Flag St^mr "Phil^da"

Port Royal Harbor S.C.

January 24^th 1865

 

Sis:—

                        Your letter of the 14^th came to hand last Sunday. The first I had received from you since the one I answered the first of the month.

            I do not wish you to infer from this that I always wait to receive a letter from you before writeing, for it was only on account of not having writeing material and conveniance for writeing that I have delayed up to this moment. I have just a few moments ago brought off with me from the "Phila^da" enough of writeing material to write a few letters and although my conveniance for writing is very poor and my fingers are freezeing to the pen yet I will try to write you a few readable words to ease (I know) ancious minds.

 

            I have now been on board this vessel for two weeks with the Admiral, and have been to Savannah or off its wharf, and twice to Charleston from this place, during that time, and we are now / raising anchor again for the latter place. I think this shows the Admiral is not idle and is determined to assist Sherman all he can. The fleet which is now gathering off Charleston agrees with my opinion. There being when we left Charleston nine monitors and the Monadnock (double twisted monitor) just sent down by Admrl. Porter on account of drawing to much water for his purpose and she was exchanged for one of the Admrl's lighter draught Monitors, which Porter said was all he "Wanted to wind up one or two fort on the river and then he could work his way up to the City (Willmington) which city we hear is occupied by Gen Terry.

 

I regret to have to mention the loss of the Monitor "Patapsco". The terriableness of the catastrophy cannot be described and the feeling of the sufferors cannot be imagined, let alone be pened or painted by mortals, but such are the facts that about ten (10) o'clock on the night of Sunday the 15^th of Jan, 62 out of 104 brave soles where offered up as a sacrifice to the treachery of Rebel warfare, only one man / who was not on the deck at the time was saved and he but one minute before was innocently raised from his bunk by nature as it where providentially, and before he had time to return, his bunk was blown to peaces and the vessel sinking just giving him time to escape through turret. The man was an engineer and said he was of the opinion that his preservation was in answer to the prayers of some of his friends. That this is the case we have no doubt and hope the young man may proffit by the decision he is constrained to arrive at. The monitor at the time was covering the picket boats which where grouping for torpedoes and on that account the monitor was farther to the front as usual. The last account we hear of the poor unfortunate men they where fighting with each other who should gain the top of the turret. If our report is correct they went down enemies to each other and most probably the last word from many of them would be the end of a damning prayer for his drownding comrade and ship mate / Enough of so terrible a catastrophy, but the many agrieved & (I have no doubt) suffering family occasioned thereby deserves the attention of a sympathizing people.

 

I received a letter from Harry of the 12^th inst He mentions that he received a letter from you of the 26^th As I have not received any of or near that date, I judge it has gone down in the Melville, another terrible affare. The paper I sent in the envelope I was not aware would occasion so great an excitement, and I would not have sent it in that manner only I had nothing else to rap it in and being in a hurry I put it in the envelope.

 

As Jack is in the business I have not the least doubt but I will be shortly the Bro. of a million-air. Jack I think the most proffitable share and one which is most certain would be a daughter of Petroleum. my small sum is willingly at your services on such an expedition I will assure you there will be no Virginia mud there all that is necessary is tackticks & perseverention.

 

As I have given in a former my opinion concerning the box I will say no more only I think time and expence in such a manner is unnecessary.

 

I still continue well and I hope by the time I write again I will have a tramp through the remains of Charleston.

 

            With much love I still am

 

Charley.

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