Morris Island So. Ca. Sept. 11^th 1863.

 

Yours of Aug. 30^th I rec^d to-day as also a "Traveller" of the 29^th and "Weekly" of the 5^th of Sept. I also got a letter from A. J. Fogg containing Mrs Hall's certificate which it seems he forgot to enclose in his last letter; it did not make any difference as I could not have sent the things much sooner if he had sent the certificate before. I shall send them now as soon as possible, also a little more money for things I have sold.

 

My health is a good deal better than it has been, though I am not well yet but as Assistant Surgeon Burnham don't see fit to excuse me from duty and as I have no faith in either him or his medicine I have not been to see him for the last 3 mornings; when I am sick enough he can come and see me. Surgeon Buzzell is a good man, but it is not his business to attend the / "Surgeon's Call" and he has enough to do besides. I think some of sending to young Dr. Perry for medicine, as I have a great deal of confidence in him.

 

I suppose by the time this reaches you, if not before you will have heard that Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg are in possession of our forces? This was accomplished early last Monday morning September the 7^th, by the Rebs evacuating and our folks going in. For 48 hours before leaving the Rebs got an awful shelling the batteries and ironclads firing as if on a wager to see which could fire the fastest. A week ago to-night 300 men, 100 from the 85^th Pa. 100 from the 100^th N.Y. and 100 from ours started for the purpose of spiking the guns and blowing up the magazine of Battery Gregg. We were to go up Light House Creek on the back side of this island, land in the rear of the Battery, drive out the garrison, (about 75 men) lay a train to the magazine spike the guns, and then run back / get into the boats and come back again. The expedition failed on account of a launch from the "Wabash" capturing a boat with a Reb Lieutenant and boat's crew going to Charleston. The crew of the launch had to fire a howitzer to stop the boat and so caused an alarm, as it was calculated for a surprise party we came back. Saturday night (the 5^th) another expedition went the same errand but another alarm caused them to come back. Another plan was to let our Regiment and the 97^th Pa. charge on Wagner early Monday morning supported by rest of the Brigade while 2 more brigades were to rush by and cut off the retreat of the garrison. This plan was also spoiled, for on Sunday night about 11 o'clock 2 deserters came in to our trenches with the news that the Rebs were evacuating Wagner and Gregg; word was sent to Headquarters and the troops were turned out as fast as possible and marched up and took possession of both places. Our Colors were the first planted on Battery Gregg. All the / Rebs except 60 to 80 taken by the crews of the launches from the gunboats got away.

 

They calculated to blow our folks up, for besides torpedoes planted all around, they had a wire connected to a galvanic battery run from a big gun in Wagner to the magazine, and a fuse from the beach to the magazine of Battery Gregg, all lighted. But our folks discovered both and cut them without injuring any one. No one in our Regiment was hurt except Lieut. Jonah Libby who was slightly wounded by a shot from James Island.

 

I was in the first expedition to take Gregg but was off duty the other 2 nights and did not go.

 

It is a very general opinion that our Regiment is to do the Provost Guard duty, in which case we shall not have to do much fighting at present. It is my opinion that there will not be much more Infantry fighting till after Charleston is taken, but time will tell.

 

All the Exeter boys are well except Edward F Hall who has the diarrhea pretty badly. Head and Marston are in the Signal Corps still. Eph. Brigham was in our tent last night, well. Josh Fieldsend is here in the Regimental bakery.

 

Yours in haste

J. W. Clement

 

To Mr John Clement                          

Exeter N.H.

 

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I dont think they will keep John Tanner after he has one of his fits. I send enclosed a letter to Dr Perry Please give it to him. I send 4 New Souths 1 to C Grant 1 to G Eaton 1 to J N Head and 1 to you Sept 12. ½ of 24

 

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My last letter to you, and yours to me are of the same date, Aug. 30. I should like to hear from M. J. Paterson again, also from M. J. Hall. Give respects to all. I don't think I shall get my discharge at present J.W.C.

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