Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-08-15
Beaufort is a sandy town, nearly twenty

Beaufort is sandy town, nearly twenty
miles from the ocean, and it is nearly mid
summer. Don't you believe it is little warm?
However, we have nice breeze with the tide
every evening. You ought to see the Beau
fort mosquitoes-gracious!
Freedmen's affairs are frightfull7 mixed up
on the Sea Islands. These islands, as all will
remember, were set apart by General Sher-
man, in Order No. Is, in January, 1864, Tor
the settlement of the colored people who had
gathered together in vast numbers in that
Generals lines. Allotments of land, nomi-
nally of thirty or forty acres in extent, but in
reality of all dimensions, from half o dozen
acres to half dozen hundred acres, we're
squattcd upon by all ages, sexes aud condi.
tions of the colored race. The distribution
under, General Saxton, or some of his agents,
was made in the most careless and irregular
manner, which irregularity was continued
until the end of General Saxton's admins
tration. Not half Of the certificates issued
comply with General Shermans conditions,
and worse than that, cormorants Of the Father
French style of ptfilanthropist, and he among
them, have swindled the poor freedmen 80
completely that half of them are destitute
and dependent on charity. The recital Of
these facts is unpleasant, but unpleasant as it
is, feel it my duty to make you aware of
them, AS far as the Sea Islands are con-
cerned, and especially where the plantations
are being run by chaplains and officers OF the
Freedmen's Bureau, the most unscrupulous
robberies are being perpetrated, and an alarm
ing state of lawlessness has cropped out in
consequence. There has been and is per-
ceptib[e state of improvement in this particu-
lar since the adven. of General Scott. And
it is due this officer to say that he is very
strict with all classes, but he happens not to
be fanatic.
Notwithstanding, the Vanderbilt came up
to this town on one occasion contrary to the
and hopes Of the projectors and
founders of Beaufort, it will never be an i'm
portant commercial city. Port Royal, which
lrs at the mouth of the river, and immedi-
aiely on the ocean, is destined to be the great
commercial city Of South Carolina. 1t has
the finest port and harbor South Of Portland,
ard, of course, will accommodate the largest
Of ships. The town is being laid out in
splendid style, and already large number Of
people have settled there. It can easily be
seen from Beaufort, being less than fifteen
miles distaut. Great efforts will be made
vet to have first class navy yard at this
place Port Royal,) and all the property
hereabouts has been brought, some at the
tax saics, some at sales OF confscated prop
erty, and some on private terms. People
from ali over the United States have pur-
chased building lots, (city property or
plantation lands, or both. Tens of thousands
Of the richest plantation lands in South Care
lima are in close proximity to Port Royal, all
of which grow the long staple or sea island
cotton. noticed, few days ago, while
looking over the Tax Commissioners books,
Iba: one of the best plantations in this vicin-
ity, comprising seven hundred acres of land,
was sold to firm composed Of Senator Doc
little, of Wisconsin, Ben. Wade, of Ohio, and
Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania. This was
The property of Col. Seabrook formerly, who
ran awey and sacrificed it for the rebel canse.
rbe cotton on this plantation is looking
splendidly and is in full bloom.