Miners Hill V^a November 12 1862

 

Dear Col.

            In my box from home I rec^d two letters from Hilton Head one from Charlie Brayton in which were some passages which I meant to have communicated to you at Willards but in the hurry I forgot them

 

One was remember me to the Major I mean Colonel

 

another Capt Mason has been tried by a Court martial for drunkenness whilst officer of the day sentence has not yet been published probably some light one as Capt Hamilton 76^th Penn killed at Pocotaglio Oct 22^nd the Judge Advocate of the Court was on the same drunk with Mason. Lieut Turner is in command of Co F whilst Mason is under arrest Morrow is in command of the Army Gunboat G^eo Washington with Smith & 38 men under him / And here is something I don't understand perhaps you will explain it to me Churchill is still here and cannot get away unless he can show his captains commission to the General

 

The letter was written the day Manton died and he mentions that Lieut Manton is very sick with bilious fever

 

They had just got back from the fight at Pocotaglio river and he mentions that the Col behaved splendidly and that he (Charlie) was Adjt of the Battalion and rode the Col's mare and acted as aid to Gen Brennan

 

            Col Bitman has had all the teams but one to day & yesterday moving

 

the building that the Dr has been looking at with longing eyes for a barn so long and is going to use it for a dining room and school room &c. The [?] of to day is that we are to go into winter quarters here or just back of here

 

            Please drop me a line when you leave for Hilton Head and please remember me to Rogers & Charlie & George & every body that you find alive there                

 

Yours truly

H. S. Olney

SOURCES