U.S. Steamer Phila.

P. Royal S.C.

August 16^th/64.

 

Sis:

                        I received your letter of the 2^nd with the papers, yesterday in the Arago's mail.

 

            Since I wrote you, I have had quite a pleasant trip to Fernandina and a few other places along the coast. I suppose you will hear of the Admiral taking a trip to the Southern in the Harvest Moon. The object of it seemed to be to visit a portion of his Fleet. A portion of the Guard went with him. We left this Port on the morning of the 9^th and arrived at the mouth of St. Mary's River the following morning and passed directly up to Fernandina which is but a short distance from the / mouth of the river. We where there but two or three hrs., so no one had permission to run ashore. The view we had of it compleetly satisfied most of us so there was no one insisted on going. It is reported to have been a flourishing town, which is quite contrary to what it is now. It is still, and dead, and the want of repairs is plainly seen in the many irregular wooden buildings which meets your view. Gen. Reeds dwelling still remains untouched and the Massachusetts family having charge of it before the war turned their coat and flead at the occupation of the town. After the Admiral returns from his visit to the Brig Perry stationed there we returned stoping at Cumberland Sound, St Simons, Doboy and Sapelo Inlets, returning from the latter to this Port on the morning of the 12^th. At each of the places we stoped the Admiral went on / board the several vessels, when all hand would be called to quarters and after exercizing the sail guns awhile, would exersize sail. While at Fernandina there was an old man (a citizen) came on board to see the Admiral and made a complaint to him of the manner our troops treated him. He say they enter on his property and take what they see fit with out saying a word, and when leaving he says "Admiral if I have done wrong I am willing to reform". The Admiral wrote him a note when the old man jumped in his boat, with a colored crew and white coxswain and pulled ashore.

 

The Arago brings news up to the 10^th which is glorious news shaded but little by the disaster at Petersburg. We where surprised yesterday morning by a salute of thirty five / guns from Hilton Head. All where wondering what it was for untill evening an order from the Admiral satisfied all. It stated that Admiral Farragut had succeeded in passing Ft Morgan, Ft. Gaines had surrendered and all the Rebel Ironclads but one had surrendered with all their crews and in consiquence every vessel in the Squadron the day after receiveing the order should trim ship and fire a salute at sunrise and sunset and that Gen. Foster had dispatched him the news, and sent his compliments on the success of the Navy.

 

This morning in obedience of the Admiral's orders every vessel in this Harbor trimed ship and fired a salute, and the roar for a few minutes was deafening. The papers of the 10^th gives an account of another raiding party north and the compleat defeat of the same by Averell. I hope it will be the last of that shamefull raiding.

 

I will now close wishing to be remembered to all.

                                                                                                           

Charley.

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