Head Quarters Hilton Head

May 26^th 1862

 

Dear Major.

                        I have received your two letters of the 25^th & 24^th—also one from Capt Day to whom I have sent the two drivers as requested but he must send back two men in their place.—I think the Order did very well for a beginning. I hope you will be able to glorify the "Bard of Freedom" in still more eloquent strains.—

 

I have concluded to commit the standard of the Regiment to the keeping of the 1^st Battalion and shall send it to you escorted by company E if they ever arrive from Daufuskie. it will give you an opportunity to express the confidence I have in the six companies and what will be expected of them in regard to its safe keeping to its being "carried high and defended to the last or returned to me glorified" covered all over with glory—" the bright peculiar star it represents shining more brilliantly than ever.

 

I thought of you a great deal during the recent storms / which we have had. Happy to hear that Capt Rogers is so much better.—                I have yielded the immediate command of the Co's remaining here to Major Blanding—and he has appointed Fred acting Adjutant, Richardson is going to Head Quarters with me. We are in a hard state here for Officers, not more than enough of them, well, for one Company and some of them not first class at that. I am afraid I made a mistake in letting Capt Eldridge go. If it is a possible thing I should like to have the names of the men who were left behind not detailed or detached. Look out for Farnum the man at the st[?]—he is missing

 

Ever Yours

NWB

 

Masons you will recolect is the Color Co—but if he takes the left—the Colors will fall to Strahan's Company—

SOURCES