St. Helena Island S.C. June 23. 1863

 

I rec^d yours of the 9^th and 16^th yesterday about sunset, and the "Traveller" and "Banner" this morning; they all came in the same mail but they always give the letters out first. The "Traveller" of the 13^th I have not got yet, nor any "Ballot" at all, probably some Post-master or post office clerk who had nothing better to do has taken them to amuse himself with, and when he has done he possibly may put them in the mail-bag and when they are all out of date I shall get them. I should like to have the handling of some of the rascals' noses for a short space of period; I don't think their noses would be any shorter by the operation.

I believe I have written you once since I have been on this island; we came here on the 5^th inst. I have also sent you some "New Souths" 2 or three times, the bundle of 3 that I sent you will (if you have not) give as they are directed, one each to Charles Grant and George Eaton and one for yourselves. I have sent an order for my July dividends which you will dispose of as usual, when you get it.

 

I am glad George Eaton's gourds have come up and hope yours will do the same. I did not know as they would grow at the North in the open air, as I had never seen any growing only in warm climates, but suppose they might grow by planting them in a box and then transplanting them. They are used in all places where I have seen them growing, for water dippers.

 

I suppose you all knew that Vanny was nearly 10 years younger than I, and I was born in 1826 and consequently he was born in 1836, which was the year that his namesake was elected President, he took his seat March 4^th 1837.

 

I saw Fieldsend the other day, he was well, he is at work in the bakery at Hilton Head. I have not seen him since I got your letter; when I see him I will tell him what you wrote. I generally write the names of all those that I know to be sick, either in our Company or any other if they belong in Exeter. The only Exeter men that I know to be sick are Donovan, Colbath and William Morrison, who used to work in the Ballot office. The 2 first are in the General Hospital at Hilton Head, they were up here the other day, Serg^t Morrison has just got out of the Regimental Hospital, but is not on duty yet.

 

Furloughed men have not got here yet so I have not got the cake yet. The men we hear have started for New York and are probably waiting transportation there. I should have thought Watson would have called on you sooner than Dudley who was almost an entire stranger to me before I enlisted. Is not L. A. acquainted with Mrs Fogg? if not I hope she will be, now they are such near neighbors. The place where we are now stopping is called Land's end, and is about 6 miles from Hilton Head. Gen. Strong formerly military Governor of New Orleans is Commander of the Post. There are 5 Regiments at this place, the 9^th Maine, 3^d N.H. 1^st Independent N.Y. Battalion, 48^th N.Y. and 76^th Pa. and there are 1 or 2 Regiments at the other end of the island I believe. This island is not so sandy as Hilton Head, and that is a great advantage in a windy day. I should think that it would be as healthy here as there, as it has not been used so much for a camp ground as H. Head has. The 8^th Maine, 7^th N.H. 115^th N.Y. and parts of the 3^d R.I. and N.Y. Engineers are at H. Head. I suppose before this reaches you Ex-Captain John E. Wilbur will be in Exeter, as he is dismissed the service and started for NY in the "Arago" a week ago last Sunday. I hope the people of Exeter will give him such a warm reception that he will be glad to leave town in a hurry; if they don't they are foolish that's all. If any one thinks he is honest let them trust him and then let's see them get their pay. There was an order read on Dress Parade to-day by which 3 Corporals illegally appointed by Capt. W. had to be reduced, Tompkins Currier and Kempton; Rowell and Haines take their old places and D. W. Elliot is appointed Corporal. By the way I told the latter what you wrote, he already knew it, but Ward Leavitt had not heard of Mrs Pennell's death.

 

I should say that Gen. Strong is a great man on Reviews as we have had 2 since we have been here one last week and one Monday of this week /

 

We thought at the first Review that he was a great fellow as he reviewed us by Regiments and we only had to march about twice the length of our Regiment, but on the second one he reviewed the Brigade all together and then we had to march twice ten times as far as we marched round twice. We have lately commenced target practice and yesterday our target was pretty well filled as we put in over 50 balls out of about 170 fired at 200 yds. I call that very good considering the little practice we have had.

 

I have not yet heard from Cousin M. J. Paterson, and I began to think something was the matter with some of them till I got your letter. Give my respects to them all when you write, and tell Aunt Harriet that I thought of her on her Birth Day.

 

Our guard duty here is very light, but some of us have to go to the Head on fatigue every day and that with the Reviews and what little guard duty we have to do makes full as much as we care about doing these hot days.

 

24^th P.M. Watson and Dudley arrived in camp at about 11 o'clock this forenoon. They look well and hearty, they say they had a good time but wouldn't care about coming again. Watson brought me a letter from George Eaton, he spoke of seeing you and spoke as if you were well as usual. Watson's box has not got here yet but he says it is on the way. I shall send twenty dollars $20.00 in this letter which you can invest as usual. I thought I would not hurry about sending it as it would probably go safer now than by the last mail.

 

But I must close as we are going to have another Review this afternoon

J. W. Clement

 

I shall answer George's letter as soon as possible J.W.C.

 

To Mr John Clement

            Exeter N.H.

 

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If you have not sent them in the box send a hank of black linen thread and some postage stamps in your next letter

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