Slept very soundly last night, and feeling in good spirits. We lie at our bivouac all day, get very tired lying about, but the boys are very merry. Tonight we go back to camp on Sullivan’s Island, the enemy having retreated on Johns Island.
But to return. I will now notice our first picket, and give facts as near as I remember. Our Company was ordered by the Colonel to go on picket to Rockville on the outskirts of Wadmalaw Island, in perfect sight of the enemy’s gunboats, about half mile distance in the Edisto River, and in sight of their camp fires on Edisto Island. Accordingly, we left Camp provided with a weeks rations, a blanket strapped to each ones back, and shouldering our muskets, struck the march for Rockville, 15 miles distance.
Slept very soundly last night, and feeling in good spirits. We lie at our bivouac all day, get very tired lying about, but the boys are very merry. Tonight we go back to camp on Sullivan’s Island, the enemy having retreated on Johns Island.
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.