Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/153



The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 147

boat in the Stono fired on our picket line. Colonel Goodlet, of the Twenty-second South Carolina volunteers, who was in command of the Confederate pickets, rode boldly up to the Federal picket line and demanded an explanation. As soon as the Federal general could be communicated with, he sent an apology. The shots had been fired by a naval officer who had not been advised of the armis- tice.

June loth. Battalion on picket line to-day. Relieved Nelson's battalion. Headquarters at the cross-roads, Colonel Simonton in command. I was in command of the advanced pickets, with head- quarters at the forks of the road between the Presbyterian church and Grimball's. The enemy were perfectly quiet all day and night. Their drums, bands and trumpets were distinctly heard. Terrific thunder storm during the night. The mosquitos fearfully troublesome. Some kind ladies of Charleston had provided us with coverings for our heads made of pavilion gauze. The heat was so great that some- times we could not use these coverings.

June 2oth. The battalion was relieved by Goodlet 1 s regiment, Twenty-second South Carolina volunteers.

June 2jd. Battalion again on picket line. Some of the reserves at the Episcopal church and a part at the Presbyterian church. Our line was now from a point in front of the bridge across New Town creek, in a southwesterly direction to meet the pickets in front of Se- cessionville. The enemy's pickets and ours in sight on some portions of the line. They tried to open communications with our pickets, but were not encouraged.*

June 24th. Relieved by the Twenty-second South Carolina volun- teers.

June 25th. All quiet along the lines to-day. Not a gun fired. The works at the cross-roads, commenced some time ago, approaching completion.

June 26th. Something, which was not communicated to the troops at the front, induced General Pemberton to expect an attack upon our entrenchments. Accordingly, the battalion was roused at 3 o'clock this morning and remained in line on the color-front till after daylight.

June 27th. Battalion on picket to-day. Five companies under

pickets, but on James Island we never exchanged as many civilities as our army in Virginia and the Federal pickets are said to have done.
 * Later in the war a much better understanding was established between