Morris Island S.C. Feb. 21. 1864.

 

Your letter of the 2^d inst. I have just rec^d, where it has been for nineteen days is more than I can tell, perhaps some careless postmaster or clerk could if they had a mind to. The papers mailed at the same time this letter was reached me a week ago yesterday.

 

I was glad you went to see John Bryant. I suppose he will be at home (that is with the Regiment) again soon as his time is nearly out. I was sorry he did not take my diary, but as he did not I suppose I shall have to send it some other way or carry it myself.

 

I believe I wrote you that I got a letter from Aunt Harriet on the 6^th inst. dated Jan. 26. I answered it a week ago today, and in return for the puzzle she sent me, I sent her one. 

 

Since I wrote you last we have been paid off on the 9^th inst. On the the 10^th we had rumors of a small fight on Johns Island, near where we camped a year ago last June. On the 12^th at about 2 o'clock in the morning the Rebs opened a heavy fire from Sullivans Island, said to have been caused by our folks throwing a few shells at a working party on Fort Sumter; at about 3 A.M. the Long Roll was beat and the troops turned out, but it didn't amount to any thing. On the 14^th in the evening they opened again for about an hour and a half.

 

On the evening of the 16^th a large magazine on James Island blew up, and at night 28 men came into our lines from the same place.

 

On the 18^th which was a very cold windy day we had the first and only snow we have had this winter it was nothing but a spit or snow-squall, and hardly whitened the ground.

 

On the night of the 19^th the Rebs succeeded in / getting one of their torpedoes to bear and blew a hole through the steam sloop-of-war "Housatonic", but most of the crew were saved as they only lost seven men. They tried to blow up the "Wabash" but they took the alarm and got off out of the way.

 

Re-enlistment goes rather slowly now but about the middle of the month the business was quite brisk, about 200 men have re-enlisted in our Regiment, the only Exeter boys that I know of are Ward Leavitt, Charles Rowe, John Riley, and W^m Walton & Joseph Prescott. Ward Leavitt is I think the only native of Exeter among them. They have not got me yet and I am afraid they won't. I came very near forgetting to say that George Giddings has re-enlisted. He is also a native of Exeter and that makes two of them.

 

I think you hardly meant to say that the / President had called for 5,000,000 more men. If you will take off one cipher I should be much more likely to believe the story! I suppose the idea is to wind up the war as quickly as possible, and I hope they will do it too, for every body North and South except Jeff Davis and a few of his Generals seems to be tired of it.

 

I don't know how I shall get any money home at present as there is no Express Office on the island, and I don't like to send money by mail. Perhaps I may send some if our Chaplain gets started once more as he has been talking of doing for about a week.

 

Give my respects to Aunt Harriet and cousins when you write and also to all who enquire for                                                                                    

John W. Clement

 

P.S. Feb. 23^d I rec^d yours of the 14^th I rec^d by the hands of John Bryant last evening, also the papers and apples, which last tasted very good. I hope by next winter to be where I can get plenty of them. I also rec^d by mail a letter from M. J. Paterson dated Feb. 8^th She and her mother got home on the 6^th inst. I also got a letter from George Eaton dated the 14^th by Bryant and a bundle of papers from you by mail  J.W.C.

 

Mr John Clement

            Exeter

                        N.H.

 

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I suppose those that have re-enlisted will get the next furloughs so I dont stand any show, but I willing to take the chances next August.

 

I wrote on the strip of paper for a notion, not because I am short of paper.

 

There is a story that Gen Seymour has got defeated in Florida, probably you will get the news before we do.

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