Providence Jany 2 1862

 

Major

            Your old friend and boon companion has presumed on your well known kindness of heart to address a few lines to you, trusting that they will prove acceptable, if not he will have to fall back on that dignified yet affable courtesy which allways marked the noble, brave, and gallant Major.

 

            Yet methinks I could plead former intimate acquaintance in justification, an acquaintance which had its joys, and sorrows, its and its pleasures, and its pains, its glorious anticipation and its anxious doubts, its moments of allmost unalloyed happiness when the bright and brilliant future of our ambition seemed nearly attained, and its hours of darkness, and sorrow, of gloom, and dispair, of doubt, uncertainty, and anguish, when even your own mighty intellect could not discover the faintest glimmer of hope, when your gigantic mind strugling with all the power of your indomitable manhood would be shaken to its very center, and the strong citadel of your intellect seemed on the point of capitulation, when the black [faded] of utter dispair inveloped all in its [faded] / folds and like a funeral paul shrouding our intellect with a darkness that could be felt, when our bright hopes seemed far far beyond the ken of mortal vission. Oh! can I not plead an acquaintance like that in justification?

 

            Major have we not been companions in arms. have we not crossed the dark and tumultuous waters of Long Island Sound after a long and tedious march through an enemeys country, where were vividly depicted all the horors of a Russian retreat, where the enemy hung tenaciously on our flanks and rear, pouring in their murderous fire under which so many of our brave fellows went down, and at the place of embarktion. have you forgotten that, have you forgotten the desperate attempt to cut off our retreat, have you forgotten how we stood shoulder to shoulder on that terible night, how we single handed and with allmost superhuman efforts held the pass against countless hosts of the enemy, when they were falling all around us like autum leaves, "When there arose so wild a yell as if all the fiends that fell had pealed the banner cry of hell". Have you forgotten the scenes on board the Steamer, the piteous cry of the wounded for water, and the tender ministrations of Father Quin, the earnest / pleadings of some brave fellows to be led once more against the foe, mingled with the foul and dark imprications of some, who in their delirium immagined they were once more engaged in the terible conflict.

 

            Major, have we not messed at the same board, have we not slept beneath the same tent, have we not smoked the same pipe, have we not in the silent watches of the night heard the faithfull sentinell cry out, right about, wheel, and have we not planned an expedition together, and did we not look out for a fire in our rear:

 

            I have not been able to recover one dollar from that business of mine as yet, and I fear I never shall as things have turned perhaps it would have been better for me to have remained with the regiment, however time may tell but present or absent you all have my best wishes and God grant you a safe return.

 

            Remember me kindly to all, say to Col. Brown that I am disapointed in not hearing from him. I have written him twice.

 

            Answer soon giving all particulars as to location, the probable / disposition of the regiment and the general appearance of the rebellion from your stand point. I get the views of newspaper corrispondents but those of course are intended for the public generally. I would give more for your unbiased and sound judgement in the matter than for a host of them and would like to have it if the rules of the service will permit.

 

            I have no news to communicate everything remains here as usual, some buisy, many idle. The Banks of Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Providence, have suspended specie payment.

                                                                       

With many considerations

I Remain Yours Truly

C Blanding

 

Major Edwin Metcalf.

3^d R.I.V. Fort Welles,

Hilton Head, S.C.

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