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

Beaufort is q sandy town, nearly twent
miles from the ocean, and it is nearly mid
summer. Dor'tyou believe it is little warm
However, we nave nice breeze with the It'd
every evening. You ought to see the Beau
fort osquitoes-gracious!
Freedmen's affairs are frightfullY mixed VI
on the Sea Islands. These islands, as al vii
remember, were set apart by General Sher
man, in Order No. Is, in January, 1864, to
the settlement of the colored people whohat
gathered together in vast numbers in tina
Generals lines. Allotments of land, nomi
nally of thirty or forty acres in extent but il
reality of all dimensions, from half q dozer
acres to half a dozen hundred acres, were
squattcd upon by all ages, sexes and condi
tions of the colored race: The distribution
under General Sa1ton, 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 Sherman's conditions,
and worse than that, cormorants of the Father
French style of philanthropist, and he among
them, have swindled the poor freedmen 50
completely that half of them are destitute
and dependent on charity. The recital of
these facts is unpleasant, but unpleasant as it
is, l 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 chsplains 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-
ceptible state of improvement in this particu-
lar since the advent 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
expectations and hopes of the projectors and
founders of Beaufort, it will never be an i'm
portant commercial city. Port Royal, which
i,s at the mouth of the river, and immedi-
atey on the ocean, is destined to be the great
commercial city of South Carolina. It 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. 1t can easily be
seen from Beaufort, being less than fifteen
miles distant. Great efforts will be made
vet to have first class navy yard at this
place Port Royal and all the property
hereabouts has neen brought, some at the
tax sales, some at sales OF conGsca.ed prop
erty, and some on private terms. People
from all over the United States have pur-
chased building lots, (city property or
plantation lands, or both. Tens of thousands
,f the richest plantation lands in South Care
ina are in close proximity to Port Royal, all
II which grow the long staple or sea island
lotion. noticed, few days ago, while
ooking over the Tax Commissioners books,
ha: one of the best plantations in this vicin-
ty, comprising seven hundred acres of land,
-ss sold to firm composed Of Senator Doc
title, oil Wisconsin, Ben. Wade, of Ohio, and
Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania. This was
he property OF Col. Seabrook formerly, who
an away and sacrificed i; for the rebel cause.
'be cotton on This plantation is looking
plendidly and is in full bloom.