Thunderbolt Battery June 8th 1863 Mrs Nancy J. Harden
My Dear! Companion, I seat myself to drop you a few lines which
will inform you that I am well only a little Bowel disease
Hoping however, that these lines may reach and find you and
Mollie well, also all the rest of the family connection I read the
letter by Mr Benson yesterday an I was on Whit marsh.. I have
Just got back. I had to go in Corp. Tillery’s place he taken sick
the first day he was there We had a fine time over there Scouting
and hunting Beeves. I have got so I can lie down and sleep on
the ground just as well as any where else. I went off Sunday morning
Scouting and I got sleepy and I lay down in the woods and went
to Sleep, and when I woke up it was most night and I in
a dangerous place. I thought I would be but I dont
think I have felt the least alarmed since I have been here
some of us went in a bout a mile of fort Pulaskie and
we expected the yankees every minuet but I do not think
there was a man afraid this Scout took place on
Wilmington Island We saw no yankees. Nearer than
the fort We killed the largest Rattle Snake I ever saw he
was about 6 ft. long. We killed one Beaf while we
were there. they are as wild as deer.. We had 2 Alarms
by night while we was there before I tell about the alarm
I will State how we were Situated.. there was 4 points on the
Island to be guarded. The first was manned by the Capt.. a Sergt..
and 14 men. the Next by a Sergt. & Corpl.. and 14 men the 3rd by a Sergt.
& 8 men the 4.th. by a Corpl.. & 8 men. My post was the 4.th.
one about ½ mile from the first Capt Martin sent me word that
they heard the Boats coming & for me to reenforce him immediately so
I left 2 men on post & took 6 with our guns & double quicked
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down there and formed in line of Battle & ready to get in the
Rifle pitt.. and we soon found out that it was the
wind blowing the water against the Banks.. there was 3
men that failed to come out Wm Orear did not get there
(until the Excitement was over..or nearly so The 2.nd
alarm was > 2 Boats did come up, but they Stoped be
fore they got in gun Shot of us or we would have give them
particular Jessee in the Way of Brag.. I was the only
non commissioned officer that would go with Capt
Martin on Wilmington Island.. and I believe he is
a soldier he is not afraid I have rambled this
whole week with my gun on my shoulder.. I felt free
while I was there had no drilling to do nor no roll calls to
answer to.. We could hunt plums and Berries of which
there is a great many here &c &c I will be glad when our
time comes to go back to whit marsh..
I rec.d..that little Curl of Mollie’s hair. it looks very Natural
I wish I could be there to hear her talk.. and to see you
and my Babe and all the rest of the family I am sorry that
Pa cant find Joe.. Tell him he aught to advertise for him
before long if he cant here of him in Pike I am a fraid
he has been kidnaped.. or killed by some of them Negroes
at Banks old place though I do not know nothing about
it. this is just a supposition of mine Dear Jane When you
write to me direct your letters to Mr. Benson and make a
cross mark thus + and then we will know mine from his
write me who you send your letters to the office by. they may
not get there.. So I will close Yours &c
W.H. Harden