aboris
inal burying ground. Mound after mound
neatly sodded and filed with ord ia nee
stores near their heads high above the con
tinuous line Of immense earth works, over
which, at stated intervals, the dark forms o
Gas and loo Founders protrude their noses
Midway between Fort Sumter and the city
are the harbor obstructons-a double line 0
heavy piles extending from Mount Pleasan
across to the lower end of James Island an,
nearly in front of Fort Johnton. After pass
ing these Instructions your attention is a
once attracted by the odd appearance of For
Cipley and the beautiful circular work O
Castle Pinkney. The former is three gu
battery constructed on piles directly in .h
main channel and but about lJ0 reds from
th wharf 1t is n t consid, r ID e very formid
able structure, as its iraii fCpndato
will not sustain tn e jar of the gins ~hic
it supports The latter is general
admitted to be more ornamental than usefu
although it is one of the strongest work
around the harbor, but its proximity to tn
esty and it's position are such as to render il
hre only available after all the batterie
south aud east OF 1t had been Welded up. Ir
side OF Forts Ripley and Pinkuey your eye
at once falls on the beautiful work, whic.
constitute the battery. These form the lowe
point of the Peninsula upon which the CITY
bt.it, and were all built by the U. S. man
years ago. The rebels have strsrgthene
them considerably by constructing heav
tIavprsee al stated intsYrets in order ,o vuo ,