Race Course Near Charleston S.C. April 25^th A.D. 1861.

 

M^rs E. Smith,

                       

Dear Mother:

                    I seat myself this evening to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting on. We have moved from the place that we were at when I wrote before. This place is about a mile from the place we first stopped at. The first place we were quartered at was a very filthy, disagreeable place. This place is a much better one. I had just commenced writing this letter and had got as far as the words "we have moved" when Uncle Mac handed me Susan's letter. I am very glad to hear from home. I am well. In fact I believe I feel about as well as I ever have done. My eyes are about well. I was a little sick one day but nothing serious. You want to know how we sleep and what we have to eat. We have nice straw spread upon the floor for a mattress and wrap up in a blanket and in this manner allow our eyes to become sealed by the soporific preparation of Somnus. We have a plenty of bacon, hams & shoulders, and baker's bread & crackers to eat. This bakers bread is made of flour but is very tough. I haven't tasted corn bread but once or twice since I have been here and that was when some of our men bought some for the state didn't furnish it. 

 

I have been to Charleston twice. It is a very noisy place. I went down to the Bay and saw several steam ships and also Forts Sumter, Moultrie, Castle Pinckney &c at a distance. I walked through the market house and never saw so much beef and meat of every kind, apples, oranges, [?] &c. in my life. You could get anything there you wanted and any quantity of it.

 

            I commenced writing a little before three oclock p.m. and at 3 had to go out for drill before I finished writing this letter and now after supper I will attempt to finish it.

 

            D^r Moore has just arrived here this evening. He brought a good many uniforms for men in our company and some private parcels for several men. We were very glad to see him, in fact we like to see anybody from Marlboro. I was sitting at a table writing and just got this far when somebody broke down the table and turned over my ink and scattered my paper to the four winds.

 

            This is the third time that I have attempted to write this letter and I will now try to finish it. D^r M^cLeod is here this morning (This is Friday). Ham Kruagan is here also. I am sitting at a table writing, with A. G. Barrington & Hugh Matheson sitting opposite me; Crawford M^cColl on my left; & John W. Stasken & Frank Kinney on my right; and Ab Weatherly & Ben Rogers a little farther off all sitting at the / same old broken down table writing. You wished to hear from Capt. M^cLeod, Lieut Peter Kur, Cary Thomas & A. W. Weatherly. They are all well except Cary and I do not know how he is, as I have not seen him in about ten days. He belongs to Capt Harrington's company and is over on Sullivan's Island. It is said that Harrington's company is coming over here (to the Race Course) today but I cant vouch for the truth of the report.

 

            I would like very much to have some other clothes here. If you have a chance pack up some of my summer clothing and send it by some one coming down. I would be very glad if you could manage to send me a little money as I need some very badly. One or two other shirts and a pair or two of drawers and a few pair of socks would not be out of place. The best plan would be though, to send me the money if you can get it & then I could get anything I need cheap at Charleston. Do try and send me a little any way as soon as possible.

 

            The Marlboro guards, while I'm writing are just coming here; one or two who were sent on before have just arrived.

 

            Give my best respects to M^r & M^rs Ogburn, D^r Lam, Uncle John's folks &c. Tell M^r Ogburn to write me & I will reply as well as I can. I must close. Direct

your letter to                                                              

John W. Smith,

M^cQueen Guards

8^th Reg^t S.C.V.

Charleston S.C. /

 

P.S.      S.C.V. stands for South Carolina Volunteers as you perhaps know. Tell Uncle Daniel to write me.                

J.W.S.                                                             

 

you must excuse me for ink being spilt all over this letter as this table was turned over and my ink scattered over it while writing.

 

This was written in a hurry and particular pains was not taken either with the writing or spelling. Dont forget to Direct all communications for me to

                                                                                   

John W. Smith,

M^cQueen Guards,

8^th Regt. S.C.V.

Charleston S.C.

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