U.S.S. Philadelphia

Port Royal S.C.

May 28^th/64

 

Sis:—

            I received your letter of the 1[?]^th on Thursday in the Fulton's mail, which came in that morning.

 

I believe I was in Charleston when I wrote you last. Since that time we have been rambling around some. We arrived here on the evening of the 18^th, and on the following noon we started for Beaufort, where we arrived in an hour and a half. The Admiral goes ashore to see Gen. Birney. And half of the ships company are permited to go ashore for a few hrs. I was one of the number that went, and after but little trouble I found Harry in No. 10 / Hospital, which you may have heard of before this reaches you, through him, for he was writeing to you at the time I found him. He is still the same nervous Harry, and likes his situation very well, but does not know whether he will remain longer than his three months or not. I was with him two or three hrs, and had intended taking supper with him, but it was very stormy and it was uncertain to when we should return to the place, so I thought it best to take an opertunity that offered itself at the time to come on board. Beaufort is about 13 miles from here and is a beautiful little place, and one I should not mind anchoring for the summer in, and I imagined that even the look I had at the countryafied buildings, surrounded by green grass and blossomed trees, to be as good as any medicin I had ever taken. We left the following morning and returned / to this place about 10 o'clock, took on some coal, and left for the Southern about two in the afternoon arriving at Wassaw Sound Tybee Isl. at six an inlet about 20 miles below this port. The Harvest Moon & South Carolina are guarding there. The following morning raised anchor and in a few hrs where a few miles below at Wassaw Sound. The Monitor Patapsco (Capt Madigan) and the Gunboat Wissahickon are laying here. The Admiral goes on board the Monitor, and intended to go up the river, but was not able to stem the tide. We left Wassaw at eleven and by one o'clock we where in Ossabaw Sound. There was nothing there but the Water Witch, a gunboat, and while we where there she picks up 5 Rebs one a Lieut. who with two of the others clames to be deserters, but the remaining two wish to be parroled, one on account of his principles and the / other for a large fortune which is coming to him, which I have no doubt is very valuable now. They tell the story something like this. They where going to relieve a party on guard out some place, and on their way according to a plan of two or three of them, all but one goes ashore to look for something, and while they are away this one in the boat floats down in the boat, and is picked up by the Water Witch, and he informs the Capt. of the rest of them ashore who are sent after, and brought on board. They are then brought to this vessel and examined by the Admiral. We bring them to this place with us. They have no news only what we here from most all of them, that Lee has got all the force he can raise and it is supposed he has some 300,000 men and (their) princapal ration is corn meal. 

 

We left Ossabaw in the evening and arrived here early the next morning. The latest news the Fulton brought was up to the 22^nd. Grant seems to be making very slow progress but I think the result is prety certain. Sherman seems to be geting the advantage of them in Georgia and I hope he will continue increaceing it.

 

You inquire about Amos Burton in your last letter. He returned from Washington with us and in a week after his time expired, and he was sent north in the Massachusetts. the last trip, to be discharged with some four or five others from this vessel. we miss him very much.

 

The weather is very warm here now in the day time. The ships company and myself are all well. Remember me to all friends.

                                                                                                           

Charley.

 

M. E. Leaman.

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