Camp James Island July 17^nd 63

 

Dear wife after my best love to you and children I seat my self this morning to drop you a few lines wich itrust may find you all well as it leaves me quite well at this time

 

I have nothing of much interest to rite at this time I beleive that there is not very many yankeys on the Island now not more than four thousand we had a small fite yesterday morning with them wich lasted 2 hours we killed about 50 and they killed 3 of our men none out of our Company we had 55 hundred men engage in it though only a few had to lead in it our line was about 3 miles long we give them bricks I think we are most wore out with duty we lost 3 artilery horses / we got a few wounded not many. Our Cavaldry made a butiful charge on them and the way they run was a site we taken 15 negrow Soldiers some with sargents stripes on there is a good many of that kind among the yankeys on this Island now we have got just as many men here now as we need we can hold the Island now in safty I think the fort on Morris Island is all rite yet I dont think that the yankeys will stay hear long I wish that they would make hast and leave this Island so that I could get my furlow for I wont get one till the yankeys leave the Island I never wanted to see my Sweet Darling any more in my life than I do now then i hope that the war will soon end and we poor negrows can com home a gain 

 

My Dear if you can get eny one to plant them peese try and do it if you cant only get the new ground planted it will be some help to you mabe som will help you plant them for I dont now when I will get home or furder it may be soon and it may be a long time. Dear wife you must not be oneasy about me I feel that god is with me in my truble and will bring me out safe Dear wife pray for me Capt Edwards got in contact with a negrow soldier and the negrow shot at Lit Danolsen and miss him and Edwards charge him on his horse and chop him with his sword but the negrow defended the licks off but he hit him one lick with the sword and drop him down and went to stick the negrow with the saber but the negrow cot the sword blade and pushed it off that skewed his horse and he jumped off and the negrow got up and put his bayonett on his gun and made at the Capt and the Capt shot him with five balls ball be fore he kill him the savag Rascall would not surrender til he was killed My Dear I have not got neary letter from you I dont no the day when rite soon and rite heep Tel all houdy kiss Pahs sweet little ones for him Tel them Pah will come soon as he can May god bless my dear family and keep them from all harm is the prayr of your loving husband untel Death H H Hill Oh may god ever give you his spirit to comfort my sweet one, god bless my little ones

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