Carolina City N.C. Apr. 27^th 1863

           

Dear Brother:

                                    This letter is written quite a distance from where my last was. Mar. 25^th I wrote you from St. Helena Island. Apr. 4^th we left that Island taking the Steamer U.S. for North Edis to river. Several transports were there waiting for the ironclads to do something or nothing and then move accordingly. We were about 16 miles from Charleston and day after day we listened for the report of our guns. We heard nothing but the 8^th news came that the engagement had commenced. the 10^th we were ordered back to Hilton Head, the ironclads had been repulsed. Saturday we landed and pitched our tents. Sunday at eleven P.M. we were turned out and ordered to at once get ready to strike tents, had just got our blankets rolled when word came that we could turn in again, gave our commanders a good blessing and then laid down and slept 'till three o'clock when we again turned out and commenced preparations for breaking camp. Owing to several delays it was noon before we had everything aboard the steamer U.S. Where we were going no one knew but it was rumored / that Newbern was the place. And so it proved. After a rough passage of 36 hours we came in sight of Beaufort S.C., owing to the rough sea it was another 36 hours before we could cross the bar. Finally we got ashore and aboard the Newbern train. We were a happy lot of boys, laughed sang and shouted, a stranger would have thought that we had been discharged and were bound homeward. Arriving in Newbern we marched to the residence of Gen. Foster and gave him cheer after cheer, in return were cheered by him and staff. The inhabitants turned out in large numbers to see us. I think all were glad to see the old 23^d back again. The Regt. got a good name while guarding the city. Next day at ten o'clock A.M. rec'd marching orders and in less time than it takes to write this we were on the road to Washington N.C., our troops in that town were hemmed in by the Rebs and we were going to relieve them. A few days before a brigade of Penn. conscripts under the famous Gen. Spinola had attempted the same thing but got frightened and came back pell mell. Our advance consisted of the 9^th N.J. 67^th & 23^d Mass. Regts., a part of the 3^d N.Y. Cavalry and a battery of artillery. A day and a half marching through mud and water up to our knees brought us to the place where Spinola and his mob had seen the enemy. They had fled, their earthworks were still / there and strong ones they were, had they remained they could have given as much trouble as ever we should have to pass through a dense swamp. We halted early that night. Early Sunday morning we were on the road expecting to meet the Rebs at a fort on the Tar river, that place they had also evacuated. We rested here 24 hours when a transport came down from Washington and took us back to Newbern. The march to many of the boys was a hard one. I was not much tired. One reason that made it so hard for many of them was because we had nothing but hard bread and faith to subsist on, a most any price would have been paid for the poorest of salt junk, the country was so poor that we could not find even a lean pig. the Rebs had been there before us and taken everything eatable.

 

            Reaching Newbern we were allowed to rest two days when orders came to again pack up. This time the move was for the better, came to this fine place, the best one we have yet found. It is on Bogue Sound about 30 miles from Newbern on the rail-road leading from that place to Beaufort. The fresh water is the best we have found in N.C. and the salt water gives us a good chance to bathe, wood and pine boughs are plenty. Here we can live like fighting cocks, fish oysters and clams are plenty. The boys are all as contented as need be, a very different feeling from that on St. Helena. Our officers have come to the conclusion that we are white folks and now treat us as such, have seen but little drunk- / enness since we landed in N.C. I can hardly imagine what has made the change, guess that demonstration on St. Helena island was a good thing.

 

            Sunday May 3^d:—Since commencing this letter I have been to Newbern, six from my Co. went there to take an account of stock in the ordnance Dept., were gone four days and had a very good time. Saw many friends in the 44^th Regt. That Regt. is now guarding the city. The 17^th, which relieved us, remained there but a short time, don't think they were exactly adapted to that place. The 45^th was there while now the 44^th has it. Had the officers of the 23^d said the word we could have had the place. I am glad they did not, think we shall have a much easier time, shall have to go on but few scouts 'till cool weather. Our officers continue to be as good as pie, have had but two or three drills the past week. We have just built an oven and to-day are having baked beans, a quite a rarity, have not had any but four times since we landed on St. Helena Island. Salt-water trout are plenty we have them fried quite often. I tell you we shall live high if we remain here. for supper last night I had "flap jacks", and light ones too. Butter and sauce is also plenty, am indebted to a Boston friend for it.

 

            Most of our letters go to Port Royal so I do not hear from home very often. yester-day rec'd a letter dated Apr. 12^th. Abbie always writes a good lively letter. George is a little lazy. Have just heard from Howard, is at Hebron and enjoying himself very well, no fear of his wasting his time when at school. Father is still confident that the tree business is the business for an active young man. I know that it pays well but I don't like it, he thinks the best thing you can do is to return and go into it. If our Capt would allow it I would make more than $13.00 pr. month, might just as well make 26 when in camp as we now are. I can buy apples and pies and sell them for a good profit. When on St. Helena two fellows neglected their /

 

duty to sell things and so the Capt. put a stop to it. I may play it on him. I have friends in other Cos. a half a loaf is better than none.

 

            The weather is very fine, the grass is green and the rose bushes are in full bloom. We have a chance to go about considerable. In S.C. the whole Regt only had five passes a day, here each Co. has that number. We cannot go to Newbern but Beaufort is only four miles distant, boats go there every day.

 

            You probably have read a full account of the attact on Charleston. I can tell you nothing more, the nearest I got to Charleston was 16 miles. Probably it is one of the strongest places (on the water side) in the world. Our ironclads are a new thing and we must not wonder that we did not get them perfect the first time. To attact / it by land would require an immense force. Don't think Gen. Hunter capable of leading that force. I think we have good reasons for not liking Gen. Hunter, one good look at the man is enough to satisfy any one, there is altogether too much fancy about the man, reminds me of certain men I have seen about certain places in Boston, have heard many say the same of him.

 

            When I last heard from Small he was 30 miles above N.O., think his Regt. is in the army that is advancing against Port Hudson. Everything in that quarter looks favorable for us still we cannot tell how it will come out. The warm weather will be terrible for our troops. Small writes that it is very sickly in his Regt, the 24^th Me. The Va. army is said to be in splendid condition and I trust that "Joe" will make a / successful move soon. I think our prospects are brighter than they were awhile ago but we yet have an immense amount of work to do. Our troops cannot work to a good advantage in the hot weather. We hear much said about starving out the Rebs, but I dont believe we can do it, even in the most of poor eastern N.C. there is any quantity of pork and potatoes and considerable corn. It will require all of our skill and strength to finish up the work in one year.

 

            The last letter I have rec'd from you was dated Jan. 21^st. You did not tell me where to direct but as you was in Marysville I send this to that place. Write soon.

 

Your brother

Charles

 

P.S. This city consists of four houses and a depot, all cities in the South.

C.C.

SOURCES