Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
A Yankee correspondent says:
Mrs. Farrenhold has deserted her house, and the soldiers have taken complete possession.—Her secession proclivities have made her what she is—a ruined woman. Her slaves say they will not be hired out. She has no land to cultivate, Her husband is in the rebel ranks and she a wanderer. Many say she is a spy, left here purposely by the enemy to gather information.—She is somewhat of the “strong-minded” sort.
The steamer Atlantic left New York a few days since with a large cargo of army stores, and about sixty passengers, who accompanied Mr. E. L. Pearce, the government agent in charge of the plantations and contrabands at Port Royal. Three-fourths of the number are to be superintendents of the abandoned estates, and will direct the labors of the negroes who are to be employed in such agricultural pursuits as cotton culture and raising vegetables for their own support, and for the use of the army at that point.
Capt. Kennedy requests all his recruits to report themselves to him at 10 o’clock Monday morning, 31st instant, at McKains Drugstore, prepared to leave for Virginia by the mid-day train.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Hilton Head, S. C., Feb. 23d, 1862.
To-day we hear good news; a vessel has arrived with late papers, and we have learned something of the movement of our forces in different quarters. It is really cheering to us, and the cheers that go up from the different regiments here are almost deafening. At last the “ball is opened,” and our prayer is, that the tune may be lively, and the steps short and quick. I have not much that is new to write from here; our folks once in a while take a rebel gunboat, or a battery, and then enter up on some island heretofore occupied by “secesh,” and take possession with very little loss.
The comparatively moderate amount of confiscated South Carolina cotton arriving at this port is really no indication of the extent of the work of picking or of the quantity yet to he gathered. It is true that much of the cotton which was grown very near the large rivers and water-courses in the vicinity of Port Royal, and not burned by the rebels, has been brought forward ; but a very small proportion of the whole amount on the islands has yet been brought to Hilton Head for shipment to this port.
The work of gathering goes steadily on; large quantities have been collected on the inland plantations, and ginning is carried on to a considerable extent. The number of contrabands engaged in the work is increasing, and the chief difficulty at present is a want of transportation facilities.
It will be remembered that at about the time that the secession movement began, many of the property owners in Charleston, as in other Southern cities, who had been in the habit of insuring against fire in the Northern insurance companies, withdrew their risks from these offices with much insolence and parade, and transferred them to local organizations. Most of the latter have suspended while all tho others now are bankrupted, so that utter ruin must fall on those whose property has by this calamity been destroyed.
Correspondence of the American
Hilton Head, Port Royal
South Carolina, Nov. 28
Dear American : Although we had an order more than a week ago to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a moment’s notice, we have not “budged an inch” since. The story in camp is that we have been ordered to leave to-morrow, but l am not certain about it. We are not allowed to know where we are going, but it is said to be not over one day’s sail. I hope it will not be far, for I am heartily sick of “steaming it o’er the main.”
I have nothing very particular to write you for news. Everything seems to be moving on to the completion of the defence of this island. Hundreds of men are continually throwing up entrenchments and fortifications. It is said that “Jeff.” says “he will have this island in his hands again, if it takes every man he can raise.” It will take every man he can raise, and then “he will not be able to re-take it. Gen. Sherman says: “Give me two weeks more, and I will defy all he can bring against me.” We have no idea that an effort will be made to regain what they have lost here. Yesterday, our gunboats “let loose their dogs of war,”” on a small place, about six miles from here, where a number of rebels had made their appearance. I understand they scattered in “double quick” time. We distinctly heard the booming of the cannon here. It is of no use for them to come prying into our affairs, to get information in regard to our proceedings, in order to report to their rebel chief, because “argus eyes’’ are upon them—our pickets are stationed at every corner and loophole, ready and most willing to give the alarm on the instant any appearance of their “ugly phizes,” becomes manifest.