On board of Ship Salvor

Port Royal Dec 11^th 1862

 

Dear Wife although I wrote you a letter last evening I will write you a little [faded, paper fold] have a little time to write to night And yet I do not know as I can write you anything more at present that will be of much interest yet I will try

 

            Since I wrote last night we have put in to port Royal harbour for coal we passed this morning the United States Mail Ship on the way to new york so that the letters will have to lay here about a week before they will start for home. about ten oclock this morning we came to anchor here under the range of about 350 large size cannon there is one ship laying here that has 108 cannon on her / a few rods farther down there is another ship with 68 guns on her besides that there is forts on all sides of us except on the side toward the sea. fort Beauregard on one side and some two or three others situated in different sides there is several earth works in sight with several guns mounted on them so that the bay is all most impossible to get into unless by consent of those that hold the place. Port Royal is not much of a place probably about half as large as Lockville rotten poor buildings so far as I can see from the ship. There is a rice house in sight it looks about like the buildings in Maryland rotten ancient in looks. there is but few buildings to be seen in the country what there is looks like negro quarters there is a rice swamp in sight of us from here 

 

            As soon as we anchored there was a boat put out from one of the men of war that lays here with the commander of the place in it came along side of us and he came on board & staid a few minutes and went off again he was a young man about 23 years old he would speak with no one but the captain the ship I did not learn his name

 

            there was a boat came along side with oysters I bought a ½ bushel I and Daniel Gumore and we made a good dinner on them the cost us 10 cents apiece the best dinner I have had on the boat

 

            Shortly after there was an other boat came out with to us with a barrel of apples in the asked $8. dollars for barrel they were small greenings a little large than a hens egg sold them 5 cents apiece they did not sell many 

 

there is quite a good many Palmeto trees in sight they are a tall tree with a bunch top all the trees are as green as summer the weather here is quite warm so that we do not need any cloths over us in the night to sleep under

 

            How are you and the children getting along write as soon and as often as you can

 

Direct your letters to me         Co A 160 Regt

N.Y.S.V.

To follow Banks Division

via New York city

 

Bill Boyall is well and hearty althoug a littel homesick I guess tell Mrs Boyall to direct her letters to him just the just as you do to me

 

But I must stop till an other time send the newark papers to me as soon as you get this

L. V. Tucker

SOURCES