Year: 1868

blood and fire which, ere the year is flown, is des-
tined to come down upon them. Thus far their
| duty has been to guard the approach to the city
across the island, and furnish adetachmentt to
sist in holding Fort Sumter against the enemy,


We'll hitherto have they performed the duty as
lsigned them but they are destined, upon wider
field, with the eyes Of the worldupon them, to win
name for daring and unfaltering valor, second to
that of no corps in the service


There stretches around James Island, in nearly
semicircular line, number of batteries to defend
the approaches from the Stono and the lower face
Of the island and in the rear Of these batteries lie
the few troops while their picket lines gird the is
land some two miles in advance of the batteries
Every causeway along which soldier can Creep
every water-course along which canoe can be pro-
PEELED, is closely and Mgilantly guarded. No 1ner
cenaries are these who guard the way but soldiers
born of the best families in the land. each one Of
whom feels that the honor and security of the State
is committed to his keeping. There are stirring
times just ahead of us and we hasten to Introduce
the reader to the personages Of tho story upon
whose history we are to linger. 30 -. 3l


As we look down from old St Michaels we can
here and there catch glimpse Of the road which,
crossing the Ashley on bridge, near half mile
in length, winds along the island and leads to the
yariouscamps tits still an early hour, and through
the clear atmosphere of this brightmorning we can
discern squads of soldiers moving about in various
directions. We see struggling groups along the
road of which we have spoken some returning
from the city to the camp to resume their duties
after the expiration of brief leave of Absence and
others vending their way to the city, rejoicing in
brief respite from the tedium and confinement OF
the camp. =. ,a'.. ::


There is solitary cart standing by the roadside,
about half a mile from the nearest battery and
lounging upon the grass, at the foot of live oak,
are two individuals who have left the city behind
them, and chosen this spot to make their morning
meal With the privilege of writer, we will de-
scend and take our place by their side.


The mule has been temporarily unharnessed from
the cart, and the negro driver having given him,
his morning feed, is lying indolently in the sun
shine, his eyes distended to the utmost, taking in
the new sights that meet him on every side The
two individuals of whom we have more particular
ly spoken were sitting upon the roots of the tree
with an open box before them, from which, with
keen appetites, they were drawing forth various
edibles to make their morning meal Ham and
eggs and broiled fowls with potatoes roasted and
fried-and biscuits and rolls fresh from the city
bakery, and various dainties carefully provided at
home, were drawn forth in profusion. A coffee
pot, too, with a, kettle, was placed by the dying
embers, showing that our two way-farers had eve
ry disposition to make as comfortable meal as
circumstances permitted.


The two individuals before US were in striking
contrast in nearly every particular. One was a
mere youth whose age one might rate somewhere
between seventeen and twenty according to the cir
cumstances under which he was viewed. Almost
feminine in appearance, seemed, at times, mere
boy, until in his dark brown eyes, so quiet and gen.