On Board Schooner "Highlander"

Edisto River S.C. April 25. 1863.

 

Yesterday we got a mail the first since the 10^th inst. when we were on "Folly Island". I got your letters of the 5^th and 12^th insts and 5 papers from you, a letter from Cousin M J Paterson and a paper from George Eaton, for all of which I am duly grateful

 

You see by the date of this that we are near where we were a year ago. we can see from the deck the wharf at which we landed a little more than a year ago, but I do not think we shall occupy Edisto or cross Wadmalaw as we did last year, but if Charleston is taken by our forces it will be taken from a different point from any that has been attacked yet. I mean by land, of course the ironclads will have to go nearly the same route that they did on the 7^th but I think the next time the approach will be more gradual than it was then. 

 

My last letter was dated "Folly Island April 10^th" that night we went on board the schooner again and the next day we started for Hilton Head. we anchored outside the bar till Sunday morning when we went up to the wharf and landed and went back to our old camp ground that we occupied before we went up to Pinckney Island. We stayed there till last Sunday, when we came on board the "Highlander" where we have been ever since, where we shall go next I do not know but it seems to be the general opinion that we shall go back to Hilton Head as we did before.

 

I had forgotten that I wrote a short note and sent it with the 30 dollars that I sent you from the last payment. We were paid on the 18^th inst. 4 months pay to March 1^st. I had got tired of the allotment business and so stopped mine in season to get the handling of my own money this time so I can send as much as I choose and / send it when I choose also. I am glad you have got the allotment from the last payment but somebody has got about 3 months interest on it, but I don't think they will get it again on my money.

 

I am glad you have seen John Mallon and Mrs Carver. if you see them again give them my respects. I meant to have written about Mallon's going home, when we were at Pinckney Island but believe I forgot it. Mr Carver says he got 2 letters in this mail but don't think he has got all that have been sent to him. It don't seem to make much difference to us whether fruit trees bear or strawberries get ripe or not this year as we have as yet had no chance to get fruit and berries as we did last year and it don't seem as if we should this year but we may yet.

 

I have not yet heard from Charles Goodwin except that George Eaton said that Goodwin told him that he sent me a letter about the middle of March, if it was directed right it ought to have reached me before this time / though letters very often miscarry when they are directed as they should be. I saw one for John Furnald (who is in the 4^th Regt) the other day, it was directed as plain as it could be yet was sent to our Regiment. By the way I have seen John Furnald since we have been here, he was well but looked rather thin. I have only seen him twice since we have been out here. His father is a blacksmith and lives used to live in Woodbridge Odlin's house; dont know where he lives now, Father knows him.

 

I believe I wrote that John Head & William Marston were at Fort Pulaski.

 

We left Simon Lamprey and Warren Colbath at the Head both getting better. The rest of the Company are well. Jere. Weeks' body has not been sent home yet that I know of.                                                    

 

Yours in haste

J. W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement                   

Exeter N.H. 

 

Cousin Martha says she got

one sleigh ride in April and none

through the winter. Her Mother

had a bad cold all the rest were well.

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