Hilton Head S.C. Oct. 13. '62

 

Yours of Sept. 28^th & Oct. 5^th I rec^d today also one from G. C. Eaton dated Sept 28^th and the Traveller of the 27^th also 1 from Eaton all of which I was very glad to get.

 

We got N.Y. papers of Oct 8^th containing much later news: the way we get them so much later is they are put on board the steamer just before she sails from N.Y. and when they get here we buy them, as they have so much later news than we can get from home by the same mail, but that need not hinder you from writing, I meant sending papers, as we like to see what the news has been as there is often something in the later papers that we cannot understand till we see what has happened before.

 

I don't know of any reinforcements being sent here except recruits for the old Regiments, and then Gen. Stevens took 4 or 5 Regiments with him to Virginia, and the / Mass Cavalry has all gone but about two Companies, so you see unless we have heavy reinforcements we are not in so good condition to march on Charleston as we were last spring. I think that place will be taken principally by the iron clads, of which there is said to be quite a fleet on its way here.

 

Speaking of patriotism, that soon gets played out in the Army, that is after a man has been in the Army a while he just does what he has to do and no more, and that only because he has to do it, and if he sees a chance to get out of it he does it.

 

If I want my gloves & vest at all I shall not want them yet, and will send for them when I do. You may send me in your next letter a pair of linen shoe strings, as I am not much in favor of leather ones, and cotton is not strong enough. You can send a little capsicum once in a while / if you have a mind to as the black pepper we get here is not very strong. Don't send more than enough in one letter to make ½ an ounce as it makes a bother at the post office

 

            You ask how I like Gen. Mitchell; I have not seen him but once, he talks very well but as yet he has done nothing but destroy the salt-works at Bluffton and recover Jacksonville Florida. speaking of Florida, I see Government talks of colonizing the contrabands in that state; that has been my idea on the subject for more than a year.

 

I think Gen. Sherman did better than Gen. Hunter, because he always did what he undertook and Hunter did it. The only thing I found fault with Sherman for was for not setting the contrabands to work on the fortifications instead of making the soldiers do it.

 

If a Sergeant Major of a Regt is dissatisfied after one or two months service / how would a private soldier feel after more than a year's service. I think if I had that berth I should be a little better satisfied than I am at present. But I stand about as good chance of promotion in this Company as I do of going home in the next streamer, and I wouldn't accept of anything in this Company (with the present Capt.) short of a commission which I am not liable to get.

 

Lieut Jonah Libby Jr of Co. B. goes home on a furlough of twenty days on account of sickness, Lieut Fogg has been sick but is getting better Capt. Wilbur the same, both nearly well. We hear that Sergt Dunn has got his discharge. Glad of it if he has.

 

Since I last wrote Nathan Davenport of East Kingston died a member of our Co. he died on the 6^th inst. he had been complaining for some time but was not thought to be very sick till 3 or 4 days before he died. John Broadbent is the only Exeter man sick he is getting better.

 

J. W. Clement

 

To Mr John Clement                                                  

Exeter N.H.

 

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I suppose you have heard of the death of John Duffy of Co. G. he died about a month ago

 

Tell all who wish to write or send papers that I shall be thankful for the smallest favors—

 

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If you can read this without trouble I shall continue to write with a pencil.

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