Oct 16th 1864
x indian chief
Receaving Ship x near Charleston SC
My dear wife I take the opertunity
to inform you that I am well at pres
ent and I hope these few lines may find
you and all of the children and neigh
bours all well we are a fareing first rate
here my lodgeing is rather hard thare
is one thing that oneases me a litle
the yellow fever over in the town
but I hope it wont get on the ship
the lord is able to perserve our lives
here as well as at home I put my trust
in him you must pray for me and I
will do the same for you and you
must carry on the best you can untel
I get home I want to get a furlow
some time about the middle of december
if I can if not as soon as I can the
newes is good of late I hope the ware
will come to a end this winter so we
may come home to stay with you all
again the lord comforts me and I hope
he will comfort you we have nearley a
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hole crew of north carolinenens to SC
men the ship that we are on is about
three hundred feet long and is station
ary we have nothing to do but sweep the
decks and wash them of evry morning
nearley but we have to drill a little
evry day except Sunday our offercers
come with us from camp homes lutenant
kerney and lutenant Sharp but they are
sargents in the navy the yankeys contin
ues to Shell charleston evry day a few
sheles I can heare the sheles a rattleing
thrue the are as same as a cart but
they dont interupt us a bit our forts
hardley ever repleys the water is salt
here the tide ebs and flowes evry six
ours and runs as strong as a mill tail
I begain to want to heare from home
for I have rote you three I beleave
and one to W J Bowen & to W Hamond and
one to day to sister rhoda and I want
to hear from you but it is a good way
600 & 25 miles I must close may the lord
be with us all is my prayers H.H.Bowen