U.S. Steamer

Phil^a P.R.S.C.

June 6^th/64

 

Sis:—

            I received your letter of the 26^th of last mo. with Massachusetts mail. The Arago will leave for the north tomorrow and I will let you know by her, that I am well, which is allmost all I have to tell you.

 

Since I last wrote to you we have been moveing around some, but have allways landed here. We have been down to Tybee and returned again the same day by an inland rout, through Skull Creek coming out in to this port. On the rout we passed several splendid / dwellings which could hardly be seen for the shrubry around them. The origanal occupants of them have all left, and if the detachments of army who are posted around do not occupy them the contrabands do. Where ever these buildings are, there is always quite a village of huts, for the slaves, nearby. In a day or two after we went on inland rout to St. Helena Isl, by way of Beaufort and Crusaw Creek. The wreck of the King Fisher can be planely seen at South Edisto yet. We returned again the same way, not stoping at Beaufort either time we passed it. On the 3d the Admiral and Staff took a tug at noon for Beaufort, and in the afternoon we followed him, but after arriving the / Admiral came on board and we immediately returned so none of us had any chance to go ashore.

 

Yesterday we received the news of the capture of the Water Witch in Ossabaw Sound by two Rebel steamers and two or three launches. She was a sister ship to the H. Lane. and very old, I have not heard the paticulars of her capture but I understand it was a hard struggle lasting a half an hour. The Frigate Ironsides is reported to be going home, there are men here from her now prepareing her riging. If she does it will of course put an end to the Naval attack on Charleston. The Admiral is also reported to be going home next mo. with his / Staff but nothing is known for certain what he will do. While I am writeing I here a rumor that Ft. Darling is taken and Grant has captured 40,000 prisners and is throwing shell into the city. As it is for our side of course I am disposed to believe it, but any way I hope it may prove true. The latest paper I have seen is the 28^th ult. which reported him 25 miles from Richmond.

 

The letter which you speak of in your last that Harry wrote to me, I just received last Saturday, very near a mo. comeing to me.

 

I will now close wishing to be remembered to all.

                                                                                               

Charley.

 

M. E. Leaman

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