Pawtucket R.I.

June 8, 1863

 

Col. Edwin Metcalf

            Comdg. 3^d Regt. R.I.V. Artillery and

Chief of Arty & Ord. in 10^th Army Corps

                                   

Hilton Head, S.C.

 

Dear Sir:

            Your good letter of May 27^th, so thankfully received, would have been answered before but that I waited to see some friends. I have seen Gov. Smith he will try to do the right thing; he confides in your judgment. I see Hamner has his appointment good! I told the Gov. that H. was all right. Adj. Gen. Manson says they have no reply from the War Department relating to the transfer of the regiment, but hope for the best. He has some apprehensions relative to the consolidation of regiments under the orders of the War Department fearing that our regiment may be turned into one of infantry, having [faded] to such a transformation. [faded] I am shaking [faded] I could not receive orders from you and the proper authorities to open a recruiting office to fill our regiment to the Artillery standard. I told him I / was ready to work wherever I could for your command or for the service since "an empty head is the devil's workshop."

Really I am gaining every day and have been for more than a week. I have my hand on the [faded] of the disease and shall fling it. I have [faded] to be the most potent remedy. I shall be all right in due time, though I confess to some impatience. During the month I shall visit the surgeon at Portsmouth Grove Hospital and receive his advise. Friends pronounce me thin and yellow skinned—like a starved [faded] but a lean horse is good for a race and my yellow has no fellowship for [faded]

 

Last Friday I called to see your heart's half but she was absent. Today I met her and had a very pleasant chat having much that interested [faded] upon what had excited [faded] appointment and [faded] / a print of your shadow, and now I am after one for my photographic album. If exchange will be no robbery, please accept my back-up shade and send me the face of my [faded] commander. I hear that a skirmish came off on Lily Island. Was Co. D [?] in it. Today the papers report a demonstration in Bluffton which left the traitor [faded] ashes. But the newspapers print such woeful lies that one knows not what to believe. True as you say, Hooker got hooked in his jam but at first the reports gave him a whole face and a stiff upper lip. God grant [faded] a better destiny and also give [faded] to the blows of Banks. Then [faded] talk well. I saw ex Gen. Anthony [faded] morning and he remarked [faded] the upper hand of the [faded] the transfer of the [faded] find Admiral [faded] that works: he can [faded] the hardest [faded] off. You will admire mine I know. I am very [faded] you would [faded] near acquaintance [faded] men of your stamp. 

 

We may safely predict that there will be a freeze to the hospitality of Port Pulaski. the ornamental will be as conspicuous as the useful. Long live the Fort! If you should ever explain "Perdidi Diem", I shall know how to sympathize with you, and you will need more than a Scotch bailie to furnish the needed consolation.

 

            The installment of the R.I. militia will be completed very soon and then we shall try the draft. There is talk of an extra session of the Legislature to make provision for filling the quota that may be required of the State—some think of raising it by bounty, bought [faded] those will [faded]

 

            I hope this line may catch the H. [faded] N.Y. tomorrow, but I [faded] late.

 

            With regards to yourself and your [faded]

 

Frederic Denison

Chaplain

3^d Regt. R.I.V. Arty

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