F. St^r Harvest Moon

Washington N.Yard

April 1^st 1864.

 

Sis,—

            I received your letter of the 29^th ult. last evening just after arriveing from Ft. Monroe. Since I wrote to you last we have been launched which was done last Sunday Monday morning about seven o'clock. We immediately prepared for sea by taking on our mast, anchors, and guns, together with some coal, and also took on board a pile driver which is to go to Charleston, which makes me think the report is true that we will soon go to there.

 

Tuesday morning at half past nine the Admiral and his son (Lieut Dahlgren a midshipman in the Navy) came on board and in a few minutes we start for the Ft. where we arrive (after stoping all night near the mouth of the River) at half past three the following afternoon. The Admiral has some communication / with the Fort and at half past eight in the evening we start again for this place where we arrive last evening at seven o'clock and in a half an hour the Admiral goes ashore.

 

Last Saturday I received 24 hours liberty with the rest of the guard, and while ashore I seen M Warfell, Linville and D McKena who is bording at the Mt Vernon House. Mr Linville is engaged with Mr Girvin in the lumber buisness and is doing very well and thinks of nothing else. On my return to the vessel on Sunday morning I met John Herington in the Navy Yard here where he is doing duty as a U.S.M. He is the last person I expected to see for I did not know he was heard tell of since he left our place. He was with me all afternoon and told me all his adventures with the Rebels. He has seen some prety hard times while with them. He says the reason of him enlisting here was because he was drafted in Pittsburg. he looks harty and well and send his best respects to all of you / you and told me paticulary to write and let you know where he is.

 

I am glad to hear that Harry has started to his situation at Hilton Head for I daresay he was very uneasy untill he did start. If we go to Charleston as we expect soon we will likely go to Port Royal and I shall try to get to see him (if you let me know where he is stationed) or he may be able to get to see me if we can it will make it much more pleasant for both of us.

 

Gen. Grant, as you say, is makeing some changes in the Army of the Potomac, and I hope they are for the better. He has got considerable advantage over any commanding Gen. of the Army yet in haveing command of all the forces, and I hope he will make good use of it. Troops are passing through Washington at a rapid rate, and Mr Linville told me they where passing through so one day that every one thought some thing was rong. These are all going to the Army of the Potomac which shows that Grant intends doing something / desperate soon for I do not think he is one that waits after he is ready.

 

You say they are moving at home and I suppose between that and building I would scarsely know L.P. if I would see it you did not say wether any one was keeping the store or not You mention about some one comeing to see me, which I scarsely think thare would be any use in for by the time this reaches you so any one could get here we may be underway for Ft. Monroe again or even Charleston. I hope the latter for we are not fixed here like we where on our regular vessel so it is not so pleasant. I will now close wishing to be remembered to all.

 

Charley.

 

M. E. Leaman

[upside down]

April 1/64

SOURCES