SC

Seabrook Island

April the 12 1863

 

My Dear Parrents

 

                                                                        I received your kind and welcom letter to day also one from katie how pleased I was to get a letter from home for it seams a long time since I got one from you you say that you got the letter that I wrote with the papers all right I am glad and hope father will get the money you say that you should like to see a cotton field wal I have seen so many that I dont think anny thing a bout it I soppose that you know that we have left port / royal and are on seabrook island SC a mong the rebels see them evry day I just tell you a little about them the day that we landed on this island we marched a bout 4 miles and then it was 2 o'clock in the night we came to a plantation and did not see no one and no one to the house they had left some time by the looks and we stacked our arms and put out our pickets and lay down for the night and some of the boys went up to the house to get some oranges and while there 5 or 6 rebel cavelry came and fired at them wounded 2 and took one prisoner the 2 wounded Ed Brooks and William E Whittlesey of new Haven they / belonged to the company that I am in we have got at tents and 4 in a tent you wanted to know what we have to eat wal I will tell you to day for dinner we had fresh meat potatoes and onions what we call a soop verry good we have salt beaf heard bread coffee and tea Henry can tell you a bout the bread it is heard like the sailors bread we was on picket one week and saw the rebels evry day they came down to day and we captuerd one of the rebels the rebels shot one of the 24 Mass yesterday and they had to ambutate his leg I saw the Doctor take it of we have a chance to se / of that in the army you wanted to know what I thought a bout the war wal I will tell you what I think as long as we have trators in the army and in the north the war never will end for there is more in the army and at the north than we are fighting against at the south and I believe Hunter is one for Hunter and Dupont has had a mus while at Charleston and now gave it up and the fleet has gone back to port royal it is discourageing to us soldiers to fight under sutch officers the men aint to blame it is the officers the men on the ion side raised flag and the officers would not let them fight they said that they would take charleston if they would let them aint it discouraging that is all this time give my love to all of the folks and shear a good part yourself remember me to all I am well write soon and all of the news Herman wanted to know how manny battels I had bin in 5 besides a good manny skirmish I have seen a nough of it

this is from your son

                       

Miles L Smith             love to all

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