The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-26
LILLE CHARLESTON DAILY NEWS. NOVEMBER &C. 1890

| ahu "nt'es' mount Pleasant lB a summer resi-
dence Tor bueiness men Of the city aud panter
OF tho neighborhood, but in these hard timei
low people can afford two homes, and most Of thu
lnhsoltants remain in the village NIL tho yoal
round It is ono Of tho prettiest little villages il
the stat and IL thero are any Of our readers who
havo never been boen there, we adviso thom b,
all means to go at the first opportunity.
| sULLIvAN's ISLAND.
We intended to losvo Mount Pleasant bv The
eleven O'Clock boat, but though wc uor. within ,
few steps OF tho landing when she showed off, tn,
| captain would not wait for us. A short IrishmaI
on the wharf consoled US by the information tina
! tho independent captain would not wait q half .
| second for the owner of tho boat himr elf Chew
| ing this oIHmb OF comfort, NC looked around Tor
| row boat. and soon found one that took us to tht
| island before the steamer had left, although W,
were delayed by striking once or twice OIL tho mus
| HAT that extends several hundred yards into the
creek between Christ Church and Suliiyun's Isl
anu. In this short voyage VIC saw two rolics OF
| inc war. Ono was part of the old military telo
graph wire, and tho other OF tho post Of the
wooden bridge that was erected in 1861 as a
moars OF retreat from Sullivans Island in case OF
necessary. Landing at tho wharf, aid walking NJ
the back beach, you can still recognize tho island
Il
fore tho war, or even after the first battle of Fort
sumter. We went to Fort Moultrie by way of tho
front beach, and all that looked familiar was tho
broRk-watcr ana the harbor. We clambered over
earthw"rk after carthwork, and saw six cannon,
five Columbads and one largo banded gun, a
piece OF u chimney, the rem aims of a cistern, two
or three COWS and goats, and nothing moro Of ill.,
tercst on the island until we reached
FORT MoULTRIE.
This renowned fortress. though still n fort i,
quite ruin. The walls still stand, and the fu.-
naco for heating shot, and there are q few can
non mounted, but tho barracks arc all gone, and
in their place are half dozen small wooden shan
ties, somo white-washed and some not 1t ia trul,
melancholy sight, aud the mind reverts with
pain to the glorious old celebrations of The 2Sth Of
Juno when all was peace, plonty, prosperity and
good cheer. Tho fort is n1w garrsoned by
small detachment Of the 37th United States Color
Cd Troops, under First Lieutenant HowARp, who
treated us courteously and extended to us the
hospitalilies OF his post. The tents of the garr-
son arc pitched in the roar OF tn fort, and there
aso are tho tents OF company of colored recruits
ior the 4o n United States Infantry. To take care
OF the hoaith OF th' SO incpent heroes as well as
thatof tho garrison is the duty of DR.. CHARLES G.
United States army, who treated us with marked
hindness, and even went 30 far as to give up his
bed to our use. This may seem a yery uninter
esti' matter to relate, but it was very interest
ing ono to happen as our readers will experience
II they arc ever placed in like rcumstancts
Going from the fort further down the front beach
you come to Fort Beauregard. This is n common
earth work, but snmewhat improved in strength
1rlfy nnI htt
in the Spring OF 1861. There arc no guns on the
Tort now, and it's peaceful appearance is still fur
ther increased by the Surf House. a neat hotel,
which has been erected since tho close of tho
war for the accommodation OF visitors to tho isl.
and 1n front Of Fort Beauregard is the most
beautiful part on Snllivans Island beach. It is a
Wlde and almost level strip of hard white sand
with few sea shells scattered hero and there
over lts surface. Years ago tho shells were nu
merous and, many OF them OF rare beauty, but
for a long timo they have been scarce, whether
because OF their being carried OFF by visitors or
on account OF the increase Of steam navigation in
the h4rbor it is difficult to tell but probably both
these causes have combined with others to dmin-
lsh the number of shells on the beach. A con-
tinuation OF ones stroll towards the eastern end OF
the island brings you soon to he Myrtlos, and
finally to tho old battery which used to be manned
by the Washington Light Infantry in 1861, and
where the United States Government is said to be
intending to erect an iron clad turreted fort
Here you have view Of the open sea- of Drunken
Die Shoals and Long Island. just back Of this
ID Tho old camping ground Of PErTIdREw's
Rifle Regiment at the time of the frat bombarl-
inent of Fort Sumter. Returning down the back
beach you pass what is now tho most thickly set
tied part of the island. The houses are generally
small, even when they attain the dignity of two
stories, although there are several that are Of
respectable sizo and appearance especially in the
of Fort Moultrio. Speaking of Fort
Aloul RE load us to menton the gr up Of palmetIos
that stl survives to preserve the legendary fame
OF that noble tree. None have that freshness of
leaf that distinguished them when they greeted
tho sea breeze with rustic the cannon's ball
had taught them a shriller sound but like rat.
tered warriors, with many scar Of sholl and
bullet, they remain 80 many veteran Witnesses OF
the raging conflict OF which there is no sigr in
the Stiffness that surrounds them. a particular |
palmetto Of this group that We specially remen-
Der, with it's crowning glory OF sword leaves er-
tirey gone, and with its bare trunk, almost di |
vided in two by shell cut, over which the spongI |
fbres of tho wood have closed, would form more
apt emblem Of our State in her present woeful |
condition than the live tree that still adorns her
banner, if a banner she can boast, and which is !
but sad mockery of the glory that has gene,
and the integrity OF being lost to be recorer
cd. Sulivan's Island, with it's mementoe, Of |
peace its relics Of war, it's harsh realizations Of
the present, upon the very confines Of an unce,-