Hilton Head, S.C. Dec 18 1862

           

I wrote you last Saturday, but as the mail closed sooner than I expected it to, I didn't have time to write all I wanted to, besides I had mislaid yours of the 25^th N^ov so that I had nothing to go upon except what I could recollect of yours. I was on guard when I got yours and where do you think I found it? In my cartridge box!

 

After I had sent my letter to the post office two Companies of the 15^th N.H. Reg^t came into our camp on a visit, among them were A. P. and Brews Brigham, W^m Nudd, Gid. Carter and his son Ed George Thurston (butcher's son) George Batchelder (whose mother lived in our house before I came home) and some more Exeter men, but I believe that was all that I was acquainted with; they all belonged to Company I 15^th Reg^t except Ase Brigham who is leader of the Band. Brews plays in the Band but he is detailed from his Company for that purpose. / The other Exeter boys were Tommy Gad (of whom you have probably heard) Frank Parker and John Morse. They all appeared to be in good health and spirits. The boat in which they came put in here for coal. I suppose you know they are in "Banks Expedition" destination unknown. Sunday morning two Companies more of the 15^th and four from the Mass 42^d came into our camp and we had a Dress Parade, Battalion Drill & Sermon, all for their special benefit I suppose. Ase Brigham said our Reg^t appeared more like the soldiers in Virginia than any he had seen since he left there; i.e. we were well drilled and had more discipline than the new Regiments. The 15^th Band came up on Sunday. they played a few tunes in our camp. Ase Brews and two others were the only ones in the Band that can play much, but I think if Ase has the management of them a few months they will play better or leave the Band.

 

That box has not got along yet, but W^m and / I are in hopes to get it by Christmas if we don't then, perhaps some time after. If we had it now, it would make it more comfortable for us, as we are having some cold weather, for instance last night water froze for the second time this winter, but we managed to keep warm as neither of us was on guard.

 

You spoke of the celebration of the taking of Hilton Head, but that wasn't a circumstance to the time our Officers had Thanksgiving day at Fort Pulaski, probably you have seen account of it taken from the "New South".

 

We are in hopes to hear that Burnside is in Richmond or near there by the next mail, but we may be disappointed as you have been about Charleston.

 

Dec 20^th 6. P.M. We have just got a mail and in it yours of Dec 7^th and 9^th, no paper from you, but I have seen one of the 15^th giving an account of the fighting on the 11^th 12^th and 13^th. it said the fight was not renewed on Sunday, by which some of us think that Burnside was not in very good condition 

 

I was glad to see they had sent him reinforcements from Washington; that is a little different from what they served M^cClellan last summer, thanks to Henry Wilson.

 

We have not got our box yet and are talking rather hard about the Express Company. I think a little opposition in that line would be healthy. How would Perkins do. I thought I had mentioned getting the shoe strings but might accidentally have omitted it; I wrote in my last for another pair.

 

I have not received any letter from Sam^l Caban yet and have not heard any of the boys say anything about receiving any probably they would have mentioned it if they had It is my turn for guard tomorrow so I write tonight so if there should a mail happen to go out tomorrow my letter will be ready. Respects to all. All well.

 

J. W. Clement.

21^st Nothing later—

shall close and put

letter in P.O.

 

To Mr John Clement                                      

Exeter N.H.                                                                                                  

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