February 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
The recent daring adventure of the scout, J.J. MAGEE, and his comrades R.F. GELSTON, BARTON WELLS and R.O. REYNOLDS, deserves more detailed mention than our brief notice of last Saturday morning, and we have been at some pains to gather the particulars. The party, in a small canoe, made a landing on Hilton Head Island on Wednesday night, about 9 oclock – WELLS and REYNOLDS remaining with the boat in a safe retreat, while MAGEE and GELSTON secreted themselves in a thicket to await daylight for the accomplishment of their purpose, which was no less than to capture a Yankee, with the view of eliciting information of the recent movements of the enemy’s forces. Daybreak revealed to them their situation, which appeared to be a very exposed one – the wood scarcely affording sufficient protection to conceal them in a crouching position. They found, too, that they were within a hundred yards of the picket station. Making up their minds that they would have to keep close to avoid detection, they lay on the ground, with the prospect of having to remain in this posture until evening. At 8 o’clock a.m., when the guard was relieved, the Yankees passed to and fro almost within reaching distance. Their conversation, however, was not of interest. During the morning as many as forty persons passed and repassed. About 3 o’clock p.m. a soldier turned into the thicket, and approached quite near them. MAGEE felt that his danger was imminent. Drawing his revolver, he levelled it at the fellow, and, putting his finger to his lip to enjoin silence, he called, in a low voice, ‘Come here, sir.’ The Yankee turned pale with fright, and in a hurried voice exclaimed, ‘Don’t shoot!’ Upon being assured that no harm would come to him if he would lie down and keep quiet, the prisoner stretched himself on the ground between the two bold rebels, and a pair of navy revolvers ready for instant use. For six long hours the three kept mute company, MAGEE forcing the prisoner even to suppress his cough, which was very troublesome. At tattoo, the time agreed upon for leaving the island, the three started noiselessly for the rendezvous previously agreed upon, the Yankee wondering how they were to get off the island. He was soon relieved by the appearance, in a safe place, of a canoe, into which he was requested to take a seat. He was at this time very anxious that his rebel friends should get in first, so as not to wet their feet; but GELSTON was very solicitous about his cough, and fearing that wet feet would increase it, insisted upon his getting a good seat, and himself offering to push the boat off and then jump in. A five minutes’ row brought them well off from the shore; they were halted, but being out of reach of the sentinel musket, they did not heed him.
The prisoner is a middle aged man, a native of Maine. He reports, in substance, that thirty new regiments recently arrived from North Carolina; that they average possibly 500 men each, and that General FOSTER came with them, but had since returned. The observatory on Mr. BAYNARD’S house was in charge of a signal corps, who kept up communication between the fleet in Port Royal and Fort Pulaski, by means of flags by day and lanterns by night. No privates are allowed to go up into the signal station; nor are they informed of any contemplated movements. Whenever they get orders to cook rations for a number of days, they know that work is at hand. No such orders have been issued, although the talk was common in camp that Charleston was to be attacked. The fight at Genesis Point was thought to be intended to draw attention to Savannah, but no one believed that the fight was to be there. All looked forward to what they believed would be the great battle of the war at Charleston. He had heard a rumor that one vessel was sunk off Charleston, and that others were badly damaged; but the officers generally kept such news to themselves. He said Maine had contributed 40,000 men to the war, and expressed fears lest he might be considered a deserter, as the circumstances of his leaving the island were so peculiar. When asked how many vessels were at Port Royal, he stated that there were many schooners, &c., that had brought out stores, and that these were the vessels seen from our lookout. The steamers were going and coming all the time, and seldom remained long at Port Royal.