Year: 1861

CHARLESTON, ). e., Nov. q.
Strange as it may seem to those who know the
special rancour of the Yankees towards South Caro-
lima, up to the very morning when the great armada
anchored off Port Royal, the planters along our
coast could not would not believe that they were
to be the first victims of the invader that their me-
groes were to be the first stolen and that their broad
to be the first selected for the work of
rapine and devastation. When the blow fell it
found them unprepared. In blind reliance upon our
scanty coast dernces, they had been quietly prose
cutting their planting operations, without taking
even the most obviously prudent steps to guard
themselves against utter ruin in the event of re-
verse Perhaps they could not realize that Yankee
erontery would extend so far as to attempt to
plant puritan colony upon the shores of the hated
Palmetto and the Rattlesnake When the delusion
had vanished amid the smoke and roar of hundred
hostile cannon, reverberatng over their quiet PLAN
tations, they thought only of the impossbility of
remaining where they might be presumed "loyal"
to their countrys foe and hastily retreated from all
those portions of the asSaled district not within the
lines of the Southern army. A few Of them were
followed by their slaves; but the plantation negro
is a creature Of strong local attachments, and, as
their masters had gwen them the choice to accom-
pany them, they knew not whether or no to stay
behind the slaves, In most instances, amazed and
confounded at the unwonted events going on
around them preferred to remain where they were
Subsequent events have fully proven the folly of
having suffered them to stay. The Yankees have
| cooly put them to their old work of picking and
ginning the cotton and it is not difficult to imagine
that the poor slaves will fare hard under their new
ard ruthless taskmasters. Some of them have al
ready escaped to the main, and say that nothing
but the bayones of the invaders prevent the rest of
the hands from following their example.


| - The amount OF cotton abandoned on the pianta-
tions very considerable 1t is not easy to esti-
mate the quantity with certainty but it is generally
| saul tn no oh halo yoff II
planters before quitting set fire to their crops and
such other combustible property on their premises
as could not be removed. 1t is certainly to be re-
gretted that in the confusion that prevailed this
very proper step was not more generally taken.


But the first surprise at the invasion has now died
away, and | think the Northern Government may
reckon, without fear of mistake that it has obtained
the very last bag of cotton and also the last contra
band that it can hope to seize by pouncing
upon the coast of South Carolina. Concerted ar
rangements between the planters and the military
authtIiti have wisely been made by which nc
| plnnt;iio will in future be abandoned until the
crop is utterly consumed the gin house and Other
buildings destroyed the live stock driven off anc
the hands removed to the interior. In the mos
exposed localities, that is the islands adjacent t.
| Port Royal, on which the enemy may at any mo
ment make his appearance, the work of destruction
is already consummated. For the past few day:
gangs of negroes from the coast laden with sucf
eHectS as tney can carry, ana tOllOWeu oy groves
mules and horses, have been passing through this
city on their way to the back country. Night be
fore last the whole atmosphere in the city and fO
miles around, notwithstanding the bright moonlight
was hazy and lurd. Many c;uld not account fO
the phenomenon. 1t was the effect of the wholesale
confagration of cotton going on at Edsto and othe
islands, intervening between Charleston and Por
Royal Wherever the marauders choose next t
land and is useless to disguise the fact that the.
can land at great many points, they will find moth
ing but devastated fields deserted by all save th
avenging presence of the partizan rif1eman. Tn
patriotic sacrifice which has been made by our plan
ters is all the greater when we consider that tn
crops of the past season have far exceeded the bes
ever before known.


In my last letter alluded to the strength of tn
defences Of Charleston. Savannah, also, has beel
strongly fortified plan, for which the conforma
ton of its harbour affords peculiar facilities, and


understand that General Lee says that that city
now in condition to make protTacted and success:
full defence. General Lee has gone to Brunswick
| Georgia. 2.