1            Bucks County Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment, P. V.,  June 2, 1863  Page 1  Col. 2            1

 

LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.

From the 104th Regiment, P. V.

CAMP OF THE 104th P. V., BEAUFORT, S. C.,

May 15th, 1863.

Messrs. Editors :—I learn that the mail will leave

here for the North to-morrow.  As it does I will write a

few lines to you and your readers, be it worthy of note or

not.  This morning the sky is invisible, owing to the dar

clouds floating above us, which threaten rain.  There is

a nice cool breeze also rising, which we are enjoying

immensely.  Last night it was very warm and sultry,

making one feel rather uncomfortable, or at least I felt

so.  I find that this climate is not going to do the best for

me, for I have been considerably under the weather ever

since I have been here.  It affects my head more particu-

larly than any other part of me.  The sun is almost too

powerful and penetrating for my calabash.  I think I

will have to resign and go home.  A number of our offi-

cers have lately resigned and started on their journey

home.  They are Capt. Harvey, of Company A, Lieut.

O’Neill of Company L, and Lieut. Haney of Company B. 

Lieutenants Carver and Markley have taken commands

in a colored regiment; also private Elliot, of Company

C.  All honor and praise to them for so doing; and may

their names be lettered high on America’s bright pae,

and their fame reap the riches crowns of glory through -

out the Keystone State.  Their names will never be dis-

honored, but will stand high in the history of this war,

for their noble and patriotic movements towards crushing

this rebellion.  With their band of noble freedmen

marching on to glory, they should reap the rich harvest

that is in store for them.

Lieutenants Fretz, Artman, Scarborough, Myers and

Cadwallader have gone home on a furlough, with two and

three men out of each company in the regiment, accord-

ing to the size of them.  They take five men to the hun-

dred ; and grant them leave of absence for twenty days

from the time they leave Hilton Head,—to return in this

time or be treated as the law directs.  If they are tardy

in returning, Mahlon will have a good time sending them

back, with a flea in their ears.  I advise Mahlon not to

look over his glasses, for we all wish to have a peep at

old Bucks.  I don’t think many of our boys will try to

escape, for there are too many Provosts about.

We hear a number of reports here that Hunter is to be

relieved, Hooker is in Richmond, &c.  How much of it is

so we now not, but we will have to await the arrival of

a mail from the North, when no doubt we will learn some

good news from Hooker, to cheer us.  What news came in

our last mail was very good, and I hope and pray that

the next may be still more cheering to us.  As we repose

through the middle of the day beneath the boughs of the

live oak, the subject of McClellan and politics are very

often and freely discussed.  McClellan has a few sympa-

thizers in our regiment, but they are growing less and

less every day.  He has not more than half as many as

he had a month or two ago.  The other day a man went

so far (not the first time) as to call Mac a traitor, which

came near raising a spree with the intoxicated gent.—

After considerable confab and blowing the man retired

in good order to his company, without inflicting any very

severe blows, except shaking his fists pretty freely under

his opponent’s nose.  Here ended the excitement until

yesterday, when the names of McClellan, Hooker, Burn-

side, Pope, and many others, together with the term “ab-

olitionists,” became the intolerable subject of discussion

again.  Some pretty true sentiments were uttered against

favorite “Little Mac,” which dispersed the crowd in

gloomy despondency.  There are a few here who don’t

like to give any praise to the honest Democratic Generals,

because they are “abolitionists.”  They don’t like the

speeches of Van Buren and Brady, because they have

said they would stand by the Administration and support

the war until the rebellion was crushed and a lasting

peace brought before the eyes of the people.

I think probably that we will remain here for some

time, as the term of enlistment of the militia has nearly

expired.  As they have earned and received great praise

for their good behavior, and have become much good sol-

diers, I have no doubt that many of them will re-enlist,

if their Colonel, who is so well liked, will raise another

regiment.  I understand that he is going to make the ef-

fort.  The officers and men of the regiment are going to

present him (Col. Nyce) with a valuable present, as a re-

ward for his kindness and esteem.  Col. Nyce is a father

to the fatherless, and a friend to the friendless.  He has

won the esteem of nearly every man in the regiment, and

he deserves it too.  I wish I could say that much of our

Colonel.

It is very cool and and would have been pleasant for

drilling to-day, had it not been for the dust, which the

wind hurled in every direction.

We have had several grand reviews since we have been

here, which is the only thing of importance that trans-

pires here.

One of your welcome visitors reaches me every time the

mail arrives.

Hoping to hear good news soon, and a good large mail,

I will bid you adieu.                                     T. C.