1                                  Bucks County Intelligencer  January 19, 1864  Page 2  Column 5                                  1

 

From the 104th Regiment.

MORRIS ISLAND, S. C., December 29, 1863

Messrs. Editors :—But little news of warlike character

prevails in this portion of the Sunny South.  It seems that

we are still progressing toward the final triumph of victory ;

yet to me it seems far away in the distance.  Gillmore and

his little band of heroes are not advancing perhaps as fas as

some of the Bucks Countians would desire ; still all the

troops on Morris Island are busily employed every day in

finishing the works here.  We have added much strength to

the rebel strongholds of Gregg and Wagner (now Putnam

and Strong), by covering the works with sod, and otherwise

repairing them.  While these have been strengthened, new

batteries have also been erected and treated with the same

covering, which makes them more durable than sand-bags. 

On Christmas morn Uncle Sam’s boys presented the

Charlestonians with Christmas gifts from Kriss Kringle’s en-

larged stock of finery.  Many of these presents being so

tastefully ornamented, did not find their way down the chim-

neys, but passed through their buildings at other points,

making several conflagations in the rebellious city—one of

large size, and continued through the day.  I think our

esteemed friend Beauregard must have spent his time in

quenching the fire instead of partaking of turkey, goose, &c. 

I don’t pity him if he did, for had he not seceded from Uncle

Sam, he might have dined on the luxuries of the season

without being molested.

Last night I was on picket at Paine’s Wharf—so called

because Captain Paine of the 100th New York Volunteers

was wounded and taken prisoner here.  This wharf was

once a rebel floating battery, but from an unknown cause

grounded here and could not be removed.  It is built of logs

and is of large size—strong enough to carry several guns of

heavy calibre.  On the top is a compact covering of oyster

shells, &c.  One I will enclose to you in this letter if pos-

sible, so that you may hold Paine’s Wharf in remembrance. 

It is a gay place to perform picket duty, it being so pleas-

antly situated near the Vinegar Hill batteries, and Fort

Johnson, on James Island.  We have to go and return from

this wharf under cover of night, so as to be unseen from—

well, rebbies.

Company C’s deserters have not yet had their trial.—

Whether they will receive the same punishment as the one

belonging to the 3d New Hampshire is hard to tell, but I

am inclined to think they will, as everything goes to prove

that they were trying to desert.  The “ connies “ do not

find it so easy to desert here as in the Army of the Potomac. 

They will get stuck in the swamp.

Col. Davis returned a few days ago, on the steamship

Arago.                                             T. C.