The comparatively moderate amount of confiscated South Carolina cotton arriving at this port is really no indication of the extent of the work of picking or of the quantity yet to he gathered. It is true that much of the cotton which was grown very near the large rivers and water-courses in the vicinity of Port Royal, and not burned by the rebels, has been brought forward ; but a very small proportion of the whole amount on the islands has yet been brought to Hilton Head for shipment to this port.
The work of gathering goes steadily on; large quantities have been collected on the inland plantations, and ginning is carried on to a considerable extent. The number of contrabands engaged in the work is increasing, and the chief difficulty at present is a want of transportation facilities.
When the federal forces landed at Hilton Head all the horses, oxen, carts and conveyances of all kinds were taken possession of and applied to the uses of the Quartermaster’s department. As our troops penetrated to the adjacent islands and took possession of the main land, the same process was continued, and these means of transportation have been retained for the uses of the army.
The cotton now coming from Port Royal is carried on the shoulders of the negroes to the banks of the streams navigable for steamers of heavy draught, and it is noteworthy that, although the bulk of the cotton is inland, or on the banks of shallow streams, the only vessel of any considerable size employed in the transportation service is the Mayflower, an old ferry-boat drawing nearly ten feet of water.
Under these circumstances the business of taking the cotton from the plantation is exceedingly slow and difficult, if not in many cases impossible of accomplishment, except when it is carried tor miles by the negroes—a work for which the comparatively small force of the contrabands is entirely inadequate. Besides, the Mayflower cannot approach very near the banks of the rivers, and the cotton in such cases is necessarily got on board by the use of small boats, which is a tedious operation.
What is required for this work more than anything else is a number of flat-bottomed boats, drawing eighteen inches or two feet of water, and to be loaded from carts or wagons adapted to the conveyance of large loads.
Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME