The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1889-02-28
The 18th Name at Darien, Georgia.


To THE EDITOR or THE JoUENAL: Com
ralc Bateman says in the journal that no one
of the old 14th Reg't has ever written anything
about our Sojourn at Daricn, Ga. | will try
and write a little about that subject. We were
transported to Darien on the 1lth day of June
1863, leaving savannah the day before by a
river boat. At the breaking out of the war
Darien was a little town of about 800 inhabit-
ants situated on the banks of the Atamaha
river and 50 miles from savannah. During
the war, and after the massacre of the colorcd
soldiers at Fort Pillow. there was a Rect Of
colored soldiers from Massachusetts landed at
Darien and drove the people out at the point of
the bayonet fired the buildings, and left the
whole town de>olate waste. When we were
there the only buildings standing were a little
old church and one or two sbanties. Before
the war il was quite place for shipping
lumber, turpentine and cotton. The location
was virtually swamp and very unhealthy.
our men soon began to Sicken and die and it
became necessary to change our camp for Il
better locality at Pea Ridge, three mites further
on, and where it was more pleasant and healthy.
We remained there until the first day Of Sep
tember, when the JOY lful news came that we
We're to start for home. After going ON board
the steamship drunken pilot ran the ship ON
Doboy bar, and we were Obliged to unload
the whole Reg't and send them ashore. 1t was
full week before the steamer could be cot OFT
and we again started on our homeWard iodrucY.
Batenlan says no satisfactory explanation has
ever been given regarding our trip to Darien.
Exactly. That is because he didn't nave hi>
eye teeth cut at that time. Now Bateman, |
will bet You IA clam chowder that can give
correct solution of the whole thing: also of the
long march to Augusta, Ga. You were Il high
private III the rear ranks, while | was y cheap
Lieut.. and wore shoulder STRAPS | viii Give
YOU my word that had nothing to do with
the scheme, although my position rave me
access to the secret We can all thank the
officers who wore boots and spurs for both
trips. although a few of the CaptrnS Were in
the ring Now for the cNplanation The war
was practically over there was but little Tight
In@ to do, and the officers We're undcr hig pay
and living in clover Instead Of try ying to grt
out OF service and get home as soon as thty
could, they wanted to stay in, and tiid all tho
~cheming possible to bring about that result
They cared nothing for the soldier, or how
many died Il long aS they could proIOuy their
tat salaries. some Of them had rather soldier
would die any day than their horse should lose
quart of oats. This was notably tie ease
With COL HoIan. The surgeon was kind man
and would Willingly have prevented The >lrri-
nee. but was poWerc>> against the field officers
We buried nearly forty OF our brave bows in
that death trap, and many more contracted
diseases that will follow them through life
Bateman came very near passing in hi cheeks,
For two months he lay in the hospital swollen
out Of all shape with rhcumatj>n and hapIc~,
babe. | thought he would surely 90 and
prayed constantly that he might be spared. for
| realized that hc was not prepared 10 face his
maker. Nothing but the ud0ujtahIc courage
1. hp rt. Il f.4r