Head Q'r's. 3^d R.I. Artillery

Hilton Head, S.C. May 12^th 186[torn]

 

My Dear Colonel,

                        Yours of April 19^th reached me yesterday by the "Fulton"—the first mail we have received since April 16^th. I was very glad to get your Visitè and think it very good. I am not Chief of Staff, Hatch does all his business himself. I am Chief of Artillery and was in command of the Post here for a few days but was relieved at my own request as I did not care about being Mayor of this town and playing second fiddle to Col Davis who commands this District. Gens Terry, Seymour, Vogdes, Ames, Foster, Turner, and Gillmore have gone North with the 10^th Corps, taking with them all the old Regiments except the 3^d R.I. and the best of the new ones that were here. I felt mortified enough to be left behind two causes conspired to keep me 1^st our being an Artillery Regiment [torn] no negro Artillery Regt to replace us 2^nd the fact that we would be immediately taken from Gillmore's command upon our arrival at Fortress Monroe then Gen Hatch pro / -tested against our going and so here we are. I offered to go as Infantry, to strip of our scarlet insignia and swear we never knew anything about artillery, but all to no purpose. could we have gone I think the Regt would have done well but what can't be helped must be endured, so I am going to play my cards as best I can here but it is d___d black here, scarcely a pleasant day tho' usually without rain, just overcast you know, the same as big flocks of black-birds obscure the mid-day sun.

 

Gen Foster J.G. is to relieve Hatch I learn. do you know anything of Foster. I hope he is a white man.

 

The Regiment is in good condition. we have managed to reenlist 301 Veterans. 45 come North on this Fulton in charge of Capt Turner and Lieut. Geo Greene. James has gone North. I got him a splendid outfit, new horses, new harness and 135 men on his Rolls, all but 23 of them Veterans. no Battery in that Army [torn] better [torn] Regulars to the contrary notwithstanding [torn] I hope they may do well. it is in them. I had several rows as Chief of Artillery with Langdon and / beat him every time. he approved Read's resignation because he was worthless to him. it was referred to me and I disapproved and said in the endorsement that when I wanted Capt Langdons advice as to the policy of allowing my Officers to resign I would let him know. Read is worthless you well know but I was obliged to give Langdon an Officer and Read could be spared a little better than any other Officer I thought (he went North with him too) It done me good to comb that d___d coward who run away and left 3 guns at Olustee while Metcalf brought of his 2 without much loss from the same position. Capt Elder, Henry's Capt Co "B" 1^st Artily was the best Artillery Officer there Hamilton and Langdon notwithstanding. he (Elder) was promoted from the Ranks, and Seymour was whipped by paddy Joe Finnegan who was his 1^st Sergeant in the Florida war years ago. how are your Regulars from West Point. Capt Hamilton is here and nearly ready to go North. I wish if you see Dodge you would advise him [torn] back here instead of Hamiltons Battery.

 

In regard to Gould's promotion I have taken the necessary steps long since to prevent his / his muster and shall fight it, tho' I may be "jewed" out of it, but I can't see it. please dont say that I am acting at all in the matter, but I am laying my plans for him when he comes.

 

I am glad Anthony is to be reelected. Smith should not have divided the party as he did he might have known I should think from Padelfords scrape in '61 how it would work.

 

Hamner has been mounted as a Light Battery and is now in Florida.

 

"B" is at Hilton Head. "D", "G", "K" and "L" at Pulaski "E", "H", "I", "F" and "M" at Morris Island.

 

The Adj't and Q. Master are with me and wish to be remembered. Write often and believe me

                                                                                   

truly yours,

C R Brayton

Col 3^d R.I. Artillery

 

P.S. Let Col Ames with all the Veterans leave here a fortnight since

Brayton

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