Lighthouse Inlet

Dec. 26^th/'63

 

Good morning, Sis! a merry Christmas and happy New Year. I am a day to late but no matter. I am still in the same place all though since I last wrote, three of us with my self have been ordered, and packed up all ready to go some where with another guard of the Mohaw that came on board here a few days ago, by order of the Fleet Capt, but when the Admiral got to know of it he gave orders not to disturb his guard, and of course we did not go with them.

Since I last wrote to you, I have seen or heard very little of the operation either on shore or by the fleet for in the Inlet here we are not able to see any thing hardly unless we are on the hurrycane deck and it has been so cold the last week or two that it has been very uncomfortable on it and there for is not much visited by any one. The execution of that deserter on the island we where not able to see, but all the hills around where filled with spectators. Christmas morning there was a great fire in the direction of Charleston and I here was in it, and at the time I seen it, there was prety heavy fireing on Cummings Point. I suppose General Gillmore was sending his compliments, it being Christmas morning.

 

Christmas eve past off among the men in the usial / manner only affording a new toppic of conversation for the usual evening chat each one telling where he was and what he was doing the last eve, and some to let it be known that he is an old cruiser mentions how many he has been in the service and goes as far back as sixteen or seventeen years. In the stearage room where the Masters Mates & clerks quarter, there was an unuseal noise and seemed very merry, the cause of which was very easy seen by the number of bottle on the table. The rest of the ship was quiet as useal. Christmas came very clear and cold, and past off the same as any other day only at the dinner table it was something extra to us, and not to leave your curiosity in the dark I will tell you what we had, in the first place our table was increased in size by the aid of a board that all may get a seat. After setting down there was an oyster pie shared, which after tasting was pronounced very good by all. we then had our regular ration of duff it is called but not the regular man of war duff being made more like a puding, which is made of stewed dried aples made into a puding with bread doe and boiled in a rag and eaten with a dip made of flour and water tasted with lemon this we have twice a week when we get our regular ration and to eat with this we had fresh bread made here with cabage made in to some sort of a pickle which tasted very well, and that with salt & pepper &c. made our dinner I suppose you will want to know what the Admiral / had for dinner. The only differance I seen in it was the increased size of the turkey which must have weighed sixteen or seventeen lbs. as for other things he had not as great a variety as other days, and for desert he had Floating Island, pies and aples. Only his son partook, (Col.) with him, the reason the other did not I do not know although he was on board here. Christmas is past and commenced and ended, you may say in a dinner, but I fared better than I did the last, and a great deal better than a great many especially those at Richmond and other places. I will now close wishing to be remembered to all inquireing friends and much love to all

                                                                                                                       

Charley

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