U.S.S. "Morning Light"                                                                                 

Nov^r 29^th 1862

 

My Dear Wife

                        We have been cruising off the coast of Texas for the past 4 or 5 weeks or ever since the fight at Galveston. there has been no fun of any kind with a few exceptions. once I landed with a boats crew on Matagorda Peninsular for the purpose of overhauling a sch^r in the Bay it was done without any risk of account

 

the day before Thanksgiving I landed with 2 boats to examine a settlement and we found a very extensive salt manufactory. I reported it to the Commander upon our return, who decided to destroy it. So the next day "Thanksgiving", three boats under my command landed and destroyed the factory with all the salt, about 10 tons. the men shot 12 sheep and 4 bullocks for a fresh mess & we have had beefsteaks and mutton chops ever since. our work that day alarmed the whole country, and when we landed yesterday they were on the lookout for us. yesterday morning I landed with 2 boats and just commenced to destroy the salt works when the Rebels came down on us on horseback and on foot we had time to get the boats off the beach and all except one man got into the he was taken prisoner / after we got in the boats one man was killed and three wounded. I killed one of the Rebels and think I wounded a few of the others I got shot in my left elbow not to hurt but just a good miss. it scorched the skin a little making two holes in my coat sleeve. it seemed like a burn when it hit me it will be all right in a day or two. I can keep around just the same. it is so trifling that I would not mention it if it was not to let you know I was around occasionally. we are now bound to Galveston to try to get a smaller craft so as to be able to drive the rebels off when they come down on the beach

 

I think we will soon go to Pensacola for provision or else go home to the North I hope we will come North I really want to see home once more and I think I want to see that boy you have got home You must not think because I got hit that I will get killed next time. I suppose my life is as safe here as at home and you must not worry about anything. I would not write about this if it was not that I am afraid you might hear of it in some other way and think that I was hurt because I did not write. on the whole it is a good lesson to the men they will be more carefull next time and obey orders a little better. had they obeyed my orders more/ carefully they would not have been hurt I have made a written report to the Captain who sends it to the Admiral. he did not mention my name as behaving bravely but says he will do so when he writes again. it would look better if he had done it now I think perhaps it will be all right in the end.

 

I hope & pray that we will be sent home I want to get out of this ship into a good one

 

4 PM Capt Dillingham has returned. the Flag Officer sends us to Sabine to try and get a schooner for a tender. if we get one we will go back and try some more salt works with less danger to ourselves than before and I shall try to get the sch^r myself then I will not be bothered by anything. I will not run a risk of my life foolishly as it is not called for on the whole this affair is the best thing that could have happened for the men & for myself I shall be more careful how I allow them to go away from the boats. I am sorry we lost the men otherwise I would be very glad. I dont think a few scrapes like this would hurt me but I believe they would do me a great deal of good

 

Dec 3^d We are near Sabine Pass now trying to get a sch^r but can not. Capt says he will go to Galveston to get permission to go to Pensacola & if we go to Pens^a I think he will try to be sent home. he has not been home in over 10 months & is anxious, but hates to do it / for fear he will not get another ship he thinks they may put some one else in command of this ship. I hope & pray that we will be sent to New York. he wants to go to Boston

 

I put a letter in the mail bag a week ago by mistake for you I did not mean to send it but I took the wrong one and I dont know what is in the letter it may be a scolding one that I wrote when I felt so ugly because I did not hear from you You must not worry about anything Trust in the Lord & all will be right in the end

My next letter I hope will be from Pensacola saying we are bound home but there is a doubt about it

 

Kiss the little ones all for me I suppose Mary D is not very little She must feel as if she was very big does she flirt her petticoats when she walks. how does Fred look & act now Send the miniatures

           

Yours for all time                              

Henry W Washburn

Acting Master U.S.N.

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