1 Bucks County Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment, P. V. May 5, 1863 Page 2 Col. 7 1
From the 104th Regiment, P. V.
BEAUFORT,
April 24th, 1863
After the abandonment of the attack on Charleston, we
were transported to this place from North Edisto Inlet,
and reached here on Saturday morning; April 11th. We
were one week on board the transport. During this time
the weather was very fine, adding much to the few com-
forts to be enjoyed on board a crowded transport. We
were very glad to get on land again, as we did not, for
good reasons, debark at Charleston. We have a pleasant
camping ground amid large, spreading live oak trees, on
the suburbs of the town.
Yesterday, new tents were issued to the Regiment; al-
lowing one tent to four men, and to-day the men are busily
engaged in arranging matters in their new quarters to
commence housekeeping on an enlarged scale. We pre-
sume but little fault will be found with Gen. Hunter if
we are allowed to remain here for some time, as we are
almost prepared to “ play soldier” in reality. Last Sun-
day morning, Maj. Gen. Hunter, Brig. Gen. Saxton, and
family attended our church in common with hundreds of
soldiers. The men were pleased at seeing their Generals
at Church, and it has a tendency to inspire confidence.
In the afternoon the Generals attended the colored peo-
ple’s meeting and Sunday school. The attendance was
very large, and those who have been of an opinion that
the “ niggers ” know nothing and cannot learn; were very
much surprised on hearing the colored children answer
Scriptural questions that they could not answer, and not
a few expressed their misunderstanding of the colored
people. In a future letter we will enlarge on this subject.
The results of the elections in Connecticut, Rhode Isl-
and and Michigan have reached us, and the heart is glad-
dened to know that the people will sustain the Admin-
istration. We have experienced the dangers of battle,
the sadness of defeat, the soul-trying hardships of the
march, and for two years the unpleasantness of camp life;
but we have not doubted the success of our cause, for we
believe it to be of God. Nothing but hope has kept life
in the rebellion for the last year. The rebels have hoped
for a division among the people of the North and for For-
eign intervention; but they will yet find that they have
hoped for events in vain. These elections will tend to
teach them that the Government will be sustained by the
masses of the Free States until treason has passed into ob-
livion, and much to the cause of the Union. S. C.
BEAUFORT,
S. C., April 23d, 1863.
Messrs., Editors :—Although but a few days have
passed away since I last wrote to you, I cannot refrain
from writing now again to tell you what I witnessed last
Sabbath. One of the most blessed and happy days of my
life since I have been in the army was spent last Sabbath
at the anti-slavery Church, in this town. I call it anti-
slavery because the people assemble there without regard
to color. Oh ! could the whole North have been there and
heard those noble speeches and fervent prayers to Al-
mighty God by our African brethren ; could you have
been here and looked upon our two great Generals, Hun-
ter and Saxton ; could you have been here and seen Col.
Montgomery, that man who spoke to you a few years ago,
and on one Sabbath at the noted island called Worth-
ington’s in your country.
The church is very large and was crowded to its utmost
capacity. Soldiers from the highest to the lowest rank
in our army assembled together without regard to color ;
citizens both male and female flocked together to partake
of the same enjoyment—and they did enjoy it, too. All
came away a better and wiser people ; all came away well sat-
isfied that the colored people have hearts and souls and
can be taught to learn the goodness of this world as well
as we.
The exercise opened by a prayer by a colored gentle-
man, who made a very neat and appropriate supplication,
praying fervently for the success of our arms, and com-
plete victories over those who have rebelled against us.
Three speeches were made on the occasion by the colored
people ; two of them were soldiers in Col. Montgomery’s
Regiment. They addressed the large audience in a very
able manner. Their speeches were very interesting and
should have been taken down in short-hand and published
in every newspaper throughout the Northern States.
They spoke in good earnest about fighting the battles of
our country. The battles of Liberty, and Freedom.
They assured the audience that the time was not far dis-
tant when every slave would be made free from the gall-
ing yoke of bondage. They believed that God intended
them all to be free ; that God intended them to fight for their
liberty and Freedom. God has made them free, and now
they must fight for the freedom of those still held in bond-
age. After each address, the Sabbath school children
(colored) sung two or three songs, highly commendable
for the occasion, under direction of their teachers, super-
intended by Mr. ___, who has charge of all the schools.
The singing was delightful and melodious to every ear.
A refugee from Florida sang a song well suited for the
times, assisted by the scholars. Gen. Hunter was kindly
invited to speak, but as he declined, one of the Principals
told him they would excuse him providing that when he
got to Charleston he would send for them all, and let
them sing the song they had just sung to him there, which
I think was, “We’ll Fight the Battles of Liberty.” Gen.
Saxton made a few remarks, telling them that one of the
greatest faults they had was lying. He told them that he
did not think it any harm for them to lie while in slavery,
to keep them from being beaten with the lash, but as they were
now free, they must do away with all lying and speak the
truth—nothing but the truth. He told them that the
proclamation of our noble President made them all free.
It is needless for me to say any more, but simply that it
was one of the grandest and most patriotic meetings I
have attended for a long time. I have more confidence
in Gen. Hunter than when I last wrote, and the more I
see of the man the better I like him. The taking of
Charleston is not so much of a failure as we thought for.
We have not received any of your interesting papers in
our mail for nearly two weeks; but we are hoping they
will be full of good news when they do arrive—the pro-
gress of your Union Leagues, &c., which will have a great
tendency toward ending this rebellion. I bid you good
bye. T. C.