Lay quietly in camp until at dress parade we were surprised by orders received by the Colonel to take up the march and leave our camp for the boat at Mount Pleasant to proceed to James Island in light marching order. The enemy had made quite a formidable demonstration on Johns Island and we were ordered to Fort Pemberton1 on James Island to be in readiness to proceed forthwith to Johns. We marched to Mt. Pleasant for, and took the steamer there for Dill’s Bluff.
Feb. 6th - All quiet today. I went down to the steamer this morning but could not get aboard. She is torn almost to pieces, one end under water.
Feb. 7th - Go thru the usual camp routine.
Feb. 8th. - All still. Spend the day reading and writing.
Feb. 9th - On guard today at camp in place of Sergeant Happerfield, sick.
This morning we find that some of our boys had been on the steamer in the night and brought us some pickles, pork and a box of champagne. We purchases several bottles and drank them very speedily you might suppose. Today everybody is planning to get on the steamer. At night crowds were seen making toward the steamer which seemed as if the whole brigade had turned out, but sentinels had been posted and they were all stopped and informed they could not pass. For a while the boys were raging and swore they would pass anyhow, and some did. The crowd was very large and much excited.
This morning I was awfully scared by a shell. The firing had ceased for a long time and Sergeant Ruce Workman and myself had gone out to see the Regulars mount guard when lo; a Monitor steamed up, and let loose her bull dogs before we could reach cover. The ball ripped its way on the water making a noise like a dozen cannon. I squatted behind a little brick wall, or cistern for water, no protection at all from above, but dodging was natural. Ruce fell flat and crawled under the house.
The roar of cannon is the first thing heard this morning. They fired all night long at the steamer. Today is my turn for guard again and it happened that I was detailed for guard at Moultrie in the very course of shot and shell form the Yankees. We left camp and started for our post, and as soon as we got in range of shell we crept along by the breastworks as fast as possible until we reached the bomb-proof1. All day long here the shot and shell whizzed directly over our heads, but we were shielded by the bomb-proof and laughed at the danger.
Last night a steamer1 attempted to run the blockade and in fact succeeded, but unfortunately ran aground abreast Fort Moultrie on the beach. All was now hurry and confusion on board the boat for they knew that as soon as the Yankees could see her they would knock her to pieces. Consequently, all hands commenced unloading, pulling boats, pitching overboard barrels, boxes, etc. to wash ashore. Our picket guard on the beach pitched in promiscuously, grabbing for themselves, shoes, blankets, oranges, pickles, whiskey, etc.
Jan. 28th - Sleep and rest today from my guard duty of yesterday. Get some fresh beef for dinner, the first meat we have received since our arrival, issuing nothing but meat to the solders. Light fare. This evening the enemy have commenced an unusually severe shelling of the city and occasionally drop a shell at Moultrie or Sumter. There goes a bomb plowing the air and shrieking like fury, “Now” to the city. We have gotten used to them now and they do not even draw a casual remark for the men. Leon Massey and Hughes on guard today. Their first time.
From this camp I went home on a short visit, and while I stayed at home with the mumps, which I had several chances to catch, came out on me, though very slightly, and I soon got perfectly well, and after staying home about 3 weeks I started back to camp, but while I had been away the Regiment had been ordered away from Camp Lee and had moved to Johns Island and camped at a plantation on the island, and named the camp Camp Craft, from its owner. They stayed here only a few days and moved lower down on the island to Camp Craft No. 2.
Diary by S.C. Lowry of Company F, 17th Regiment, S.C.V. commenced on Sullivan’s Island, this 22nd day of January, 1864
Jan. 22 - This is my first day in camp since the Second Battle of Manassas. Am gladly welcomed by my old comrades in arms. A warm and pleasant day. Spend my time reviewing the island and our fortifications. With an occasional stroll along the seaside for shells.
Jan. 23rd - Another pleasant day. Nothing of interest occurred.
Our route and next camp I will now describe. Having received our orders and a train of cars standing in readiness for us, we got aboard about six o’clock one morning, in box cars with plank seats, which, by the by, was very good. We travelled over the well known track all day, until about one o’clock at night, being delayed by having to wait on other trains to pass us, the cars were very crowded and warm, we knocked off several side planks to admit the air, sometimes riding on top of the cars, which is very dangerous, but is not thought of.