Flag Str. Harvest Moon

Hampton Roads,

March 14^th 1864.

 

Sis,—

                        We arrived here as I suppose you have heard, late in the evening of the ninth inst. As was promised we received our liberty in Washington at the time [faded] from that place. Half of us received our liberty from the fourth until the fifth and the remainder of us from their return, received 24 hrs more which of course ended on Sunday. Some wishing to go ashore the first day and as I was not paticular which, I remained untill the second day when the remaining four of us went ashore and the first time in seven months walked on terra firma, for the sand of Morris Isl. can not be called earth but is more like snow and fully as bad to walk in. Of course then our meeting with firm footing was very agreeable and I have no doubt that the spectator could easly tell by our light step that we where all pleased with the priviledge, and so we where, only I daresay all of us where lightly displeased with the neglect of the Admiral furnishing us with money which he promised before our liberty. The way that occurred was this, when we seen we where comeing to Washington and would have a chance for liberty there, we applied to the Admiral through the proper meanes, for money for most of us had not any and not having our accounts with us (they where left on the Phil^a) it was our only way of getting it. After speaking to him through M^r Johnson he told us to make a requisition of as much as we wanted (both the barges crew and us) and he would forward the money. We handed in the requisition as required amounting to about $500 five hundred dollars in all. There was nothing more said there untill the Admiral went ashore and after getting out of the barge he turned around and said to the crew that he promised them liberty that he brought them with him mostly for that purpose, and Mr Johnson would fix everything, and they should not break their their liberty. The next day there was an Officer sent from this boat to the Admiral who said he was so buisy he hadnt time to get the money but we should have our liberty and he would send the money again. The Officer was sent up the following day with the same result. We then took our liberty. some had money and others none I was one of the former so I was able to buy all I wanted, which was all I done my 24 hrs except walking around town which is about the same as when I left, with the usual amount of shoulder straps runing around and the talk of war is seldom heard, only in a maner which showed very planely the fear of the draft in that place, especially among the fancy gents who are backing up their hopes of escape with all sorts of ridiculous excuses and exclaiming with dreaded joy that they are clear. I stoped at the Washington all night and returned to my vessel the following day with a prise I did not expect to get. It was my bag of things which I left behind me when I left for Charleston where I received my uniform which was in another bundle. I wrote for the bag at the same time but did not receive it. When I was returning from my liberty I stoped in at the barracks and to my surprise found it just as I left, which comes very good, containing some books, clothes &c for which I would not have taken thirty or fourty dollars for and be without so my liberty paid me very well although it was not the most pleasant weather.

 

The following day (Monday 7^th) our Capt (A.V. Lieut. Warren) received orders from the Admiral to be ready for sea in a half an hours notice. We commenced coaling right away and finished the following morning and early in the afternoon the Admiral comes aboard looking very down and by two Oclock we are underway down the Potomac for this place. We steam quietly along untill 9 Oclock in the evening when we run aground between sixty and seventy miles from Washington on account of the darkness of the night. We get off with a little trouble and anchor for the night. The Admiral being ancious to arrive here we again weigh anchor at 4 oclock and after steaming a couple of hours we again run aground on account of the fog. After getting off we again anchor untill the fog raises and at 8½ Oclock we again weigh anchor and steam slowly and safely down the river arriveing in the Chesapeak at three oclock and at Ft Monroe at ten and a half oclock and anchor between the Fortress and Ripraps. The Admiral immediately sent Capt. Warren to the Fort to see about the Col. and returned in the course of an hr. The news he brought I did not hear but I judge it was not favorable for afterwards the word was passed for all hands to keep silence for the Admiral was in grief.

 

            The report that I seen in Saturdays Herald that the Admiral is a guest of Gen Butler, is false. The Admiral has not left the ship or no one has been to see him since he arrived excepting Gen. Kilpatric who was here to see him about an hr. on Saturday evening, and came and left unexpectedly that (I am sorry to say) I did not see him. I think it very strange there was no reception of any kind.

 

The Admiral has had some communication with the Gen. and last Fryday evening the New York City went up the Gaines river with a flag of truce and and has not come back yet and I think the Admiral is waiting to see what news it will bring before he will return to Washington. The Admiral is in very good spirits and has been for a couple of days.

 

            I was very sorry to hear of the Col's deth for I thought him a very fine man and was certainly a very agreeable one and from what I have heard and seen of him he was nothing but Union. To look at him you would not think there was as much game in him as is represented, but no I have no doubt but the Col. done the best he was able and most probable all in his power but I think him to young a man for his position. The Admiral expected him soon to be a General, which will help to increase his sorrow and his son off Charleston (Act Master) I do not think will be able to take his place for from what I have seen he has not near the opinion of him he had of the Col. He is certainly a very diferent man, which I suppose is the effects of his being at the Naval Academy. He certainly did not behave in a manner becomeing an officer last Christmas.

 

            How long the Admiral intends staying on this visit I have no idea, but I think it has been lengthened by the death of the Col. How the people will take the Admiral's movements now I do not know. I see by the papers he was ordered to Washington by the Sect. of the Navy and as his son death occurred while he was there, I do not think it was out of the way for him to to see about the recovery of his body. Before leaveing he turned over everything to Commodore Rowan (Comd. of Ironsides) a man I think that the people need not be afraid of leaveing any thing hapen in that quarter that he has charge of. I seen in Washington that a great many sensured the Admiral for his movements at Charleston. I have no doubt he can be sensured for many things, but for not takeing Charleston I advise every one before they do to take a birds eye view of / the fortification around the place and they will not think (I dare say) that it is one which can be walked in to and occupied at leisure. Let me know what the opinion of the people is around home.

 

I will now close address to this vessel at Washington for I think we will be there by the time this reaches you. I still continue well.  

                                                                                                           

Charley.

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