Camp Hamilton Fort Monroe Virginia
20^th Regt Ind Vol Nov 17^th 1861
Emily Sally Luce & Saly Hill
To night I take my pen to
write to you I cant get time to write three letters so will
put all in One and give You a Scetch of the affairs in the
Old 20^th I will commence Back to the 29^th of Sept &
give a Scetch up to the present time Including about 2 months
time or a little more perhaps Some of the things I may
have written before but no matter I never wrote half nor
told half of the privations nor hardships that the 20^th
has gone through but not matter now it is all over now
And I Will commence by telling you that I am well
and harty, can Stand my own Rations & my part of the
duties & am Ready for a fight at any time & march at
the head of 98 men that is not affraid of cesech Shells
& Shot. On the 29^th of Sept 7 C^es Embarked in the
S. R. Spaulding for Fort Hatteras .N.C. during the night
& the morning of the next day we encountered one of
Slight Blowes to which that part of the ocean is subject
to. The Old Steamer rocked a little during the night but at
daylight the Breeze began to freshen & by 8 Oclock Blew
a perfect huricane. The most of the boys was awful sick
[page 2]
and lay around on the deck throwing Uncle Sams
grub over bord in a Shameful manner (I have been one of the
lucky ones Narry Sick) I could not help laughing altho the
poor fellows was nearly dead but I Knew it was not a fatal
desease. I Stood on the bow to gratify my curiosity of a storm
at Sea (part of the time in the Rain) looking at the white
caped Billows roll one moment So high that it looked dissy
the next a wave Sweeping the deck So that I had to hold
to the rigging (got pretty wet of course) Then to look up at
the masts & See them at an angle of 45 Degs forward
& the Same back. Pitching and puffing through the mighty
Waves appearantly but a Speck uppon the mighty watters seemed
the gallant Ship bareing almost a Thousand lives
it was awfully Sublime but to me Subblimely beautiful
are the dangers of the Stormy deep. The channel at
Hatteras is narrow & dificult at any time and in stormy
weather doubly dangerous we made it the 2^nd trial at
about 9 AM the 2^nd day out I was Standing where I could see
the Pilot I See his anxious look Knew there was danger
but Kept it to myself the first time he came up he missed
the Buoys & Rounded off the next there was a sailor in
the Rigging & when he Said dead ahead an jumped down
the pilot drew a long breath & a mighty change came
over his countnance (Anchored Safe in Harbor and the
sun is shining clare)
[page 3]
The gale continued to blow & we Could not land
had to Stay on board all night. Rec^d orders the next day
feom C^ol Hockins of the .N.Y. 9^th to proceed to Chickmocomico
45 miles above had to reembark in Smaller Boats large
ones cannot Run on the Sound. I tell you it is lively scene
to witness the reembarcation of troops. Just imagine one
Giant Boat Surrounded by Smaller ones of all dis criptions
from Steam Gunboats to little jolly boats full of jolly tars
& Soldiers clambering up and down and all around evry
fellow holding on to his gun like grim death to a dead
contriband. Well we pretty near all got off after while some
however in open barges that was towed behind the gun
boats (this the luck of your correspondent) but the day was
pleasant and we had a glorious ride. Cast anchor a
little after dark 3 miles from our landing. the C^ol
went ashore found all right came back and ordered us
to cut loose and land after a long pull we got to the
Shore C^o F first I <ran?> to the Bow & Jumped
landed about the first of the 20^th on N.C Soil & in
a Soft place for I Sink in the muck Knee deep & told
the boys to come on which they did worth a will. It was
so dark that we missed the landing & had to go about
¼ of a mile on ground like the old H—B— Marsh
only there was a ditch once and a while in to which
[page 4]
a fellow would go chuck Some times deep and
some times deeper got out Slept on the wet sand
minus Supper (forgot to say that it was 12 oclock PM when
we landed) went and picked our camping ground
did not bring our tents & had to sleep out of course short of
grub tho part of the boats Ret & stode for guard
on the 4^th the Fanny brot us our things tents &c
also O coats but the Ribbles got wind of the move & as soon
as the guard Boat got out of Sight going back for coal they
came down with 3 boats & took her (of course you have
Read the account)
And us poor <Dels?> had to Stand and see them take
our things unable to render any assistance for we had
no artilery <pick?> as there was Some swareing low but deep
Short Rations again & shorter. Stood in line of Battle
all night in the rain. C^o F marched 6 miles for
picket the 5^th three little Buisket for our days Rations
guarding a landing stold Sweet potatoes got along on them
frsh clams &c pretty rough for I was sick but my gut
kept me alive and nothing else. got up Each the 2^nd morning
Seen a big fleet began to rejoice thought we was going to
be fixed up Sure but that 3 Striped flag the Boom of cannon
and the Bursting of shells told us that the foe was neare
3,000 agan 700 dont work especialy when the 3,000
has big guns So we left we did (they followed but ketched
h-ll in the out come as as our drummer said)
Oh what a march over burning Sands beneath a Southern Sun
with 3 Sea biscuit for a days Ration after being short for a week