n masses, and several
feet in thickness. It is the first real ruin I ever saw in this
country. The keeper's house close by has been all torn to pieces by
the negroes for rebuilding their own cabins and corn-houses.

The next extracts tell of more raids for soldiers, fresh
despair, and renewed hope that they might at last be
stopped.

FROM E. S. P.

_Dec. 27._ On getting up this morning the people were found all in a
hubbub. The soldiers had been there in the night, some fifty strong,
and had carried off not only Caesar, a deserter, Abel's son, but also
old Miller, Tony, and Jonas and David, neither of whom had ever
belonged to any of the regiments. Of course all the people were
enraged, and justly, for they have been assured by General Saxton over
and over again during several months past that they needn't be afraid
of any more drafting, for it was all over. As soon as we had done
breakfast I walked down to the quarters to see what facts I could
gather. It seemed they [the soldiers] had come by rowboats to the
village creek, thinking they had got to our creek, and landed at Fripp
Point. There they found no deserters, for there were none, but took
all the men they could find, viz.: Pompey's boy Isaac, Fortune's boy
Jimmy, and Alick's boy January. They got old Dan to show them the way
to Coffin's and came along the road, arriving just after
praise-meeting; they set a guard all about the houses and shot at
every man that tried to run away, catching the men named above and
carrying them off. Tony and Jonas got away at Fripp Point, but they
carried off the others. C. and I got into our little boat with Jim to
help, and rowed around to the village in hopes to find the party still
there, but they had gone, carrying Dr. Hunting's cook. So we rowed
back and ate our dinner in disgust. This raid will break up my ginning
on this end of the island and put it back at least two weeks, for the
men are so scared that they won't dare to go to work, and the women
can't do much without them.

FROM H. W.

_Dec. 27._ Mr. Philbrick has gone up to-night to see General Saxton,
and Mr. Eustis says that if he can't (or won't) stop it, he shall
write to Washington. It is the unauthorized work of the officers whose
commissions perhaps depend upon their keeping full ranks.

FROM E. S. P.

_Dec. 28._ I rode off for Coosaw Fort on Ladies Island, where the
pickets are. I found Captain Bryant at camp. He was very pleasant and