Hilton Head, S.C. Dec 13^th /62

 

Yours of the 27^th ult. together with the "Traveller" of the 29^th I rec^d day-before-yesterday and should have answered yesterday but was busy moving. I am now in a tent with W^m Marston and John Thing (who I suppose you have heard is reduced to the ranks, as well that Capt. Wilbur is under arrest again)

 

W^m and I were very much disappointed in not getting our box yet. We expected to get it Thanksgiving day but no express came in that steamer, and when a schooner came in with express matter on the first inst. we expected to get it then and when the "Star of the South" came in day-before-yesterday we were sure of it—too sure it seems for no express came in that and now we shall have to wait till it does come.

 

We don't blame you but the Express / Company. If I thought it would do any good I would write a short article for some of the Boston papers showing them up, but I suppose it would do about as much good as it would to show up abuses in the Army, and that is just no good at all. One man in our Company got a box lately that was started last July; they sent it up to the Regiment and wanted fifty cents extra for it, but he let them keep the box. The receipt for the box we got Dec 1^st it was dated Nov. 18^th.

 

You wrote something about the weather you had had and I will give you a specimen of ours. Thanksgiving day and two or three days after it was cold (By the way we had a boiled dish this year which was much better and more plentiful if not so fine as we had last year) Dec 1^st and 2^d warm; 3^d, 4^th and 5^th cold, cloudy and rainy 6^th cool, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th & 10^th / cold. on the night of the 7^th water froze, which is not a very common thing here. it only happened once or twice last year.

 

I want you to send me another pair of shoe strings in your next, the same kind you sent last I like them better than any I have had yet.

 

The Exeter boys I believe are all well. Corporal Broadbent & James Gerah of our Company go home in this boat.

 

I must bring this to a close as the mail goes sooner than I expected.

 

Send papers every week at least

                                                                                   

Yours

J. W. Clement

 

To Mr John Clement                                                              

Exeter N.H.

 

I send you an order for my

Dividends in this. /

 

The 15^th & 16^th NH Regts are here don't know whether they will stop or not

                                                                                                           

J.W.C.

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