The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-08-30
Ernm the Golden Rrle.
From the Golden Rr'e.
A RATHER BAD NIGHT
BY GEORGE CARY EGGLESToN.

lery was stationed at Button, S. c.
Bluffton at ordinary times has popula-
ton of about three thousand souls; but
at the time of which | 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 iniets. Hilton
Head lies within sight, and all the wa
ters of the great island-studded bay are
nayigable by large steamers. Bluffton
never had any business to do. Its popu-
lation consisted wholly Of wealthy plant
ers and their families. Its houses were
all elegant, and its streets were shaded
by trees not planted in rows, but grow
ing wild in the midst of the thorough
fares. But Bluffton was exposed TO the
direct assaults Of the gunboats; and so,
early in the war, the entire population
left, and went to points in the interior Of
South Carolina, and at the time | write
of there was not soul in the town ex-
cept the men in the battery to which
| belonged. Our captain was acting as
xcommandant of outposts, and | as adj
iutant 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 cayalry-men did all the
picketing; 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
Charleston. 1t was wild, free, gypsy
life, which / enjoyed intensely; and |
count my six months ct Dluffton at once
the idlest and most delightful life / ever
led.
We lived in the handsomely furnished
houses, made free use of very rich libra
ries, ished, played at chess, dozed upon
Juggling boards in sea-breeze-swept
p:azzas, and altogether did nothing most
industriously and delightfully."-. The
only duty to be done was the making of
grand rounds among the pickets, and
this task devolyed upon me about once
week. The pickets were stationed 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 all nights ride, which in
that country is by no means an agreeable
undertaking. The weeds rise above the
head of horseman, and the dew is 50
heavy that it drips as rain might from
every leaf Riding all night in such
weeds, one becomes water-soaked, and
chilled to the very bones, even during
the fierce summer weather; while DUR
ing the fall and winter a night-ride on
this sub-tropical 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 eff
cacy depended our safety, and that of
the railroad we were set to defend If a
single picket slept, a fleet of gunboats or
ships launches might come TO Blutfton
wholly unannounced; and the battery,
without 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 fire.
place in my quarters. My negro servant
was busy in the kitchen without; and
my guests, half dozen officers from my
own aad the cavalry companies, were al
ready assembled. | had invited them to
dine with me upon haunch Of venison,
a wild turkey, fish, oysters, crabs,
shrimps, etc, all of which, except the
first two, could be taken at any time
within a hundred yards of my door.
The materials for bowl of egg-nog, the
universal Christmas drink at the south,
had been provided in advance and nv
little party-giying promised to be a
thoroughly successful hit of hospitality.
My man Curry had just begun to put
the six O'Clock dinner on the table, whey
a messenger came to report that Lieut..
C, The officer appointed to make the
plcket-rounds that night, was i'll and
could not go. It was my turn next, and
there was no escape. At the holiday
season pickets especially need watchine.
and | knew very well it would never do
to leave them unvisited that NIGHT.
There was nothing for it, therefore. but
to turn my guests ever to the captain.
my messmate, and order nv horse.
My guide-for without guide no one
could possibly find his way at night
through that country-was dull, tacti-
turn fellow, with whom ! found it i'm
possible to maintain conversation; and
50 my twelve miles ride 80 the farthest
plcket-post which visited first. wasa yerv
disagreeable substitute for the ioviai.
social evening | had planned. BY the
tlmel reached Bear Island, was wet to
the skin with the dew, and stiff with cold.
III was about ten o'clock when we rode
across the causeway from the mainland to
the island, and the first thing | observed
was the utter darkness of the place.
ordinarily the pickets kept up little
IRE behind screen, at which to wa m
ana dry themselves during the night: and
approaching IRON the rear, | always s;tw
the fire when | crossed the causewav, the
screen standing between it and the water
on the outer side. Tonight, however.
everything was dark, and it was with
some difficulty that we found our way
across the island TO the picket post.
What's the matter. ser@eant?" T.
asked, where's your fire to-night?''
had % put it out, and moved avay
from IT. he replied. "They are loadinr
NJ two gunboats ard three transports
Just across the creek there, and thew
Threw two or three charges of grape-shot F.
over here an hour ago. Eve been watch /
ing them, aud was on the point of send /
ing man up with an alarm. I'm glad |
you We come to take the responsibility off
my hands.
by this time Ihai brought my glass.
STRONG marine instrument, TO bear upon
lhe per on the other side of the cut or
creek as i, 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
We're slowly steaming up and down in
front The inlet was nearly mile wide:
ana n! as the enemy showed few light, and |,
/, ulll ones, the sergeant, without glass.
naa not been able to discover the num-
Der OF troops taken on board. soon
mace out, however, that at least five
neio-oatterles were on board, and that
lne transports We're almost full of trooDs. ]
~h'ie q battalion of infantry, SQUAD.
ron OF cavalry, and two batteries. re-
those on board TO be 80 disposed As r. Of.
ford room for them. l rapidly WEIGHED :
all the probabilities of the case in nv
mind. There were two and only two r