Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-15
TRAMP or TxBEE.
The ,skeeter-Odd Fellows Indeed
The Battle of Port Royal and the
Evacuation of srybee-msJor Nat.
TIlton.
TKRRAPIs TERRACE, TTBzE, August IA -
Dear Meas: There is negro minstrel song
Of the olden time which runs In this strain:


of the olden time which runs In this strain:
ssThe skeeter am bird,
His bin am very long.
He carries a brics bat under his wing
To sharpen his bill upon"
1 think there is little exsggeration on the
part Of the distinguished author Of the
above beautiful tribute to the "'skeeter,"
but am willing to concede that the 'bill am
very long" aud be presents IT with great
persistsncy.
The morning salutation during the past
week has not been "How are you 81 but
Chow are the mosquitoes ;" On this
point l. would state that the situa-
ton is much improved, and that there is
marked diminution in the number OF these
pests since yesterday; 10 fact, there were
but few to day. Tybee has been remsrks-
bly, free from these insects, which infest sea
side resorts from the Rio Grsnde to the
Kenuebec, and make the tourist sing
''There is no place like home" l think
there will be no further trouble with them
this season, though am not Vennor, and
I DO not want too much faith placed la my
predictions on the mosquito question.
had the pleasure of receiving an invita-
ton to the banquet and excursion given BY
the Odd Fellows of Savannah In honor OF
the Grand Lodge. About six hundred were
on the excursion TO the island, and the up
country brethren enjoyed the trip to the
ocean very much, and were liberal In
their praises of the Inequalities
Of their Savannah brethren. We, that
Is Savannahians, have a deserved reputs-
ton as entertainers; It is not at all egotisti-
cal to say so. There is no sham hospitality
here to be made up by big notices in the
newspapers, but we furnish the real article,
good attention and good cheer. Among
the excursionists was Col Luther j. Glenn,
Grand Sire o the Sovereign Grand Lodge
OF the World, whom / had not seen for
several years. Time is dealing lightly with
him. l also met Brother John q. DietZ.
Sixty summers have glazed the top OF his
head, but they have failed to make him less
Youthful in appearance and ioyial In spirit.
LOngfmay he live TO enjoy the pleasures
which are to be found In those social re-
unions to which he is always an appreciated
visitor.
These old-time friends make me think Of
by-gone days, and following the train OF
thought, which is natural from the surround
ings, memory goes back twenty years, when
the Confederafes occupied this island. In
the fall Of 1861 | was home on furlough,
and thought / would run down here
on a visit TO some soldier friends.
Going aboard the little steamer Ida,
which was the means Of transit from the
city, I landed at Kings landing, and taking
my place in a commissary wagon, was
driven to camp" at "BescOn Pond, where
parts Of the FIRST and TwentY-ffth Georgia
Regiments and the FoKest City Artillery
W re encamped. A few DAYS after, CommO-
dore Dupont's feet made It's appearance of
Port Royal, and part OF the squadron could
be seen from Tybee. Every one was on the
alert, few, however, expecting that these
wooden vessels would make an easy cap
t1re of the batteries on Hilton Head. Com
modore Tattnal's feet of river steam
ers steamed towards Port Royal by
way OF Calaboga Sound 10 dispute the pro-
gress of the Federals. 1t was as pigmy
against giant, and though the Confede
rate land and naval forces made gallant
defense, the 7th of November, 1861. saw the
Union flag waving over the spot which was
thereafter to be the scene of operations
against Georgia and South Carolina This
disaster necessitated the evacuation Of Ty-
bee, which took place a week after, and the
pleasant quarters where | expected to rusti-
cate for several weeks were broken up for
ever. Among those In the mess, Of which /
had the good luck to be an invited guest, we're
Major Nat TiltOu, then a Lieutenant Of
artillery, and Lieut.. Charley Cunningham,
both as clever then as they are now. The
former remained on the island with q small
force after the other troops had been with
uIdmu ~ OIJ uldbhl AuA Ctbc aA0
removed two 10 inch columbiads, which
were In an earthwork near the Martello
| Tower, and transported them 10 fats to the
| fort, thus saving to the Confederacy two
valuable pieces of ordnance. The Major
was afterwards made a Brigade Quarter
master, and in the campaigns in North
| Georgia and Tennessee, by bis indOmita-
bic energy, kept many a soldier from going
naked and barefooted. He was one
OF the first settlers of the recent
settlement Of this island, and l regret to
| learn that he has left US, having purchased
fine farm on Wilmington Island, where be
can engage in his favorite pursuit-agri-
| culture.
The buoy steamer has been here for sew
ersl days putting down new buOys and
painting old ones. Captain Brown, who has
charge Of this work, is said TO be the most
competent officer, in his line OF duty, In the
department.
10 morrow Monday the Plant will ex-
curt to Beaufort, and It will be an off day
here, and expect to Ego fishing"
BILLY BOKUs.