_Aug. 9._ Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, agent for Massachusetts, has come.
After looking about a little, he does not think the prospect of
getting recruits _very_ brilliant, but his agents are at work in
Beaufort streets, and may pick up a few men. He intends to send native
scouts on to the main to beat up recruits; $35 a man is offered for
all they will bring in. Colonel Rice intended to come down here
to-day, but had to go and see General Foster and Colonel
Littlefield,[172] Superintendent of Recruiting. (He--Colonel L.--calls
it recruiting to conscript all he can lay hands on.) There is to be,
not a draft, but a wholesale conscription,[173] enforced here.
Lieutenant-Colonel Strong of the First South (Thirty-Third United
States Colored Troops)[174] enrolled all colored men last month. It is
possible, if the men can be made to understand this, that a few can
be induced to volunteer, but I hardly think that many will be secured,
either by enlistment or draft. Colonel Rice comes down here this week.
Mr. Soule (just returned from Beaufort) describes him as a pleasant
man, simple in manner, with great good sense, shrewd enough, and of an
inquiring turn. He has gone right to work, not bidding for men, but
offering the whole bounty, etc., at once, and at the same time he is
trying to find out all he can about things and people here. I long to
"shum" and keep him over night.