Hilton Head, S.C. March 17. 1864.

 

I rec^d your letter of the 9^th inst. yesterday P.M. and the papers sent at the same time also. Last Monday (the 14^th inst) I got your letter of Feb. 9^th it having been only 34 days in reaching me. I think I shall write to the Post-Master General and ask him if he can't fix it so that letters can be 40 days going from N.H. to S.C. as nothing was ever known to be done in 34 days, but several remarkable events have occurred in 40 days, such as the Deluge &c.

 

You say, in reference to the picture I sent, that I have the same worn look that all soldiers do; I suppose that is caused by their being broke of their rest so much, and I think people at home if deprived of their sleep from 1 to 4 nights in a week as we have for over two years and a half would have the same look.

I see that the Veterans got home just in season to vote. We have got papers here bringing the news that Gov. Gillmore is re-elected. I was glad to hear it because I think he was a better man / though not probably the best man that could have been selected.

 

I hope that some of the Veterans will call on you as there are enough of them so that you ought to get a short visit from some of them.

 

We have all got our horses, saddles, bridles &c and the men have been drilling for about 10 days, but I have enough to attend to without drilling. I have taken care of my horse for about a week, but as one of the other men's horses is sick he uses and takes care of mine. The men are learning very fast, and by the time the Vets. get back most of them will be pretty good horsemen.

 

In my last, which was finished on the 10^th inst. I mentioned that there had been a new paper started here called the "Palmetto Herald" I bought one to-day and shall send it to you by the same mail that takes this letter; it is published by a former correspondent of the "Boston Herald". There is not much news in it but it may interest you some. 

 

I wish, in the article headed "Save me from my friends", it had stated just how drunk Gen. Benham was on the morning of June 16, 1862. as I have never seen it distinctly stated in any paper North or South. I should like to have it stated also how Gen. Seymour got his great reputation as an Officer, whether it was at the charge and massacre at Fort Wagner, or at the trap and butchery at Olustee. The New York Tribune comes very near telling the truth about him, and if it had added that he was as much of a Copperhead and traitor as his namesake the Gov. of New York, it would only express the opinion of nine tenths of the soldiers in this Department. It is the general opinion here that in both cases he intended that our forces should get cut up and defeated.

 

You need have no fears of my re-enlisting as long as such men have command of any portion of our army, as I should hardly think of re-enlisting if our Officers were the best that ever were appointed. /

 

It would hardly do for me to whisper what I have written here, if I should I don't know what they would do to me.

 

There is not much news here except what you will see in the papers

 

I should like very much to hear from Martha Hall again as I have not heard from her since the 12^th of Jan. when I got a letter dated the 4^th of the same month, and answered it on the 15^th. Perhaps she has written and the letter has gone hunting after yours that I got the other day.

 

The weather has been quite warm for a good part of this month but yesterday & today it has been cold & windy. I suppose we shall not have much cold weather after the first of next month in this part of the world.

 

The Exeter folks are all well as far as heard from except Jacob Smith who has got the chills but is getting better of them.

 

Give my respects to Aunt H & cousins and all others that enquire for

John W. Clement

Co. "B" 3^d N.H.M.I.

 

Mr. John Clement                                                                  

            Exeter                                                                         

                        NH

 

[top front margin]

 

I have seen an answer to Aunt H's puzzle, i.e. an answer to the order.

 

It reads like this

How can I put :

When there is such a -der.

see if you can read it

                        J.W.C.

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