1863
South Carolina Febuary 10th
Dear Sister I take the pleasure of riting
To you to Let you know that I am well and hope that
These few lines may find you the same
The Last Letter that I received from you
Dated January the 13th and this is my second Letter
that I wrote to you since I received your last letter
We are incampt in south Carolina at port royal
inlet on the bank of the broad river on
the island of Saint Helena Hellena
And the last Letter that I received from Luis
Worman was dated January the fifth stating
that he had sold my box of a boat and so
on I would like to know weather he [sold?] [1]
my Mules and what he got for them
I Cant tel you much A bout South Carolina
for we havent been through it anny distance
It is very nice and warm much like the
Month of may or june and thare is plenty of
Negrows and no white men to be seen as
far as I have been through the contry
Thare is plenty of oysters A long the
[shore?] of the [broad?] river and I must tel [2]
you thay Came wery nice for the soldiers
I must tel you that our regment is in
good health I dont think thare
is More then two or three that is sick
[page 2]
By all Apperance you havent got anny of
My letters that I wrote to you at Camp Newbern
North Carolina we left Camp Newbern [North?] [3]
Carolina January the 25 and marched to
Newbern city took the cars 36 Miles to [More=?]
=head city Jumpt A bord the steam Boat
[Named?] Bernside and laid on the bo[at?]
til the 29 Day of January at foure O clock
the hole fleet started we took sale [to?]
port Royal Arived at Port Royal [the?]
first Day of Febuary at eight O clock [in?]
the Morning and laid on the boat til
the eight Day of Febuary thay landed us
on the island of Saint hellena and
thare we got our incampment
The talk was that our gun boats was
Bombarding the city of savannah weather
it is true or not I dont know but I think
the hole fleet pruved to be failure
Dear sister I must tel you that I Never had
been anny harterer then I have Been since
I have been in the survace of the united
states I am harterer then ever I have been
And way hever [4] then ever my weight
is one hundred and sixty five pounds
in my shirt sleves no more at present
yours truly
Elias. W. Gilmer
[page 3]

E.W. Gilmer
Co” F 174 Regment
col John Nyce commanding
Camp Near Hilton Head South
Carolina

Plese ask James Williams
Weather he codent send this Letter
by the way of New york so that
I would get it Sooner
My Best respects to you and
all the rest of my frends
No more at pressent
yours Truly
Elias W Gilmer