U.S. Steamer Phila.

Port Royal, S.C.

Sept 2^nd, 1864

 

Sis:—

                        I received your letter of the 22^nd in the Arago's mail. I received one from Harry of the same date as yours. He was then well. I have also received the papers you sent me on the 22^nd. While I am writeing every thing is quiet and I all most feel lost on account of the Admiral and Fleet Capt. leaving last night with half of the Guard, to witness the exchange of more prisoners off Charleston. Every time the Admiral goes on board the H.M. half of the Guard goes with him and as I was one of those with him the / last time, it was my place to remain this time. We expect him back this evening or tomorrow morning in order to have the mail ready for the Arago. I suppose the exchanged prisoners will be sent north in the Arago, which may detain her untill Sunday. Since I last wrote to you I have been to Charleston with the Admiral for three or four days. There is nothing unusual going on there. The usual reckless firing is kept up from the Point, and the three or four Monitors are laying off, defending Sullivan's Isl, as usual. The tardiness of the Admiral's movement at that place causes a great deal of growling among the men especially since the glorious achievements of Farragut. Whether it would be safe for the Admiral to attack Cha'ston / under the present circumstances none of the growlers I have heard of or seen yet know any thing more about than my self, but I should like to see the attack commenced. People must not blame Admiral Dahlgren for not doing what Farragut has done, untill they untill they know exactly what both places are and the means to capture them. I do not approve of the Admirals inertness altogether, but not knowing how he could do any better with the means he has, I will not sensure him.

 

I was sorry to hear of Brainerd's accident. I hope he is not injured much. You speak of the poor prospects of the corn & potato crops. It must be on that account that they increased so rapidly here. Before the new ones came the old we where charged five doll. & fifteen cts. for an old half rotten Brl of potatoes. The first lot of new ones we where charged / seven dol. a Brl and the second lot brought in the Mass. we where going to be charged ten dol. per Brl only an order came from the N. Dept. with them to only charge three dol. per Brl. I understand since that it was an old order but is only now enforced. You may wonder how it is that we have to buy potatoes, and how we do it. We have to buy them because they are not included in our ration. To buy such thing as potatoes, salt &c. that may be needed in a mess each mess of twelve or more men may stop two or more rations according to the No. of men in them, and for each ration we are allowed twenty five cts, per day, which at the end of the quarter we can draw from the P. Master. In a mess having two, three or four rations stoped it takes but little of their pay to get any little extras they may want, and potatoes especially is a very necessary here, on account of our ration being principally salt. I will enclose with this a list of sailing days of the transports between this and N. York.

 

I will now close wishing to be remembered, with much love to all.

 

Charley.

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