We remained in Johns Island some 3 weeks making our stay about two months in this camp. Nothing of any consequence occurring except the reorganization, in which the Regiment enlisted for the war, all over 35 years of age and under 18 being exempted. R.S. Means was elected Major, vice, Major Mills. The Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel were reelected. Captain Wilson being exempt by his age, went home, though greatly against the wish of the company, to which he had endeared himself by many kind acts, and our 1st Lieutenant J.W. Avery, was elected Captain by the unanimous vote of the company. Lieutenant Logan was elected 1st Lieutenant and our 3rd Lieutenant. also leaving us, R.H. Whisonant, two vacancies were left, 2nd Lieutenant and Brevet 2nd, to which places E.T. Moore and W. Moore were respectfully elected. So we had an entire reorganization and it was the same in most of the companies of the Regiment.
I will now speak for myself. Being under 18 I could not get the consent of my parent to enlist for the war, so my turn was 12 months and 90 days, having then some 8 months service before me, I forgot to state that it was here that my old servant, Horace, took sick, and getting worse, I sent him home, where the poor fellow died about two weeks after this. My father and brother, also my cousin, Leon Massy, paid us a visit, bringing to me another servant called Jesse, a likely young fellow of about twenty, who afterwards stuck to me thru thick and thin, and of whom I never had cause to complain. We remained on the island a good while afterwards, lying still in camp, living on low bush blackberries, any quantity of which were all around us, and of which we had delicious pies prepared by our skillful cooks. When receiving marching orders we took up line of march and crossing the causeway and bridge that we had completed at Church Flats after a very hot and dusty march of 15 miles encamped at Rantowles Station on the Charleston and Savannah railroad, a very pleasant place. This we named Camp Simons No. 1, here pitching our tents, we soon rested from our hot and fatiguing march. We had only remained in this camp a short time, employing our time fishing and drilling, when we were summoned back to Church Flats to oppose a gunboat or two that was said to be advancing up the river, which proved to be one of those common false alarms, to which we were always subject, and which were constantly occurring. However, we were detained here for several days without tents, but crowded in little huts so close that we hardly had room to turn around, and I generally prefer the open air if not raining and slept out of doors. One night my cousin and myself spread our blankets under a large oak and were soon asleep. About midnight a very heavy rain storm came up and pattering in our faces we were soon awakened, and my cousin arising after it began to come down pretty hard, ran into the house, but I, with singular foolishness, drew blankets and oil cloth over my head and sat there, taking the rain which poured down in irresistible torrents, and in a minute it began to run under me, then I jumped up in my stocking feet and ran through the muddy water to the house, leaving shoes which, for a wonder, I had pulled off, and gun, and accoutrements. Next morning my shoes were full of water, and I had some difficulty in drying them. My guns and accoutrement were not hurt. I spent as much of my time while here in the river bathing, where I fist learned to swim. After staying here two or three days we returned to camp, seven miles distance, where we arrived in a short time. We made one or two other marches from the camp on false alarms, with similar results. We remained at this camp only about two weeks, from where the camp was removed from this place lower down on the railroad, to the little village of Raverial, about 10 miles distance, in a very health and pleasant situation, right by the side of the railroad. This camp was named Camp Simon No. 2, where we remained until our removal to Virginia. But from this camp we took several hard marches and expeditions, which will relate in time.