On Board The Phil^a Nov. 3^d/63

 

Sis,

            I received your letter of the 23^d with the papers last Sunday. We are still in the Inlet, and have been for some time except last saturday night and Sunday morning untill eleven Oclock, when we came in and have been here ever since. The reason we lay here so much is because it is a river boat, prety well sacked and is not able to stand the swell. There is some talk of him geting a new one but he is fixed very comfortable here, and as long as he can do with it at all I donot think he will be bothered moveing. He goes out every day to the Grand Fleet, or did last / week and returns in three or four hrs. Last Sunday he took dinner with Gen. Gillmore. The Fleet has not been engaged yet only two or three of the Monitors, and one of those are in as picket all the time. Gen. Gillmore is still at it slowly, and I can here an occasional shot while I write. The fireing still seemes to be at Sumter, which fires its sundown gun, and when the flag comes down there wait some one to put it up. What they are bombarding it for I do not know unless to get the garrison out which will have to be done, I am afraid by storming. There is a first rate view of Sumter from the upper deck of our vesel, with a spie glass, which presents a raged apearance / being combed all the way around, and some of the gaps appearing to extend half way and more down the side, which make it look like a falorn hope for those inside. The report I heard of Rosecrans I see by the paper you sent me is correct, but I believe the report of Banks being taken is a hoax. I was glad to see that Meade had not fallen back so far as was reported (to the trenches of washington). I mention that I received your letter on Sunday, I think I hear you ask, have we any service or what do we do on Sunday, and to answer your supposed question I will discribe last sunday as near as I can. All hands are called at six Oclock but we can sleep / untill breakfas (half past seven), but I get up at seven to get ready for poast at eight Oclock, untill which time I am fixing up and geting my breakfast. I am on poast then untill twelve. The rest of the crew are fixing up for muster which is expected at ten Oclock, all hands are fixed up in their best for muster and waiting the cry of the boatsman which they here at eleven, but it is to up anchor and go in the Inlet. The anchor is weighed, and we are in by twelve, when I am relieved, and by half past twelve all have dinner, and then there is nothing to do we all think, and there is a general stampeed for bunks, which I am not last at for I do not get any sleep untill twelve oclock at night, while we are laying there, I here my name called and raising my head I see it is some one with a letter, and to save me the trouble of geting up he brings it to me, which I have not read untill all hands are called to muster, and it /

SOURCES