St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-02-07
Letter from South Carolina.
CHARLESTON, Jan. II, IS7!

CHARLESTON, Jan. II, 1879.
Editor Of CdledOnidn:
We left st. Johnsbury Monday, ex
pecting to arrive in Jacksonville Satur
day but finding that we had to wai
36 hours either here or at Savannah
concluded to stop here it being the
most interesting place. We also ex.
pected to reach New York the sam,
day we left home, but found that We
were one hour too late at Springfield
by reason of the Central Vermont train
leaving Montreal about two hours later
than it formerly did: SO we staid ovel
night at Springfield, and arrived in
New York the next day at noon.
AT three p. m. we left New York on
the steamer Isaac Bell, of the .'Old
Dominion Line" and arrived ut Nol
folk, Va, the next day at about the
same time. The weather WAS very
hne, and none of the passengers were
sick. We crossed over to Portsmouth
IN tug-boat, and at six thirty took a
mixed train for Weldon, n. c. The
scene, as we passed up Hampton Roads,
full of shipping, with flags flying; and
the steamer fired salute as we passed
Fortress Monroe.
Portsmouth is an old and dirty Vir-
ginia town, with pigs aud geese in the
streets. We bad first class tickets.
and all the cOlored folks kept in the
smoking car but Il white man "a very
loud talker) smoked in our car. We
changed cars at Weldon, n. c., at two
O'Clock Il. M, and arrived ut Whining
ton at eight o'clock, Il. III. This seems
to be quite stirring place, situated on
the Cape Fear River, which was very
high. From here we went due west to
Florence, 5. c., where we arrived at
two p. IN. This is place of about
1000 inhabitants and derives its
principal Importance from being RAIL
road centre. The n. L. r. X. from
Charleston to CheIaw, crosses the Will
mington, Columbia and Augusta X. r.
ut this point. There was Il military
prison here during the war, and num-
Der of ouI cavalry boys died here,
Darwin Wright of st. Johnsbury, being
one of them.
From here to Charleston the country
seemed to improve. The soil was of
good quality, with many vegetable
gardens and strawberry fields. At
Monks Corner we saw the typical south
ern team-a bull hitched to ii cart with
bits in his mouth. Arrived at Charles
ton at 6:45 p. M, and stopped at the
Pavilion Hotel.
This morning Phil. and l started out
to go down the haIbOr to Sulivan's
Island and Moultrieville, but finding
that the boat did not stop at Fort
Sumter, we concluded not to 90 and
visited st. Michael's Church. This
church, very celebrated in the history
of South Carolina, is situated at the
corner of Meeting and Broad Sts., and
is ll9 years old. The pews are high
and square, of various widths and
lengths, with dark finish and straight
backs. The pulpit is advanced part
way into the body of the church, and is
elevated above it so that the preachers
head is on level with the galleries.
1t is octagOn, and surmounted by sort
OF wooden canopy supported by two
pillars, one on each side of the stairs
leading up to it. The galleries are
very broad, and are divided with square
pews. The bell was carried to Eng
land by the British and sold. 1t was
purchased by merchant who returned
it to the church. During the civil war
it was carried to Columbia, S. C.
The chancel of the church was de-
stroyed by shell from Morris Island,
and has been restored. Part of the
front pew is new and part old. At
the side OF the church we found the fol-
lowing inscription: "To the memory
of Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
one OF the founders of the American
Republic. In wal he was the companion
in arms and friend of Washington in
peace he enjoyed his unchanging con-
fidence." Also this: stSacred to the
memory of Louis De Saussure, a native
OF Beaufort, S. c., and an officer in the