dusky propeller held on her pole at the stern, and I seized the iron ring at the prow; "Prince" gave a pull, and out sprung the steeds-but, alas! back went the boat, in spite of my pull and her push. Nobly the horses struggled up the slippery bank, their hind feet in and out of the water: the bank was steep, the water deep; in a moment the boat had slipped away, and the carriage was in the river, and poor "Prince" in a very uncomfortable position. I kicked and thumped the near horse, and urged them with my voice, telling "Prince" to let go the reins; and just as the horses made a last desperate effort to escape being dragged back into the stream with the floating buggy, both splinter bars broke, and away they sprang with the pole and reins. I rushed to the near fore-wheel, which was just disappearing, and by unexpected strength held it up to the edge of the bank. The moment the horse broke loose, "Prince" scrambled over the splash-board, sprung to the bank, and held the other wheel. The poor negro woman stood aghast; the horses began eating grass. We looked down to the ferry head-how lucky! It was conscript-day at Conwayboro', and three planters' overseers had just arrived, and were getting into another boat to pass over. As soon as possible they came to the rescue, and by all our united efforts we pulled the vehicle on to terra firma, and with bits of wood and cords, splinter bars were extemporized, and in a few minutes we were off again for the Boro' with no more damage than my valise, with all its contents, my white surplice, my books and journal, stained with the dark-brown waters of the Wakamah. On returning to Conwayboro' I hear the news of the Federal forces being driven from near Richmond several miles down the James River; but there are no flags flying, no outward signs of rejoicing-only the people seem, individually, as if a weight were removed from their minds, by gloom being exchanged for smiles. A warm retreat is Conwayboro'. At midday, July 2nd, thermometer 86°, and little relief at night; yet people seem to live to a good old age here. I met a lady to-day, aged seventy, strong in mind and body; has a son who has been wounded four times; her residence is North Carolina. A friend of hers, a widow, had a plantation at Pollocksville: part of General Newbern's force went up the river and took away by force 100 of her negroes. She stated as a known fact, that four ship-loads of negroes had been taken from Port Royal to Cuba, and sold to pay expenses of the war. CHAPTER V. Off to Columbia and the Refuge Plantation. ON 3rd July I started for Columbia and Winsboro'. The train from Wilmington arrived at Fairbluff at 12.30 night; cars full of wounded men from Richmond, reached Kingsville, 100 miles, at 7 A.M. Near this place the Wateree River and its tributaries and swamps are traversed by a viaduct raised on timber tressel-work for five miles. Kingsville is the junction of the branches to Augusta and Columbia; therefore many of the poor wounded soldiers got out. It was sad to see them. The station hotel, by no means adequate to the demand now put upon it by the war, did not meet their wants; the hot fries and beefsteaks of the American breakfast they could not taste. I asked "mine host" if there was nothing else. No-only pay 75 cents, and sit down." Several of them said, "We only want a little milk and water and a biscuit,”—which were 66 They not to be had; water was indeed scarce! covered the station, some on stretchers, some on crutches-no one to attend to them. It was twenty miles to Columbia, which we did in the luggage-car of a freight train. On 4th July I arrived at Columbia, capital of South Carolina, a very pretty city, called the "Garden City." Every street has an avenue of trees and one long street, a double one. I was provided with a letter to the Governor, Mr. Pickens, by the kindness of Mr. Mason; and I lost no time in making use of it. Found him at his office, and, luckily, the general of the district with him. I reported the state of things at Kingsville, and orders were issued then and there for an assistant surgeon to be stationed there, and a wayside hospital erected, with all the needments for the sick and wounded. I avoided the crowded hotels, and put up at Mrs. McMahon's boarding-house. These houses are to be found in every town, and very nice they are, having the table-d'hôte system well carried out; the drawing-room, pianoforte, &c. Never was there a cleaner house than Mrs. McMahon's; and most agreeable society. She had Colonel Hayne, aidede-camp to the general, a poet and a friend of poets; Mrs. Bartow, the widow of one of the brave men who fell at the battle of Bull Run, 1861; and Colonel Chesnut (one of the State Council), with his lady, and several others. Our good hostess gave us a great treat in real tea and coffee; but her supply was nearly out. On the 5th of July, Governor Pickens took me a drive round and through the city. It stands high, looking down South on the Congeree River, which runs from west to east; the Congeree and Wateree meeting a few miles off make the Santee. The country is pretty, healthy, and undulating; they call it a "rolling" country. The soil is good; substratum rocky. The gardens and fields are very productive. The water is excellent. The Governor was for three years United States Minister at St. Petersburg. He showed his determination to stand up for state rights in the affair of Fort Sumter in April, 1861. Of course we talked about that. In March, 1861, it was given out, and confidently reported in the newspapers, that Fort Sumter was to be evacuated by the Federal forces; but on the 8th of April, simultaneously with the appearance of a Federal fleet in the offing of Charleston harbour, an official message was conveyed to Governor Pickens by Lieutenant Talbot, an authorized agent of Mr. Lincoln's government, announcing |