Direct to Newbern N.C.

Newbern Jany. 20^th '63

 

Dear Father:

                        As the mail closes to-night I to-day will write that you may know how I am getting along. I have improved very fast for the past four days. to-morrow I hope to join my Regt. it is still in this vicinity but is liable to leave any hour. the transport is all ready, it is a very good one I believe. Wilmington or Charleston we are to attact I think but of course know nothing about it. Gen. Foster deserves all the praise he is getting. I too wish we had more men like he and Burnside, they are honest men and are willing to do everything in their power to end the war. Gen. Foster now / has quite an army and soon it will be heard from. I wish he had more experienced officers to help him, but few of the under officers have ever commanded anything more than a Regt. Gen. Nagle is second in command I think and he is called a good officer. Last night there was considerable anxiety about him. He left this place five days ago for Beaufort and since then nothing has been heard from him. it is feared that the boat is lost or was last evening. I have heard nothing this morning.

 

I certainly hope that something will be done, every soldier wishes to see the thing closed up some way. if they must fight they wish to do it at once so that they can return to their friends. But I tell you there is much done that is terrible provoking to the soldier, many officers use their / men as though they were dogs and very poor ones too. Particularly is this the case when a Regt. is in camp. when on the march and approaching the battle field they behave with a little more decency. The man despised most by our Regt. was not to be found at the battle of Kinston, a Lieut. who delights in provoking his men was found behind a large tree. a few officers were the only ones that showed the white feather in our Regt. at that battle. I think every private stood square up to the work, have not heard of one that ran. Our Maj. had been drinking quite freely that morning but behaved well. At Whitehall he was cool and brave, take away the whiskey and he would be a grand officer. The Lieut. Col. has returned and now commands the Regt. we like him quite well. You ask / how I felt while in battle. At first the bullets made an unpleasant sound as they flew by but after a short time I did not mind them much. I had heard it said that one knew but little about what was going on after they were fairly engaged but it was not so with me, I knew and can now remember everything that transpired while in battle. I was able to take it much cooler than I expected. When I went in I made up my mind to stand up to the work, if I was only able to do this I cared for nothing. My comrades were all cool and of course that helped me greatly. One poor fellow proposed to compromise when the bullets began to fly thick, his courage was good enough but he was greatly excited.

 

As I before stated, to-morrow I hope to join my Regt. You may not hear from me again for some days but you must all write just the same, anything directed to the Regt. will reach us sometime. Your advice I will try and remember. The old home is thought of often and it will be a happy day when I can again return to it. You must take things as easy as you can, you are growing old. I was glad to hear from Mother and will write to her as soon as I find time.                                             

 

Your Son         Charles

SOURCES