St^r Harvest Moon

April 27^th /64

 

Sis:—

            I received your letter of the 25^th last Saturday. I will answer it now for I think it will be my last chance before we leave for the S.A.

 

            This morning the Admiral stores came on board and we will likely leave tomorrow or the next day for his Squadron. All the diferant departments of the Army and Navy seem to be prepareing for a decisive blow and I think it a wrong time for an Admiral of a Squadron to be visiting or even looking after the remains of a son. He should think of what he said to an Officer, who asked him permission to go home and see a sick child after he had been away for three years and received his promotion for his services "the country is of more importance now, / than our families."

 

Gen Grant and Commodore Rowan where the victors for the Army and Navy swords. Grant is certainly the man deserved that Army sword but there is some here think not, and allso think that Little Mac. was swindled out of it. It is a great puff to the Com but I think one he deserved, but I dare say not more than his opponent Dupont. All here that knows the Com. is pleased with his victory, as well as myself.

 

There was a sad accident occurred here last Saturday night on board of one of the tugs on the Potomac Flotilla, moored to the W Wharf. The Masters mate on watch shot himself by the accidental discharge of his pistol. He exclaimed "I am a dead man", and in five minutes was dead. In the afternoon his remains where carred out of the Yard followed by the Officers and men belonging to the / Tug, where they where it was taken to, I have not heard

 

The 40,000 fourty thousand men that passed through Washington yesterday showes there is something going to be done. The Rebels seem to be still lucky at some points, and still are starving and murdering, but I trust that each victory, and each man sacrificed, as at Fort Powell and Richmond will serve to make our triumph more certain, and more durable.

 

If you hear of our leaveing before you write again, you may address to the old vessel at Port Royal, the Philadelphia, for we will go on board of her I think as soon as we arrive there. If we do not I shall receive a letter by that address any way.

 

I will now close, hopeing my next writing to you may be from Charleston

 

with much love to all,

Charley.

 

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April 27/64

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