Fort Welles, Hilton Head S.C

August 6^th 1862

 

Dear Major.

                        Since you left another Major, Sisson has resigned & goes home by the same Str that takes this. I suppose that makes me 2^d Major. Please to see that my commission dates the day your resignation was accepted as on Ct Martials where I should meet other Majors a few days might help me. Since you went drinking is worse than ever. Day before yesterday Ellis & Fry were in here drunk, yesterday lots were drunk & to-day I understand that drunkenness rules. Who is to be Major in Sisson's place? The camp opinion seems to be that Day is to be 3^d & I 2^d Major. I shall hail the appt^m with joy for I wish to get out of this fort for since the scare began the Gen^l comes over every / night & frets. The scare increases daily rather than diminishes & yesterday we produced palpitation of the heart in the fleet. Williams ordered us to try two guns, which we did, whereupon the whole fleet steams up & Dupont runs to Hunter to find out where the Ram is & Halpine rushes over to the Post Adj^t. I have three guns loaded all the time to fire as a signal to the fleet when the Ram comes. Isn't it lamentable? Brayton is very desirous your Report to Williams should be published, as he thinks these new promotions will be considered at home as a reward for merit & he thinks the Report would show to his friends that he is meritorious. If Day is to be promoted he wants Colwell to have my Co. & he take Day's Battery. He prefers that Colwell should rank him. Do what you can for him. Olney has resigned & will be home in the Arago. We are having quite a thin / ning out. Briggs has resigned, cause sickness, but the Doct refused to sign a certificate & it was respectfully returned. Better have let him gone—isn't it pitiful? Richardson was at the Doct for a certificate but it was refused. I wish the Col was here for he would have a good opportunity to winnow out some of the chaff. How is the Col & what is the talk there. Write me fully about the state of things. There is some talk about George's Captaincy but I state right out that that is the Col's work & not yours. Blanding is very, extremely conciliatory & sugary to me. I suppose you know that he now has his tent & does not live with the Doct. Write me about Sisson's Negro Reg^t. I have just heard a rich thing. Ellis, drunker than ever came down to night & swears that Shaw & Day are to be the Majors & that if I am promoted the Capts will do all sorts of things &c 

 

Things are going just as I told the Col they would, that is, to the devil. The last three days have been perfect orgies. Hurry up my Majorship & write soon.

 

Yours very truly

H Rogers Jun.

 

Dont show this as I am not very respectful in my comments on my Gen^ls, & the rest is only gossip.

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