Hilton Head S C
April 12th [1863]
My dear wife i will Pen you a Line or
two i got a Letter from Last Friday it was
dated April first i was on Board of the
transport Steamer for we have Been to attack
Charleston we Left here a week ago today
and we went as far as North Edisto
inlet that is our division under gen Hickman
all the old North Carolina troops the Place
is within 15 miles of Charleston here the
gen awaitted orders from gen Hunter who
was up with the Rest of the fleet and
iron Clads under Admiral Dupont the
Bombardment Commenced Last Tuesday and
the Firing was terible on Both Sides a
dispatch Boat was kept Running all the
time to us and Back and we was expecting
orders to go up and Land and Hold the
City But instead of that on Friday morning
we where ordered near the fort on Hilton
Head Side in full view of the ocean
what it all means i dont know But
the Bombardment has Stoped and the
Regts have all Come Back the Rebels
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have Sunk one of our gun Boats iron Clad
and kiled a number of our Side But what
they have hauled of[f] for we dont know But we
do know that it is a hard Place to take
the Harber is full of all kinds of obstructions
and i think that it will take about Six
months to take it it Seems as if the
olboy was in everything i hope that we
will Be Sent Back to Newbern it is Reported
here that gen Foster is in a tight Place
with the Rebels all around him oh i do
wish we was there i wonder what
they are doing at vicksburg i Should think
that it was about time that they done
Something there or will they wait till
all the ninth months troops time is
out well it is two years to day Since fort
Sumter was assailed and Still the Rebels
hold it to Bad But i hope it will
Come out Right in the Course of five
or Six years i Suppose that you have
got the monny By this time i See
By the Paper that flour has fallen a
Little i hope that things will Come down
i want you to get Nelleys and Lizzy Pitcture
taken together and Send out to me for
i have Broken the Glass of the old one
and i want to See how they Look after
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Being away from home So Long
now dont foget it Send them in
a Letter the wether is very hot now
But there is an awfull dew falls
at night i hope that this will find
you all well at home and i hope
that Mother will get Better give my
Love to all and kis the Children for
me i will now Close
from your
Husband
Joseph Barlow