Morris Island, S.C. Nov. 25. 1863.

 

I rec^d your letter of the 15^th and 16^th and the "Ballot", "Traveller" and "Weekly" as usual, to-day. I was very glad to hear that you were enjoying such good health, and hope you will long continue to enjoy the same; and I will just say that my health continues good, though I cannot bear as much fatigue as formerly.

I was very glad to hear that Mrs. Hall had received that money, though I was afraid that from what you wrote at first that it had somehow gone astray, as my box seems to have done; I have been looking for it for about a fortnight but it has not got here yet. Perhaps it may have come as far as the Head in the same steamer that brought this mail but it has not got to Morris Island yet. I am not suffering for anything that is in the box, but as I know there has been plenty of time for it to get here / since it started, I don't feel very well pleased at its not getting along.

 

You will see by the date of this that to-morrow is Thanksgiving, but I don't see nor smell anything that reminds me of that anniversary, though I hear a little too much about it for the reality which will probably be something extra for dinner tomorrow, though of what nature I don't know yet.

 

The Captains that signed Wilbur's paper were Littlefield and Butterfield both formerly of Company "K". The former is a man of not very good character, and the latter has no mind of his own, but is a good little boy and does just as he is bidden to. Fogg also signed a paper in his favor, and that is what astonishes me more than anything else, as it is well known in the Regiment that they were bitter enemies, and that Fogg talked as much or more against Wilbur (or "Old Chuck" as most everybody called him) than any one in the Company. /

 

I don't think Exeter would be a very nice place for either of them to live in if Company "B" were back there, which I hope they will be in nine months or less. He tried to get Capt. T. M. Jackson (Col. J's son) to sign a paper in his favor, but he could not make that work very well.

 

I am sorry to hear that George Eaton's wife is so sick; hope she is better before this. I don't know whether you are acquainted with her or not, but I always thought she was a very good woman.

 

I suppose I must have forgotten to say that I had heard that Mrs Hall had got Horace's box, for I meant to have told you so in my next letter and thought I had till I received your letter today. I should not know how to go to work to remove Horace's remains as we are now situated. it would take a great deal of time and trouble at any rate. Giddings told me and you wrote me about he and Uncle Thomas getting acquainted in the coach. 

 

The men in our Regiment never troubled the recruits last year, except by a few jokes and now and then a little rough talk, they never stole from them nor used them very rough. The most that any one seemed to have against them was that they enlisted for the bounty, or in other words were bought. I don't think the conscripts and substitutes will fare any worse than they did last year, in our Regiment. Perhaps in other Regiments they may fare worse.

 

Give my respects to Aunt Harriet and all other correspondents, and to all who enquire for me. All the Exeter boys that are with the Regiment are well and send respects to their friends.                                                                

 

Yours truly

John W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement                                                                    

            Exeter

                        N.H.

 

Thursday Eve. 26^th Thanksgiving is over. We had baked beans for breakfast, sweet potatoes, fresh beef and turnovers for dinner and doughnuts for supper. I hope Josiah Taylor is better by this time. We had services this afternoon on the beach                   

J.W.C.

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