April 15.
Night before last a
boat load of rebels came over to Barnwell's plantation to capture a squad of
our pickets, but the boys were wide awake and gave them a few rounds of buck
and ball which caused a hasty retreat. These dark nights are favorable for
raids, and Capt. Rogers, while on picket at the Ferry, took advantage of the
rain and intense darkness last evening and went over the river, bringing back a
valuable boat. It was a daring operation which proved that our pickets are more
vigilant than theirs. Up to today the rebels have not fired anything more
injurious than oaths across at our men, but this morning they tried their
muskets. The shots were harmless, but I very much regret their return to the
barbarous practice. Our boys have thought it a little hard that they were not
allowed to "cuss back,” and I doubt if it will be as easy to control them
if the rebels repeat the offense. Yesterday I had a talk with "Aunt
Sarah," on the Perryclear plantation about five miles from here, about her
experiences in the revolution of '76. She is said to be over a hundred years
old, and I can assure you I felt that I was looking into the dark ages as I sat
before her. She spoke of the present war as one she and her race had long
dreamed of, as the war of freedom for them.
SOURCE: Proceedings
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June,
1910: February 1910. p. 388
