Hilton Head Oct. 29 1862

 

Yours of the 19^th I rec^d this P.M. also a "Traveller" of the 18^th both of which I was glad to get as I have not had any mail matter for more than a fortnight. I sent you one letter on the 14^th and another on the 18^th; the latter was a business document, and I suppose you will understand that I don't want any law suits commenced even if I don't get any bounty

 

I suppose you have heard that we have had another fight down here? It was an attempt to burn two or three rail-road bridges on the Charleston and Savannah Rail-Road; we did not succeed, owing to the Rebs getting reinforcements from Savannah, our scouts not succeeding in capturing the Rebel pickets. Our Regiment was in the fight but as they did nothing but support Hamilton's Battery their loss was but 3 slightly wounded Our whole loss was 336 killed wounded / and missing of whom 286 were wounded and 5 missing leaving 45 as the number killed, probably 8 or 10 more have died or will die from wounds. one of our new recruits has died since the Regiment got back, from fatigue and exposure; he belonged to Co. F.

 

I was not in the battle myself although I went up the river on the steamer "Boston" as I was not well enough to march; There were 480 men of our Regiment divided into 6 Companies, Cos. "B" & "G" were put together and Capt. Ayer took command as Capt Wilbur had not reported for duty since being sick.

 

The expedition started Tuesday the 21^st inst. and the fight was on the afternoon of the 22^d and it was Friday the 24^th before all the men got back.

 

When I spoke of coming home to stay a week I spoke of what I should like, and not of what was likely to happen, as I / stand about as much show to get home on a furlough as I do to be made a Major General, for which office I should only have to be promoted a dozen or fourteen times.

 

I don't know whether I wrote you that I saw W^m Adams' wife's brother on James Island last June, but I did see him two or three times. he is in the 6^th Ct. Regt. I fell in with him accidentally. the last time I saw him he told me he had written to W^m and had told him where I was and that I should like to see hear from him. I have forgotten his name. being from home when W^m was married I have forgotten who he did marry! I have not seen him nor heard from W^m since.

 

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Send a list of contents of box in the box, and in a letter too

 

All the Exeter boys are well except J Broadbent who is in the General Hospital getting better S. N. Lamprey in our Hospital doing the same Warren Dearborn is not very well but is not in the Hospital. Ward Leavitt went on duty yesterday I hear that John Finn is sick, don't know how sick 

 

30^th Oct.

As it is getting rather cool down here you may send me the following articles—1 vest 1 bed-quilt, 2 pr socks, 1 pr buckskin gloves also 1 port-folio, 2 leather straps and buckles straps 2 ft long ½ inch wide and holes ¾ of an inch apart half the length and my yellow strap that I brot home from California.

 

I want a quilt and not a spread, any old thing will do as I may not have a chance to use it a great while as we may move any time. I want the socks run at the heels toes and insteps. I have yarn enough and needles too. Send the same pair of gloves I had last winter also the same vest. The port-folio about as long as a pen holder with a pen in it and elastic straps inside and out. (The 2 leather straps ½ an inch wide.)

 

You may put the whole in a box and direct same as you do my letters; W^m Marston wants some things sent they will be sent to you and you can put them in the same box. There is no great hurry about sending the thing so you can wait till Mrs Marston gets W^ms things ready. I don't know that W^m wants to go home more than any body else, nor so much as some do. Gen. Mitchell is very sick & Col. Brown of the 3^d R.I. Regt died this morning

 

Respects as usual

Yours &c

J. W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement                                                                    

            Exeter N.H.                                                     

                                                                                                

[top front margin upside down]

 

It lacks just one

week of a year since

this place was taken

 

I should have written before but I waited to get a copy of the "New South" which I didn't

 

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I suppose you have heard of John Head's promotion he is 2^d Lieut in Co D Lieut Jonah Libby our old Orderly Sergeant is at home on a furlough. Sergt Dunn has got his discharge

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