[1863]
St Helenna Port-Royal S C

Dear wife i
will now Sit down to Let
you know that i got a
Letter from you yesterday and
i was glad to here from you
you Say that you dont gett any
Letters very often i have
written two or three within
a fortnight But i have not
got anny Stamps and i dont
think that they Started i found
out that all Letters must Be
Franked [1] By the Col and So
i Shall get this done So if
you have got a Spare Stamp
you Can Put one in your Letter
i am Glad that the Children
are Better i hope that they
will keep for our Regt have
[Page 2]
all got the Sore mouth and
throat i have had it for about
a fortnight and it is enough
to tire out the Patience of a
Saint i dont know wether
it is the Serving or Canker
we have to drill very hard
here there is great Preperations
makeing to attack Charleston
we have got Seven or eight
moniters in the harber all
getting Ready to do there work
wich will Be Rough i was
over to Hilton head yesterday
Steamers Run Back and forn
all the time the Place has
all Been Built Since our
[?] took the Place ther
is about three hundred Building
goverment and Private this is
a noble harber and deep
enough to float anny vesel
[Page 3]
well you Say that Nelley
wants to go to Sunday Shooll
i would not Let her go till
it is good wether wait till
Summer there is time enough
for her to Learn all She wants
to and not hurt her health
i kno there is Some gambling
in the army But it Cant
Be in the 23 for we dont
get anny monny to Play with
they owe us now almost five
months Pay and i do hope
that we Shall get it Before
Long i wish you Could get
a Cheaper Rent But you
will Can See in the
Spring dont Be in a hurry
you Can Look around By and
By i wish that Mother was
Better i dont know what She
will do Sarah ought to Stay
at home and take Care of here
[Page 4]
and Behave here Self i want
to know how old E B Barlow
is i have forgoton when he
was Born well give my
Love to all the folks and
kis the Children for me
i hope this will find you
all well i will Send
you Some more Palmetto [2]
from your Huband
Joseph Barlow

wilsong speech was [3]
a fine one and
Capt Plower is a Pattriot