[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Wednesday 25th Cool & pleasant again this morning & being cloudy
it may continue cool all day–I have just received a letter
from Joe. He is well, & has gone thro’ a great deal of fatigue and
hardship–The Regiment is now at St James Island right in the face
of the Enemy–When on St John’s Island 8 days he says it was
raining the whole time & the Mud up to their ankles & a great part
of the time they were going thro’ water knee deep–They slept in the
open air without blankets or covering of any kind & the man who
could get a blanket or find[?] bushes was considered fortunate. They did not
have a stitch of dry clothes on the 8 days they were there–& they were
mostly starved too–He saw some of the men eating raw corn they picked up on the
road that had been dropt there by wagons–& all this time they were marching from 10 to
15 miles a day–No set of men ever saw harder times–The couriers would come dashing
up telling them the Yankees were in a mile and a half of them–They would then
start in a run to get there & find the Yankees had run off–So they did not even have the
excitement of a fight to cheer them up–He says he stood the trip well while great
strong men who had been brought up at the plough gave out from exhaustion,
or were made sick–He soon recovered after taking a bath putting on clean clothes &
getting a cup of Coffee & good nights rest. they were frequently awakened at 12 oclock
at night & made to march 3 or 4 miles–He says it was a terrible time. they had on
ly one day to rest when they were awaken at 12 OClock at night & made to cook
rations, & at daylight marched to the R.Road–Not being able to get transportation
they remained there until 12 oclock the next night when a long train of plat
form Cars came by & landed them at the Charleston Depot about daylight
where they remained until 10 OClock when they were marched into the City
They only remained encamped at the Citadel Green one night when they
were ordered to St James Island where they now are–The first two nights
he says they slept in an open cotton field–About 3 inches deep in
dust–But they now have mud after the rain instead of dust–Last
Monday he says Couriers came dashing about from Regiment to regiment
& soon they were on the march to reinforce the battery that was [?]
ly attacked by the Enemy. They marched in quick time to see the last of the Yankees.
They retreated thro’ the cornfield–The Yankees that attacked the Battery numbered 4
times as many as the Confederates–& fought bravely even to desperation, but
our men had determined to die before surrendering & drove them off–The Yankees
charged the battery 3 times & were repulsed each time with great slaughter. Then
they did run it was a perfect Bull run affair–They left Haversacks, Canteens
blankets, Caps, Oil Cloth Capes &ect &ect–the ground was covered with
them–Their Haversacks contained Sugar. Coffee. Cheese. Cake. Bacon.
Crackers. pepper. Salt. Ambrotypes. Spoons. Knifes. forks-plates, cups, &ect.
They all had a first rate supper at the Yankees expense–& nearly every
man has an excellent Oil Cloth Haversack-Cape, Cap, & other use
ful things. He picked up a first rate Oilcloth Cape that covers him
all over–a good many Haversacks–Two nice german silver spoons,
cups &ect. The Yankees left dead on the field 350 man & they carried off
with them a great many–We have 250 of them prisoners wounded &
70 unhurt–they killed & wounded about 100 confederate men–He says
it is one of the best battles of the War–the Yankees losing about 800 men killed
wounded & missing, while the Confederates only 100–& they out numbered us 4 to 1
he says, the Bombshells whistled over their heads as they marched along thro the
fields & ambulances–full of dead & wounded were passing them all the
time. the night they got there they were placed on picket duty & he
never passed such a night in his life–It was very cold & raining hard,
the wind blowing violently & there they had to sit & take it without
even a blanket, not daring to stir or even to speak lest a bullet should
land us in Eternity–They had to sit & keep the closest watch & after
all their vigilance two of their men was shot at–one had his thumb
taken off– & the other was not shot–The 1st one was shot, was in 30
steps of him–He thinks it the most dangerous post in the country–
He says I must not be uneasy about him. Everything is in the hands of God
& all he does is for the best–They now have 18000 men there, & very fine
fortifications & he thinks they can whip 50,000 Yankees–The prisoners
tell them they whipt them badly this time. But that they intend to
have Charleston if it costs a million of men & that they have orders
to grant no quarters to anyone. He says they are expecting a great
battle every day–But they cannot hold Charleston as long as they
hold this Island–& they cannot take the Island without
great fighting–My dear Soon–I hope God will take care
of him & spare his life–& save him from his Enemies–
& give him health & strength for all that is before him–To
a kind Providence I commit him & pray that God will
be with the Southern Armies–Making them victorious
& will soon bless us with peace–
MSS 6960