Hilton Head S.C. March 9. 1864.

 

Your letter of Feb 23^d I rec^d on the fourth inst and that of the 1^st inst on the 7^th together with papers sent at the same time as usual.

 

I am almost ashamed at not writing any sooner but I have been very busy for besides my usual monthly business I have had all the bustle and confusion of a movement which is not small in moving 8 or 900 men.

 

We started from Morris Island on the night of the 28^th of Feb. but did not get here till the first day of this month; we had to go to Pawnee landing on Folly Island in one steamboat and then take another and come to this place, so we had to load & unload all our baggage twice.

 

We are now encamped on the same old cotton field that we occupied the winter of 1861-2, only we are at the other end of it / about one-third of a mile from the old camp ground.

 

I suppose you have heard that our Regiment has been mounted, whether you have or not, such is the case. Our title now is Third N.H. Mounted Infantry. We got our horses day before yesterday and the saddles, bridles &c yesterday and to day and I suppose we shall get our arms (we are to have the "Spencer" breech-loading 7 shooters) to-morrow or next day I suppose as soon as we get all fixed up and drilled we shall go down to Florida. I suppose by this time the Veteran Volunteers of this Regiment have got home as they started a week ago to day. I sent my diary home by Ward Leavitt and should have sent a letter but had no time to write one. I hope Ward and some of the rest of the boys will call on you.

 

10^th March. I did not have time to finish my letter last night but shall try to tonight. I am sorry to hear that all of you are in such poor health. My health is not so / good as it has been. That heart complaint troubles me considerably lately.

 

It rained considerable last night and this forenoon but it has cleared off now and the sun is shining brightly and the air is as warm and pleasant as you generally have in May.

 

On the 3^d inst I sent fifty dollars ($50) home by Adams Express, I sent it without any letter as I had no time to write one. I hope the money will answer for an apology for a letter this time.

 

Yesterday I rode my horse out to water which is the first time I have been on horseback for about a dozen years. I got along better than I thought I should. I have a very good horse but don't think I shall want him much as long as I am writing.

 

I see by the papers that our folks have had another skirmish in Florida but it did not amount to much. I wish I could write all I want to about Gen. Seymour but it is enough for me to say that he has the credit planning / the second charge on fort Wagner and the late raid into Florida.

 

I have not much time to study over puzzles, the greatest puzzle that I know of is how to get out of this army all right. I should not have taken any advice about re-enlisting except what Aunt H. gave me. Unpatriotic or not I think I have done about my share without going in for 3 yrs more.

 

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Exeter boys all well as usual.

 

If you have nothing in particular to write you need not put yourselves out to try to write very long letters, as you write more of them than I do. I shall be satisfied with a short one occasionally. And as to hurting my feelings I don't know of anything you have written that would be likely to do that.

 

Give my respects to Aunt Harriet and cousins and all others who enquire for me.

 

There is a new paper started here called the "Palmetto Herald", but if it don't improve with age it wont amount to much.

 

Good night.    

J. W. Clement

Co. "B" 3^d N.H.M.I.

Port Royal S.C.

 

Mr. John Clement                   

            Exeter                                                             

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