Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/56

 50 Southern Historical Society Papers.

April loth. — The camp talk to-day was about an engine called a " Yankee Devil," which had been wrecked and had floated up on the beach on Morris Island. This nondescript had been used for the pur- pose of hunting torpedoes and obstructions in the harbor. I am un- able to describe this curious craft. Another was reported to have arrived and to be among the vessels of the fleet. The enemy were reported to-day to be landing in force on FoUey Island.

April 1 2th. — The monitors left the bar to-day and sailed south for Port Royal. The enemy's transports commenced leaving Stono harbor.

April ijth. — I was field-officer of the day, and had charge of the pickets, consisting of four companies of the Twenty-fifth and a de- tachment of cavalry. Legare's lower house was picket headquarters. No firing on any portion of the line.

April 14th. — The belief began to be general that the attack on Charleston was indefinitely postponed. The enemy were reported leaving Coles Island rapidly, and it was believed that they were leav- ing FoUey Island.

[It was very unfortunate for our cause that this impression pre- vailed. It enabled the enemy to carry on their operations against Morris Island quietly, and led to the surprise of the loth of July fol- lowing.]

April ijth to 20th. — Two guns of a Georgia Light Battery were sent to Legare's, near the picket line, to fire on some gunboats that were in the habit of going up the creek to FoUey Island. The gun- boats returned the fire. No decisive results on either side.

The high price of necessaries of life and the spirit of speculation which had taken possession of so many of our people began to have a bad efiect on our army. I have very often listened to recitals of the distress of the men of the regiment whose families were dependent on their wages for support. To know that a speculator in the rear was charging a month's wages of a soldier for a few bushels of corn or a few pounds of bacon furnished to his family, could not fail to have a demoralizing effect. My means prevented my aiding the brave men under my command in any other way than by sympathy and advice. Such consolation as sympathy could give was bestowed in large measure.

Both the army and citizens have come to feel perfect confidence in the safety of Charleston. This feeling on the part of the latter pre- vented a general compliance with the frequent requests of General Beauregard that non-combatants should leave the city, and gave time