1                 Bucks County Intelligencer,  From the 104th Regiment.  June 7, 1864  Page 2  Col. 5                 1

 

From the 104th Regiment.

HILTON HEAD, S. C., May 27, 1864.

Messrs. Editors :—The steamer Fulton arrived yester-

day with New York dates to the 22d, but with little news

that proved to be satisfactory to the readers of those papers. 

We are much gratified to learn that the news is not so disas-

trous to our cause as that received from rebel deserters.

Since Gen. Birney has taken command many changes

have been made.  The District and Post have been consoli-

date as well as the Brigades of Davis and Bayley.  All

officers and enlisted men on unnecessary details have been

relieved and ordered to report to their respective compa-

nies.  Many of these details, although unnecessary as they

are supposed to be, cannot well be dispensed with.—

Many detachments have been sent forth from the Regiment. 

Company ? has gone to Braddock’s Point, some 12 miles

from the Head, to perform picket duty on the outposts. 

Company G has gone to Bay Point to garrison a fort, and

Company I is at St. Helena, performing the routine of fa-

tigue duty at the wharf.  Three non-commissioned officers

and thirty men of Company K, under charge of Lieut. Cad-

wallader, had orders to repair to Fort Mitchell, one mile

beyond Seabrook, where they remained for some days, when

they were relieved and ordered to Spanish Wells.  Here

they accomplish the work of out-post picket duty, both on

land and water, and often get a peep at the rebs, but as yet

no collison has occurred between the two opposing forces.

On Wednesday last Brig. Gen. Birney started on an expe-

dition, with the 52d P. V., 9th U. S. C. V., 1st Michigan

(colored), and a company or two of cavalry.  The purpose

of the expedition was to destroy, the Charleston an Savan-

nah Railroad.  From accounts, it was very poorly managed

indeed.  The large ocean steamer Boston was burned by

order of Gen. Birney, and upwards of 100 horses were

drowned or burned.  The steamer got agrounds and the

rebs finding it out, brought down three pieces of artillery

and opened on the Boston, but injuring it very little.  A

gunboat was sent forward and did not fire more than three

shots before the enemy’s guns were silenced.  Three com-

panies of the 52d were all the men that were ashore ; they

were about three miles on the mainland, and remained there

about fourteen hours, no enemy whatever to impede their

progress.  The steamer and horses could all have been saved,

as the tide was coming in and the boat would soon have been

afloat.

Brig.-Gen. Foster arrive on the Fulton, and will soon

assume command of the Department.  A number of the

veterans have also returned.

Had I good news to forward you I would lengthen my

epistle ; but, as it is, let me drive away the dull news by

saying; more anon.                                        T. C.