Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/130

 124 Southern Historical Society Papers.

pistol, when the hammer slipped out of his hand and the pistol w discharged.

On the night of the nth there was considerable excitement in o camp. It was reported that the enemy had landed on John's Islan a few miles from Cole's Island. The report reached Charleston, ai at once a counter movement was commenced. All of the troops the city marched out to meet the invading army. It was ascertain* on the 1 2th that the report was a false alarm, and the troops march< back to their places of encampment.

About this time the military telegraph, connecting Cole's Islar with headquarters in the city, was completed. We now had tl means of hearing the news from Charleston every day. Cofomi sioned officers had the privilege of sending and receiving private di patches free of charge, when the wires were not in use transmittir military messages. They were also permitted to send messages f the men. This was a very great comfort. Previously communicatic with Charleston was very irregular and uncertain. It sometimes ha] pened that for a week at a time no boat left or came to the island.

The giving up of so much of our coast was very distasteful to 01 army. The apparent lack of energy on the part of our generals w; the constant topic of conversation among officers of equal rank. V\ made the best excuse we could to the men for the apparent remis ness of those high in authority. I know that the men were impatie; to be led against our invaders, and recapture some of our lost terr tory. The officers discouraged any feeling of dissatisfaction an spirit of fault-finding among them, and made every possible excu for our enforced inactivity.

About the gth of December I was put in charge of two batteries- one was a battery of one large gun, 128-pounder, and the other two-gun battery of i8-pounders. The Wee Nees soon became e: pert in handling heavy artillery. These batteries were so poor! supplied with some of the necessary implements as to be almo useless. This was not Colonel Hagood's fault, but lay with sonr ordnance officer, which one I never knew. Hagood was a strict di: ciplinarian, and in every way a most excellent officer. The deficier cies were soon supplied, and had the enemy attempted to enter th Stfono, the Wee Nees would have given a good account of themselve

The military authorities in Charleston thought that there wet some of the enemy on Folly Island. Colonel Hagood was directe to sweep that island with a line of skirmishers, commencing at tfc southern end and going north to meet a similar force that was directe