Morris Island S.C. Sept. 22 1863.

 

I received your letter of the 15^th inst. to-day together with a "Ballot" of the 10^th a "Traveller" of the 12^th and a "Weekly" of the 19^th, all of which were very acceptable as I had had nothing since the 14^th inst; but I don't know as I had ought to complain as the mail of the 19^th inst. is the first one that has missed bringing me something since we landed on this island July 10^th

 

The pictures of scenes around Charleston are correct except that is no flag flying on any of our batteries for the reason I suppose that it would make too good a mark for the Rebs to fire at. The "Swamp Angel" is a 200 pound Parrot gun away out in the salt marsh; planting batteries in swampy places is a trick of Gen. Gillmore's, and I believe is not very often tried by engineers. By the way I see that the Northern papers begin to see that Gen. G. is the smartest engineer in the / United States if not in the world; just what I said a year ago or more, after Fort Pulaski was taken; I don't know but what I wrote you the same thing at the time. To-day his commission as Major-General came, and he has earned it as much if not more than any Major-General in the Army. There was a salute fired at 12 o'clock in honor of the occasion. Speaking of commissions we hear that a very different man, viz Capt. Wilbur has been reinstated, the statement is said to come through Capt. Jackson, we hardly credit it yet but still it may be so, for my part I am perfectly indifferent as to whether he comes back or not.

I have not yet sent Horace Hall's effects home yet, owing to the indifference of the Officers, who might have helped me if they would. I am going to work on it to-morrow and see if I can't get it along. I shall be on guard a Provost Marshal and if I can get the box as far as that I / think I can get it home on the next steamer which I suppose will sail in a few days.

 

Our Regiment has been detailed for Provost Guard, with Capt. Rundlett who now commands the Reg^t as Provost Marshall; but instead of the whole Regt doing the Provost Cos "A" "B" "F" and "I" do it and the rest of the Reg^t do Post and Camp Guard, so that instead of getting a rest as we thought we were going to, we have just as hard though not quite so dangerous duty to do as we had before Wagner and Gregg were taken, as we have to go on guard every 2 or 3 days

Since the 8^th inst things have been very quiet here, you will recollect that this island was evacuated by the Rebs on the 7^th on the 8^th the "Weehawken" got aground nearly opposite Fort Moultrie and that and the batteries on Sullivan's Island opened fire on it. the rest of the ironclads went up to help her and had a fight which lasted nearly all day; about 10 o'clock they blew up the mag- / azine of Fort Moultrie, and about 2 o'clock they set fire to a house and before night about a dozen houses were burnt Since then the firing has been done principally by the Rebs, but we don't care much about it as they have not hurt many, and do not even stop our Fatigue Parties from working on the Forts in broad day-light.

 

Night before last 7 deserters came over from Fort Moultrie. they say that if our folks had kept on about 2 hours more on the 8^th they would have taken Sullivan's Island (wish they had) and that half the men there would desert if they had the chance.

 

My health is some better than it was, though I am not well yet, I have palpitation of the heart some and my strength is not much to brag of yet. All the Exeter boys are in pretty good health as far as I know

 

I mailed a "New South" and a "Free South" to you yesterday.

 

Give my respects to all,

Yours

J. W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement                                

            Exeter                                     

                        N.H.

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