Botany Bay Island May 26. 1863

 

I rec^d yours of the 17^th inst. yesterday with stamps and capsicum enclosed but no paper nor letter from any one else, in which I was rather disappointed as though I wish to hear from you as often as possible I like to hear from others once in a while. The stamps came just in the right time as I had just one left, which I shall put on to this letter.

 

I suppose the letter you saw was from "Carleton" (in the Journal I mean) if he stays here three or four months longer he may see some uncomfortably warm weather, but it is not time yet for the hot days and nights, they don't come till July; the weather so far this spring is not so hot as it was last, but we are nearer the sea than we were then and that may possibly make some dif- / ference, I hope we shall not be any farther inland than we are now till the first of October as I think the health of the Regiment would be better, but I suppose Gen. Hunter will do as he has a mind to about that.

 

I am glad Vanny has been moved, and hope that when a stone is put up it will have Almira's and Asbury's names put on it.

 

I do not get the "Ballot" regularly now nor does any one in camp, but I see all that come into our Company, as well as a "Newsletter" occasionally. I have seen the accounts of the funerals you mentioned.

 

I think those that have got furloughs have more reason to be transported than those that are here. I suppose that you have seen one or both of the Exeter men that have gone from here, so that you know that / it is Sergeant Watson and Daniel Dudley that are the lucky ones. I should like to be one of the next lot, as they will be at home on the Fourth of July, but if I get leave to go home by a year from that time I shall think myself lucky. They have stopped all furloughs from this department for the present, a squad from the Fourth Regt went down to the Head last week, and were sent back to Folly Island where their Regiment is at present. I have not seen Ephraim Brigham at all yet and it may be a good while before I shall, but if I do I will speak to him about writing, perhaps he is situated so that he cannot write very conveniently.

 

I should think those gourd seeds might be started in a box if the weather is not warm enough to plant them out doors yet. I suppose you know that they grow on vines the same as cucumbers, squashes &c do           

 

[May 28^th]

I made a slight mistake when I told you we were to have 5 hours / drill pr day, the order was for 3 hours instead of 5. Our duties are not very hard here for the present, we have a camp guard of 18 men, and once in 8 days part of 2 Companies go out on picket about 3 ½ miles. The picket duty is not considered dangerous as no Rebels have been seen on Edisto since we have been here; there was a report this morning that the pickets on Seabrooks Island, on the other side of the river, were driven in yesterday; we heard some shelling by light artillery in the afternoon, 2 or 3 discharges, but quite likely the story is nothing but a camp rumor of which we have plenty. Fieldsend is at the Head baking, Colbath and Donovan are in the Hospital. There is a report that Capt Wilbur is at last turned out of the service, hope it is true.                 

 

Yours in haste—

J. W. Clement

 

To Mr. John Clement                                     

            Exeter N.H.

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