Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/54

 48 Southern Historical Society. Papers.

While near Wilmington I was detailed as a member of a Court Martial, which held its sessions in the Custom-house. The cases dis- posed of were not of a very serious character. One or two other officers of the regiment, Major Spear, of the Forty-sixth Georgia, and several other Georgia officers constituted the court. Captain James F. Izlar, of the Edisto Rifles, was the Judge Advocate. A Mr. Impy, of the Wilmington bar, appeared as counsel for some of the accused parties. The jokes and anecdotes told by Major Spear and Mr. Impy, during the recesses of the court, and an egg-nogg frolic at Bayley's Hotel, are pleasant memories connected with this court.

The enemy had a large force at Beaufort, North Carolina. The sailing south of a fleet from that place' was the signal for a counter movement of the troops that had been concentrated around Wilmington. On the 4th of February orders came from General Beauregard for a removal of troops south. Savannah was thought to be more in danger than Charleston, and the regiments which had been taken from that vicinity were sent oft' first. On the 6th or 7th the Twenty-fifth got off" on their return to Charleston. The court, of which I was a member, was not dissolved till the day after, and the officers of the tribunal were consequently left behind their respective regiments. Upon my re- turn to James Island I found the regiment at "Camp Glover" and myself in command. Colonel Simonton having been again put in charge of a portion of the line of fortifications.

During the month the army intended for operations along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida was considerably reinforced. Clingman's Brigade of North Carolina troops was added to the force on James Island. It seemed to be the settled belief of the Confed- erate authorities that very active operations would be commenced against Charleston. On the i8th General Beauregard issued another proclamation directing that all non-combatants leave the city. On several occasions everything short of a resort to force had been done to induce them to go into the interior, but though a large number of families left, many refused to move, and preferred to share the dan gers of a siege with their soldier friends.

About the first of March we left "Camp Glover" and pitched our tents near Freer' s store, about a half mile from the Presbyterian church, and between that church and the line of breastworks, as then established. We called our new location " Camp Gadberry," in honor of the gallant Colonel J. M. Gadberry, who before this time had in Virginia sealed his devotion to his country's cause with his blood.

About the middle of March the infantry was again sent to the out- posts. For some time before that date the cavalry did the picketing.