Folly Island S.C

Aug. 15^th 1863

 

Dear Friends of Vermont

                                    Strange as you may think it, the brothers Charly & James are writing under the same tent cloth, and the joy that we feel we pledge ourselves to acknowledge on the same sheet. Charly landed on this Island Aug. 3^d but I was not aware that his regt. was so near me until night before last he fell out of the ranks as he was passing our camp on Morris Island on his way to the trenches as picket. He easily found me, and as he could not get excused from the duty for that night I went up to the front with him and for the first time experienced what the common soldier has to endure lying in the trenches under fire, and there in those trenches we lay and talked over our family matters while the Rebel shot & shell were making all sorts of noises about us and they would often make us forget what we were speaking of last, so close was the bursting of some shell or the humming of its fragments. But we were pretty safely covered and we looked at it as a splendid / exhibition of fire works. By the way I am still in the Quartermaster Department and the way that I am favored over the common run of soldiers makes me feel very thankful, for if I was in an infantry Regt. or doing duty in my own Company I would never been permitted to come over here and make Charly a visit But my Q.Master likes me and he gets me all I wanted without any trouble to him or me Charlys Camp is located about 5 miles from ours and there is a ferry between

 

            He like myself is strong and healthy which we atribute to the temperate habits of our ancestors and the inclination they have given us to follow in their footsteps. The state of affairs in this vicinity we can not answer at present in full, but when all is over we will tell you all. I hope we can tell you how fell the strong holds of rebellion.

 

            I close to commence one to Mary

                                                           

My Love to all of you

Your Affectionate Brother

  James

 

Co G Serrells Vol Eng^r Regt                                                

Address Morris Island

Co. G 1^st N.Y. Vol Engr Regt

 

From Charley

To the Dear Friends in the [faded] Parsonage

How happy I am today. Strange and as it is seems and unthought of (almost) as it has been, to me. James and I have met on this far southern state, in perfect health and fine spirits. This meeting is so pleasant, and so unexpected to us both that we hardly know how to express our joy—He is to spend the night with me and we have decided to write to all the relatives and let them know what a pleasant thing has occured to us.

                       

I wrote you some time ago giving a description of our expidition on the Peninsular, and now I might cover a whole sheet telling of our pleasant voyage to this Isle. Dont you think I am geting to be considerable of a traveler? Well it is just what suits me. I take great interest in visiting these places which are to be so historic in years to come. I am glad to find James so fashionably situated. I hope he will continue to escape a great deal of drudgery that the soldiers doing duty in companies have to perform. Write soon to your ever affectionate            

Charley

 

Direct my letters

Port Royal S.C.

 

[verso: pencil drawing of farm scene]

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