7th Connecticut Infantry - Great Contraband Content - NEW

Item LTR-11988

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4pages, written in period pencil.


Jones Island
Fort Vulcan
March 11, 1862
 
Dear Parents,
 
I received your letter the 16th of February and was very glad to hear from you and that you all were well. How is Uncle Charles' folks getting on? I have not had a letter from there in two months. They have not answered my letter yet.
 
I received the combs, thread, and buttons, and vest. I mentioned it when I wrote my last letter. The Rowley boys have not gotten their box yet. You needn't send me any more combs at present, for I have plenty now.
 
Sterling Milliman had a letter stating that Jake had got home. When you write, please write and tell me if he brought that box that I sent by him. I paid him for carrying it.
 
We are not afraid of the Rebels now. I came on guard to the battery on the Savannah River today. She mounts nine guns, two 30-pound rifle cannons about 12 ft long with three or four smaller ones, one 24 Howitzer, and one Columbiad, one which carries a shot 11 inches through.
 
Besides which, we have got a battery right opposite across the river of six rifle cannon and two gunboats to support them. The Western World and the E. B. Hale. Our men took two secesh this morning.
 
Savannah isn't taken yet. There is no land cultivated in this part of the country. We have not time for that for green peas. I have not seen some yet since I left home.
 
As for the darkies, we keep them mostly for oarsmen. They make the best oarsmen in the world. They will row from morning until night without stopping. Rowing is their delight.
 
General [Egbert Ludovicus] Viele has got six of them to man his boat. He has got them red shirts and blue caps, and they feel big, you can bet.
 
I received the paper that you sent me at the same time that I received the letter. 
 
You can tell Duck that I got her letter and wrote her another one. I get the letters directed either way, but the best way is to direct to Port Royal, South Carolina. Tell her to let Frank have 50 cents if she wants to borrow it again, and I will pay her. I shall be much obliged for the beef. As for the pickles, I rather think I can make way with them. I have not tasted of one since I left home, only as one of the sailors on board the Western World gave me part of one the other day. It was a luxury, you can bet.
 
Our boys think they have a hard time here, standing guard in the mud. The mud is about like it is at home in the spring when the frost begins to come out of the ground, only there ain't no bottom to it. But the 48th New York has it worse than we do. They have to make the battery of it and get it all covered with mud from head to foot.
 
My paper is getting scarce, and I must stop by sending my love to all. 
 
Charles L. Hewitt