Morris Island S.C

Sep the 22 1863

 

My Dear Parrents

 

                        I have just received a letter from you and one from Katie stating that she she had gone to new Haven I hop she enjoyed hurself while she was out to milford she said she had first rate times while out there you said that sister and little frank had bin very sick and now better I hope they will be carefull and not get to smart at first and not get down a gain you say it is verry sickley there this summer it is / very healthey hear and I hope it will remain so this island is all sand just like down to the shore and not a tree on it all the shade we get is the shade of our tents but it is quite cool hear at present nights and mornings but we get the sea breeze and salt air our camp is with in stones throw of the water and the 6 conn is encamp on the beach when high tide it comes a round the tents but it sutes me first rate down hear I am healthey and tuf as a not and as black as tony was for the sun has bin verry hot hear I soppose I should freeze in the winter / at the north but I would try it if they would give me my discharge never mind one year longer and then if nothing hapens I will be discharged out of servis no more a soldier for I have bin a soldier longer than I expected to when I came out but the time will soon be hear the time flys a way verry fast but I soppose it seams a long time to you we are so buisey I soppose the time goes a way faster I hope the time will soon come tell mother that one of them cheeses wouldent go verry bad cheese is 40 cents a pou hear to dear for me to buy they will be old and good / when I get home you must have some bread that is dry and hard as a brick and some salt meat so salt that it will take the skin of your tongue and some coffee made in the pot that you hang over the fire and then I will be all right that is our living down hear I dont soppose that I should know how to eat at a table and have plates knifes and forks cups and sausers to drink out of and sleep in a bed like mothers as I use to I should have to sleep out in the rain and on the ground with my ruber blanket over me for a while untill I got use to sleeping in a house potatoes would be quite a treat they are 9 cents a pound and scarce at that a soldier life is a / hard life to live but I shant be sorry that I enlisted if I live to get back I will send you my picture when we get paid they take them in our band he has got the things to take them with and takes good ones for down hear I soppose father has lots of help now for Eddy must be quite a large boy I dont think that I should know him and I know that he wouldent me but we would soon find out each other wouldent we eddy you would like to hear me tell you stories a bout what I have seen and bin through with while I was gone from home how dose Caleb get a long I dont think / he likes soldiering theodore will swear when he haves to go dont blame him he aint fit to go for a soldier there aint mutch news at present onley morris island is ours wagner and gregg are buisey evry day the rebs keep fireing from James island evry day do no harm on our side that is all this time you get the news in the papers as soon as we do hear. give my love to all this time of the folks remember Katie to me love to all and shear a good part your self tell Herman he must write as often as posible for I like to get a letter I am well this is from your Son Miles L Smith

 

write soon and all of the news

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