Camp Hamilton Near forttress Monroe

 

Brother Charles I write to you from this plase to inform you that i am wel and in good spirits on old virginia shore and a beautiful plase it is close under the guns of the fort the rebels is all around us 2 days ago they attacked our pickets we sent out a rigement of infentry to attend to them but i did not hear anything more about it the town of hampton that the rebels burnt lays within 2 miles of us it contained i am told 3 thousand inhabitants thear is only 2 houses left inhabited not a [paper fold] to be seen there there is very fine oysters here but we have no chance of cetching them them that has mony can buy them of the negroes there is a good many negroes here that has ran away from thear masters they live in and about the fort working if required thay are very black and cant read thear is one farmer that lives here and tends to his busness i am told he is neutral in the case there is a large female semenary on the ground deserted by all the wites and inhabited by negroes we left Harrisburg on monday nite arrived in Baltimore tuesday morning left for here in the evening arrived here on wednesday morning there is a very large summer boarding house at fort monroe we had a lively time on the rout we came from baltimore in steamboat Georgiana thear is about 12,000 souldiers here and coming every day our rashings is nun to much but i make out very well it looks very [paper fold] here last night we had a sharp cannonading from the fort she took a rebel vessel loded with provision trying to run the blocade there is 3 or 4 frigates laying out here and a large fleet of smaller vessels 

 

when Governor Curten presented us with our flag he made a speach told our curnal to bring it back in honour or never come back at all to which all hands gave 3 chears he told us that we was to go to south Carolina and burn the city of Charlestown which i think will be a warm job but that that is our next stopping plase we are only here for recruting a large force. i expect to se warm work before i se you if i ever do charles stay at home and tend to your famely and busness thear is a good many cavelry here mounted it costs a great eal of mony to keep up a warfare we have received no pay yet but we expect to soon we want it one ridgment was paid yesterday i should like to send all but a little of mine to you incase i never get back or mite loose it or to Aaron Hurley for you if i fall by the way i belong to the seventy sixth 76 ridgment Pensylvania volanteers Cornel Powars Company D captain Diller i sold and gave away all my clows but what i got from the government i find them to be plenty to travel with i parted with the last at baltimore I wrote to you last sunday at camp Cameron but i did not expect an answer Charles I want you to let them all know how i am getting along and wright to me immediately delay is very uncertain in time of war i want to hear from father [paper fold] and all your famely I think this is a going to be a hard war if we got to lick the south into submision 

 

we get no news here if you can send me a paper that has some of the latest news in i have not wrote to philadelphia since i left and wether you think it would be safe to send my mony by mail or not and send me 3 or 4 stamps thare scarce here and do write forthwith tel the postmaster whenever there is a letter for you to let you know write away i will write when any change takes place worthwile. I have had to leave 3 different times since i begun to write once for drill once for dres parade once for supper

 

Charles i have no more to say at pressent except that i would not leave the army if i could. Farewell for the present

                                               

I still remain Your

                                   

Affectenate brother

William W Shivers

 

            Pens and inck is scarce here

 

Direct yours to Camp Hamilton near fortres Munroe

in care of Cap Diller 76 Rigment PV (Zouaves)

SOURCES