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February 7, 1862 – The Port Royal Cotton

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.

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February 6, 1862 – Tribute of Respect

At a meeting of Capt. Ennett’s Co. (E,) 3rd regiment N. C. State Troops, Sergt. J. W. Stokley was called to the Chair, and Corpl. J. M. Piner was requested to act as Secretury. After explaining the object of the meeting in a few very appropriate remarks, a Committee of five, namely : Sergt. J. R. Jenkins, Corp’l F. M. Redd, Benjamin Marshall, P. P. Hobbs, B. Thompson, were appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feelings of the Company relative to the death of our much esteemed and worthy brother in arms, Reuben Curtis. After a short debate, the Committee read the following :

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February 4, 1862 – Letter from the Battery

Camp Dupont, Jan. 3, 1862.

Correspondence of the American.

We are in camp on the same old place, and nothing of any interest has transpired since I last wrote. We have had very disagreeable weather for the last three three weeks, it having rained nearly three-fourths of the time. As the getting about is very bad, we have been obliged to stay in camp nearly the whole time, without harnessing out. The roads are in a very bad condition, and it looks to me as if there could be nothing done at present in the way of making a forward movement, and should there be one now the artillery will be obliged to remain behind.

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January 31, 1862 – CT Military Items

The Twelfth Regiment is to leave for the war next week, it is said. One indication is that the Quartermaster advertises to sell all the lumber used in the construction of temporary buildings in camp, at auction.

Secretary Stanton is reported as having said that “the army must now earn its living.” The men are ready and impatient to do it.

The First Connecticut Battery of Artillery has embarked for Port Royal. They have Parrott rifled cannon. The total number of men is 154, and they take 134 horses and about ten tons of ammunition.