Morris Island S.C. Aug. 12. 1863.

 

I was very glad yesterday afternoon to get another double letter from home, as the last one before this looked rather lonesome if it was stuffed out with thread. I also got a little letter (not much more than half grown) from George Eaton, which I shall answer soon. This morning I got the "Traveller" and "Weekly" which I am glad you sent as the latter had a picture of the attack on Fort Wagner. it looks nearly as it did to me except that the Fort is too near the beach; but you must recollect that it was dark when we made the charge, and that about all you could see was men in almost every variety of attitude completely enveloped in fire and smoke; and that is just what is shown in the picture. And I here wish to repeat what I have written before, don't stop writing and sending papers unless I request it, especially the sending of papers, as they are one of the greatest comforts of camp life. 

 

When I wrote about sending money, I did not mean to say that one mail was safer than another, but that some of us think that it is a very little safer to send money a fortnight or three weeks after we have been paid off than by the next mail after when there is so much money going.

 

I have not seen Eph. Brigham but once and that was just before we started on our first expedition on the night of July 8^th I told him what you wrote and he said that he answered all the letters that he got, didn't say anything about sending any money, perhaps he has sent it since; he appeared to be in good health and spirits.

 

One thing I forgot to mention about those shirts, and if you have not sent them it can be fixed now, I don't want any collars on them, nothing but a narrow binding just wide enough for one button. if you have sent them you need not feel very bad about it as I can have them fixed here just as well; as to the handkerchiefs it don't make any difference about the size if they are only good ones. If you have not you can mark my initials on the shirt and Co "B" N.H.3. just above the slit on one side / or the other; and the boots on the inside of the legs the same mark. [J.W.C. Co. B. N.H.3.] something like that. no matter about marking the hdkfs &c. I should also like to have you send 2 pairs of stockings such as Mrs Hall sent Horace, same color and a large coarse towell. I have plenty of thread at present.

 

I was at first a little surprised at first that that you had not heard of Horace's death but I recollected that we did not hear of it ourselves till the last of July though I see by the "New South" of Aug. 8^th that he died July 19^th. I am afraid the news will have a bad effect on his folks, especially his mother. I have written to them about it, and have sent you the paper containing the news.

 

I was sorry to hear that Cousin Harriet L. had been sick, glad she has got better; hope John Adams and family are better also, give them my best respects when you see them also to all who enquire for me, Aunt Harriet especially I was also sorry to hear that Lieut. Perkins' life was considered in danger as he was a brave Officer and well liked in his Company and / Regiment; and such Officers are rather too scarce in the Army to lose many of them. I had my doubts when I first saw the account of his wound whether he would get over it, as it is rather high up on the arm to have the bone shattered and recover. Lieut. Alvan Libby who was killed at Fort Wagner was one of the best Officers in the Regiment, as was also Lieut. Col. Bedell who was wounded and taken prisoner at the same place.

 

Gen. Strong got a good many enemies among the soldiers while we were at St. Helena; but when they saw him in battle they all became his friends, for soldiers always like to see brave Officers who will lead them into battle instead of following them; and Gen. Strong in the 3 battles in which he was engaged on this island, was at the head of the column; and every one, especially those of the Old 1^st Brigade are sorry he is dead, but wish it had been Seymour or Vogdes or some such petty tyrant. The papers are right about that part of it; but they are as far out on the question of taking Fort Wagner by assault, it cannot be done till it is knocked into inch bits and every man in it disabled.

 

My health is not very good yet; I have not done any duty since the 25^th of July and was not well for about a week before that; part of the time I have had the dysentery, and the rest of the time a weakness without much pain, a kind of malarial disease caused by exposure and camping too near a swamp for about a week.   Yours in haste

 

J. W. Clement

 

To Mr John Clement                                                                          

            Exeter N.H.

 

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Gen. Strongs last order before leaving was to have his Brigade relieved as soon as reinforcements came, but reinforcements have been here a fortnight and every other Regiment has been relieved except ours. [4^th page

 

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from page 2     Our officers are so ambitious that would be willing to sacrifice all the men if they can stay here till Charleston is taken.

 

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I saw Gen. Strong and Col. Jackson when they were wounded, they were standing on the glacis of Fort Wagner talking together; wondering where Col. Putnam's 2^d Brigade was

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