Flag St^mr "Philadelphia"

Charleston Harbor S.C.

June 2nd 1865

 

            Well Sis, I am a little tardy this time but the weather is not the cause of it. The cause was what one in my situation might call quite a good time, it was a relief at least, from the monotony of the old home & station which I returned to this morning.

 

            You know ere this that a certain party with Sec. Welles has been on a visit to this Squadron. We have been looking for them for a considerable length of time, so they arrived not unexpectedly on last Sunday morning in the "Santiago de Cuba". It being Sunday the honors due wher not confered untill the raising of the flag on Monday. /

 

They spent untill Monday evening visiting the curiosities of Charleston and vacinity, they where also on this vessel for a few minutes. In the evening the Sec. & the Admiral in the Donegal, started for P Royal, where they arrived in the morning of Tuesday and spent the day visiting the Head and some other places in the Port. In the evening, for the entertainment of the party there was a display of signals in the usual manner. There was also an entertainment, called a theatre, on the "New Hampshire" for them. In the morning we started again for Tybee, both vessels arriving at 7 o'clock.

 

            Taking the Tug Geranium about 9 o'clock, the Sec, Admrl, & party started up the river for the city of Savannah where they arrived about eleven. Taking cabs they proceeded up into the city I know not where but hear, they / went to the country some miles out of the town.

 

            It fell my lot to go with them as far as the city, and as I had an opportunity I spent a couple of hrs in it. Five mos. has made a great change in the appearance of the place. The greatest change is seen in the cleanliness of the streets. The broom and whitewash brush has been used to a considerable advantage, and it is quite a neat looking place to what it was when I first seen it. It is far ahead of Charleston now in neatness.

 

            By 2½ P.M. the party had all returned, and remained but a few minutes to talk with Gen. Gillmore and Staff who had come on board with them when we started for Tybee, but a different rout from that which we came. In order that they might see as much of the country as possible, we went down the Thunderbolt / River which enters the ocean at Wassaw Sound. From the Sound we went through another creek to Tybee where we arrived at 7½ o'clock, when the Admiral took his final leaf of the party and returned on board the "Donegal". In the evening there was again a display of signals for the entertainment of the party. During the night the Sec. left for Willmington and from there on his road to Washington I understand he is going to visit Richmond.

 

            The party consisted of nine or ten couple. M^r & M^rs Welles of course heading it. The Sec. I think a very fine old man and is remarkably active for his age. I do not know weather it is natural in him or not, but I thought his manner showed childishness at all events I think the President would be doing him a great kindness as well as the country a great good to relieve him.

 

            Every one has their own opinion of these parties that have been visiting the coast of late. I think it would be greatly to their own credit and the country's in general, if they had been dispensed with. Pleasure seems to be their sole object, and not very much to their own credit, a great deal of that is found in the flask which in a majority of cases is always handy and never found wanting, and the ladies can take their medicines as well as anyone. 

 

We remained at Tybee untill morning when we went to P Royal through Skull creek Passing through this creek, as all along where we passed the day before, (31^st) could be seen the plantations cultivated cultivated by the negroes and in many of them they where hard at work. They are raising corn and other grains, and any quantity of vegetables. I did not see any rice or cotton. We left P Royal last evening and arrived here this morning. This vessel is now prepairing to go to P Royal and is expected to leave tonight or in the morning.

 

            Harry I suppose by this time is in Phil^da I am glad he has not settled at home, and I think Phila. is the proper place for him. I think in a short time he will do well there. He will have to be patient. I received his letter of the 22^nd and the bundle of papers on Monday.

 

            I was not here but I see / by the "Courier", that yesterday was properly observed in Charleston as a day of prayer, stores being shut and the churches open. The weather still continues warm and unpleasant as ever. We feal the heat much more here than when we lay outside. I do not know what we will do if it gets much hotter and the people of Charleston console us by saying it is not near as hot as it will be. I do not hear of any sickness yet, as for myself,

                       

I am well.

Charley.

 

Miss M. E. Leaman

            Leaman Place

                        Lan^c Co.

                                    Penna.

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