On Board The Phil^a Oct 29^th/63

 

Sis,

            I received your letter of the 16^th yesterday, along with the papers of the 15^th. The news from the election seems very well, but the army of the Potomac still keeps up its reputation for beautiful retreating. I heard a very discourageing rumor which came from the army on shore last evening, stating that Rosecrans was superseeded, and Banks was taken, but lacked confirmation, which I hope it may continue to want. Gen Gillmore commenced last Monday at half past twelve, and has been keeping a prety steady fire ever since slacking off a little at night, but not all to gether, the monitors going in a while every day, and on Thursday about four oclock , the Rebels / Ram came out a piece, but a little monitor moveing up gave her a broad hint, which she took and moved back. The fireing is principaly at Sumter and they now have one side leveled, but she still layes there a stuborn heap and treats all her pounding with silent contempt. The Ironside has not been in yet. You mention in your letter of the 16^th that the papers states that the Gen. & Admiral are on bad terms, which I did not think worth while mentioning before but I can assure you there is nothing of it, for there is not a time he comes but the Admiral is there to meet him comeing off the boat, and comes out to see him off, and has given his stewart a general order when the Gen comes to get the best he has got for him to eat, and one / day the Officer of the Deck did not report to him when the Gen. was comeing and he suspended him for a couple of days. They have had several interviews the last couple of weeks and a great deal of communications. You mention that the Admiral had a son wounded, he has allso a son Acting Master in the Navy and has been here for some time, but has been sent to washington with despatches. You wished to know what my duty is, which I did not think worth while to mention for I thought you would know or Jack could tell you. All our duty is though is to cary messages verbal & litteral to differant Officers and men & sometimes we have to go ashore, but not often & to announce every one that / wants to see him, so he will not be bothered with anyone comeing in to him when he is buisey, and we are only on duty eight hrs, and sometimes only four hrs, a day. You ask in a former, wether I was not favored in being sent here. In the maner you mean I can not say, but I am in this way, I have my regular duty, am not exposed to the weather, and instead of the sand, I have a hair mattress to lay on. How long I will be here it is hard to say maby untill next spring or longer, or it may be a very short while. Tell Rosh that Cha could hardly believe he was learning so fast, and that he must keep on going to school he will soon be ahead of me. It has been very cold here for a couple of days and I take the advantage of the Admiral's galley to write in.

                                                                                                           

Charley

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