The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-17
[From the Golden Rule.l
A Rather Bad Night.
GEORGE CARY EGeLEsToN

We were living in the deserted village
that is to say, my battery of light artillery
was stationed at Bluffton, S. G. Button at
ordinary times has a population of about
three thousand souls; but at the time of
which l write it had no population at all. 1t
is built upon high bluff overlooking an arm
of the sea, or more properly, great bay
broken by islands into various inets. Hilton
Head lies within sight, and all the waters of
the great island-studded bay are navigable by
large steamers. Button never had any
business TO do. Its population consisted
wholly of wealthy planters and their families.
Its houses were all elegant and its streets
were shaded by trees not planted in rows, but
growing wild in the midst of the thorough
fares. But Button was exposed to the
direct assaults of the gunboats; aud so, early
in the war its entire population lett and
went to points in the interior OF South Caro-
lima, and at the time write of there was not
a soul in the town except the men OF the
battery to which L belonged. Our captain
was acting as commandant of outposts and
as adjutaLt of the same.
Our supports consisted of two or three
small troops of cavalry whose camps were
several miles in the rear of our own. These
cavalry men did all the pcketlng, and in the
event of an attack, we and they were charged
with the duty of harrassing the advance of
the enemy, and delaying him on his march
to the railroad, seventeen miles away, long
enough for troops to be sent down from
Charlestown. 1t was wild, free, gypsy-like
life which enjoyed intensely; and I count
my six months at Bluffton at once the idlest
and most delightful life ever led.
We lived in the handsomely furnished
houses, made. free use of very rich libraries,
fshed, played at chess, dozed upon '.jog.
Cling boards" in sea-breeze-swept piazzas,
-~and altogether did nothing most Industrious
ly and delightfully."-. The only duty TO be
done was the making of grand rounds among
the pickets, and this task devolved upon me
about once week. The pickets were sta
toned at all available points of observation
below-all points from which the channels
Of the bay could be seen; and to visit them
required an al-nights ride, which in that
country is by no means an agreeable under
taking. The weeds rise above the head of
horseman and the dew is so heavy that it
drips as rain might from every leaf. Riding
all night in such one becomes water soaked,
and chilled to the very bones, even during the
fierce summer weather; while during the
fall and winter night-ride on this sub-tropt
cal coast brings with it a degree of suffering
from cold which no New England weather
ever produces. To visit the picket posts,
however, was absolutely necessary, as upon
their efficiency depended our safety, and that
OF the railroad we were set to defend. If a
single picket slept, a feet of gunboats or
ships launches might come to Button
wholly unaunounced; aud the battery, with
out support, would of necessity fall helpless
into the enemy's hands.
1t was Christmas Eve, and heap of hard
pine was blazing in the great fireplace in my
quarters. My negro servant was busy in the
kitchen without; and my guests, half dozen
officers from my own and the cavalry COM
panies, were already assembled. had in
vited them to dine with me upon a haunch
OF venison, wild turkey, fish, oysters, crabs,
shrimps ETC., all of which, except the first
two, could be taken at any time within
hundred yards of my door. The materials
for bowl OF egg-nog, the universal drink at
the South, had been provided in advance and
ny little party-giving promised to be thor
oughly successful bit OF hospitality.
My man Curry had just begun to put the
six O'Clock dinner on the table when mes
senger came to report that Lieut.. c., the
officer appointed to make the picket-rounds
that night, was ill and could not go. 1t was
my turn next, and there was no escape. At
the holiday season plckets especially need
watching, and l knew very well it would
never do to leave them unvisted that night
There was nothing for it, therefore, but to
turn my guests over to the captain, my
messmate, and order my horse.
My guide-for without a guide no one
could possibly find his way at night through
that country-was a dull, taciturn fellow,
with whom found it impossible to maintain
conversation; and SO my twelve miles ride
to the farthest picket post, which / visited
first, was a very disagreeabe substitute for
the iovial, social evening had planned. By
the time reached Bears Island, was wet
to the skin with dew and stiff with cold. 1t
was about ten o'clock wher we rode across
the causeway from the mainland to the island
and the first thing l observed was the utter
darkness of the place. Ordinarily the pickets
kept up little fire behind screen, at which
to warm and dry themselves during the night;
and approaching from the rear, always saw
the fire when l crossed the causeway, tine
screen standing between it and the water on
the outer side. Tonight, however, every
thing was dark, and it was with some diff
Guilty that we found our way across the island
tothe picket post.
ks'"What's the matter, sergeant ?" l asked
where's your fire to.night?''
II had to put it out and move aWay from
it, he replied. "They are loading up two
gunboats and three transports just across the
creek there, and they threw two or three
charges OF grape-shot over here an hour ago.
I've been watching them, and was on the
Pm glad you've come to take the RESPONSE
bility off my hands,"
By this time l had brought my glass,
strong marine instrument TO bear upon the
pier on the other side of the cut, or ''creel"
as it is commonly called, and saw that the
sergeant was right. Three transports were
rapidly receiving troops, cavalry, artillery
and infantry, while two rather formidable
looking gunboats were slowly steaming up
and down in front Tho inlaf
mile wide; and as the enemy showed few
lights and dim ones, the sergeant, without
glass, had not been able to discover the
number OF troops taken on board. soon
made out, however, that at least five field
batteries were on board, and that the trans
ports were almost full OF troops, while
battalion of infantry, squadron of cavalry,
and two batteries, remained on shore, appar-
emily waiting for those on board to be so dis
posed as to afford room for them. I rapidly
weighed all the probabilities of the case in
my mind. 1t was formidable expedition
against the railroad via Bluffton, or else it
was merely removal of troops from one
point on the coast to another. If the first
were the object the vessels would steam up
the inlet; if the other, they would put to sea.
But if it were merely transfer of troops,
why were the transports crowded in this
way? and why were the conveying gunboats
coasts except storms; and, as these were dis
regarded in the overlooking of the steamers,
1t seemed to me clear that the expedition was
bound for Bluffton.
Chow many men have you, sergeant9" l
asked.
'sTwo." he replied.
''Trusty fellows?''
Gas good as ever threw leg over a sad
de-"
Send them to me-" said.
When they came asked:
Are your horses good?"
pretty good.''
Mount them" said to one, "and ride as
fast as you can to Buckingham Ferry, and
wait with the pickets there till the feet
comes within sight. Then send man to
Button to announce the fact; and YOU stay
till the feet has passed, observing which
creek it takes. As soon as you satify yourself
on that point, ride to Button and report"
Then turning to the other, said:
''You 60 to Hunting Island aud do the
same thing. Tell the sergeants to follow
their standing orders in all other aegards.
Be quick now, both of you. I'll expect you
at Button at the right time"
AS the men rode away, walked to the