1                    Bucks County Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment, Pa. Vols.  Page 3  Col. 4-5                    1

 

From the 104th Regiment, Pa. Vols.

BEAUFORT, S. C., June 13th, 1863.

Messrs. Editors :—Having just been relieved from that

tiresome task, “ guard duty,” and thinking that perhaps

a short epistle from me would be satisfactory to you and

the many readers of the Intelligencer, I proceed to give a

minute account of things, before the mail closes.  Very

little has been done towards weakening the enemy, except

by the 2d South Carolina Regiment.  They have been on

several scouting expeditions, scouring the country for

many miles around, destroying large quantities of rice,

cotton, &c., burning cotton gins, damaging and destroying

everything in their reach that they thought would be

of available use to the enemy.  They captured slaves by

the “ wholesale,” thus depriving the “ rebs” of their use

hereafter in cultivating their large plantations of rice,

corn, cotton, &c.  While they are deprived of their use,

they are lending a helping hand to us, and the free soil of

the Palmetto State.  When our soldiers (the noble band

of freedmen) landed, they found the slaves busy at work

in the corn and rice fields.  When our troops made their

appearance among them, hoes were immediately thrown

aside, and they went to work as hastily as possible pre-

paring themselves to come across the lines into the land of

liberty, to enjoy perpetual freedom with those who have

already been delivered over to the Yankee hosts, and freed

forever from that curse—human slavery.  Many were en-

tirely destitute, having nothing to cover their human

frames from the torrid sun, or the eyes of the lookers-on. 

Poor creatures! unclad as they were, they are now in a

land of prosperity and wealth, and thanking God for

their deliverance.  We hope to see them clad in better

garments than rebeldom can afford.  The male population

who are fit for service will be placed in the ranks of their

brethren, the rest employed in laboring for the Govern-

ment.  They seem delighted with their escape from bond-

age, and they have already breathed into their nostrils,

the vibrating sound of the President’s proclamation, pro-

claiming “ You are all free!”

Your patriotic correspondents, Carver and Markley,

will, no doubt, give you a full description of their

doings, so I will digress.  Gen. Saxton and lady re-

turned on the Arago, paying but brief visits in the North. 

A report is current in camp that Hunter is to be, or is re-

lieved from this department, and superceded by General

Gilmore.  I think there is truth in the report, but for

what reasons he has been relieved I know not.  I am afraid

that we will find no General so kind and who looks to the

wants of the men as Gen. Hunter.  Hunter is an excellent

General for this Department, as regards caring for the

health of the men.  We have as yet never found a Gen-

eral that has taken such good care of the men as General

Hunter.  Indeed, I am afraid we shall miss him—at least

his good orders.

The fort is being completed slowly, and is already

mounted with some half dozen heavy guns.  It is about

being stockaded in the ditch, which will make it a very

formidable, if not impregnable work against the rebel

hordes, should they attempt to make a raid on this place. 

Of late, we (104th) have been working two days in one

week upon it, keeping us on guard, picket, or fatigue

duty nearly all the rest of the time.  It is reported that

when the 174th’s time expires, Companies G, I and K are

to relieve the men of that regiment now on Lady Island. 

The 11th Maine has left us and gone to Florida, leaving

out ? regiments of the citizens on duty at this place. 

We presume that Col. Davis will again take command of

the regiment, as the Commandant of the Post can easily

command the force stationed here.  Most of the officers

and men who went home on furlough have returned, and

tell of delightful times experienced at their Northern

homes—spending their time among their fond mothers,

sisters and sweethearts.  How happy some must have been

made to feel by clasping the bronzed hands of their lovers,

who have been periling their lives for nearly two years

in defence of our glorious country!  No one can imagine

how the tears of joy burst from their hearts as they meet

the one who has been so long in the army.  I know from

experience !  George Hartley, a member of Company K,

arrived here a day or two ago, having been away from the

regiment for more than a year.  He was wounded at the

bloody battle of Fair Oaks.  We have had some good

showers of late, and the air is cooler and more invigora-

ting.  I favor Col. Davis so much that I expect to get a

position soon—over the left.  I did forward my name for

a commission in a colored regiment, but with what suc-

cess I have not yet learned.  A poor chance, as so many

officers have applied for commissions.             T.  C.

A member of the 104th Regiment writes to his friends in

Doylestown, as follows:

BEAUFORT, S.C., May 29th, 1863.

It is altogether likely our Brigade will be in Virginia

before many weeks, as there is such a report about now ;

also, that furloughs are about “ played out .”  I hope not,

as I had set my mind on going home soon.  The weather

is very warm here; but it seems that the warmer the

weather, and the less duty other regiments have to do,

the more the 104th has to do.  Just think of it, 56 men

on guard one day, 56 come off and 56 on police, and every

other day a detail for fatigue duty—making nearly two

hundred men on duty at one time.  What makes it seem

so hard, is that our neighbors, the 55th Pennsylvania Vol-

unteers, have no camp guard at all and we have fifteen

men on one relief.  I must say that the 104th is the hardest

regiment in the service—that is in the duty line.  There

is no necessity at all for more than 10 guards a day, as

there is a patrol which travels all around the town, and

the poor soldier who is caught without a pass goes to the

guard house, and is not let out until his regiment has

had dress parade, when he will be reported absent with-

out leave, and dealt with accordingly.  I believe if the

 

Medical Inspector would go through our regiment to-day,

he would report fifty men for their discharges—and ?

man must be so sick that he cannot walk before he gets

to the hospital.  Woe be to the man who dares say a word

against this “ reign of terror,” for if found out he will

have about two months’ pay stopped, and a week or so

of extra guard duty.  My health is very good—but our

company is being reduced very fast since we came to this

Department.  When we came here we drew rations for

sixty-one men, now we draw for only fifty-two men.

BEAUFORT, S. C., June 6th, 1863.

We are having very fine times now, as we go swimming

every evening when off duty.  The weather gets warmer

and warmer every week ; and the sand is warm enough

to boil an egg, almost.  The 174th Pennsylvania Militia

intend leaving here the first of July for Philadelphia ;

and it is altogether likely that our regiment will be

broken up and take their place on Lady’s Island, and out

to the batteries.  I was at the colored Sunday School this

morning.  It would do some people good if they could

only see this school, and hear the little negroes sing. 

There are two Sunday schools in operation in this place,

and they are both very well attended.  A colored regi-

ment from Massachusetts arrived here one evening last

week.  They are numbered in with the white troops from

that State ; but I hear they were mostly from Pennsylva-

nia and New Jersey.  They are going to be put in active

service soon as they are putting provisions on some vessels

now.  The Second South Carolina Volunteers were on an

expedition a week ago; and they started on another on

Saturday morning.  On their first trip they captured about

eight hundred slaves, mostly women and children, and

burned a vast amount of property.  Yesterday we had a

musquito net issued to every two men in the regiment ;

and some time this week we are to have high felt hats to

wear in place of the warm ones we now have.  I am very

glad to see that the people gave the 128th such a grand

reception ; it shows that they have not forgotten their

soldiers boys.  Our company still keeps on the decrease. 

Two men are to go to the hospital, and five are off duty

in quarters.  One or two will go home in the first-boat

that leaves for the North, as they have their discharges.

 


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