who based their whole
walk and conversation strictly on the ancient Israelites, felt that the
prophecies were all set at naught, and that they were on the wrong
side of the Red Sea; indeed, I fear they regarded even me as a sort of
reversed Moses, whose Pisgah fronted in the wrong direction. Had they
foreseen how the next occupation of the Promised Land was destined
to result, they might have acquiesced with more of their wonted
cheerfulness. As it was, we were very glad to receive, after a few days
of discontented repose on the very ground where we had once been so
happy, an order to go out on picket at Port Royal Ferry, with the
understanding that we might remain there for some time. This picket
station was regarded as a sort of military picnic by the regiments
stationed at Beaufort, South Carolina; it meant blackberries and
oysters, wild roses and magnolias, flowery lanes instead of sandy
barrens, and a sort of guerilla existence in place of the camp routine.
To the colored soldiers especially, with their love of country life,
and their extensive personal acquaintance on the plantations, it seemed
quite like a Christmas festival. Besides, they would be in sight of the
enemy, and who knew but there might, by the blessing of Providence, be a
raid or a skirmish? If they could not remain on the St. John's River, it
was something to dwell on the Coosaw. In the end they enjoyed it as much
as they expected, and though we "went out" several times subsequently,
until it became an old story, the enjoyment never waned. And as even
the march from the camp to the picket lines was something that could not
possibly have been the same for any white regiment in the service, it is
worth while to begin at the beginning and describe it.

A regiment ordered on picket was expected to have reveille at daybreak,
and to be in line for departure by sunrise. This delighted our men, who
always took a childlike pleasure in being out of bed at any unreasonable
hour; and by the time I had emerged, the tents were nearly all struck,
and the great wagons were lumbering into camp to receive them, with
whatever else was to be transported. The first rays of the sun must
fall upon the line of these wagons, moving away across the wide
parade-ground, followed by the column of men, who would soon outstrip
them. But on the occasion which I especially describe the sun was
shrouded, and, when once upon the sandy plain, neither camp nor town nor
river could be