St Helena Island         

March 22^nd 1863

 

Dear Parents.

                        It is a splendid sabbath afternoon I have just finished my dinner and having a little time before it is time for church I have set down to improve it by writing a few lines home. It has been very unpleasant here for the last two or three days, chilly and a part of the time rainy. It was so cold I was uncomfortable with my overcoat on, but now it has cleared up, the sun shines out gloriously, and every thing looks fresh and all things that breathe seem happy I have arranged my photographs up over my desk. I found some of them were needing air from long confinement I think they improve the looks of the / inside of my tent very much. I suppose we shall change our camp a little this week we are to have new tents i.e. the regiment is all going to have tents like mine: four men in a tent. There was a mail came in yesterday from New York but there was nothing for me. In fact I have not had a letter since the fifth, as I can find out. I do not understand it at all. We are going to begin to have Brigade drills tomorrow so I hear. We only have to regiments of our brigade here.

 

The chaplain was not present this morning but is going to preach this afternoon, from the same subject that he preached from once before concerning the present condition of our country. I suppose there will be a good many out, as it is known and he was very interesting before. Our band gives us some very fine music / The leader composes some of it himself. he has composed to pieces since we have been here that I know of both very pretty. One is entitled "Tenth Connecticut Quickstep" the other General Stevensons Quickstep. He composed the last by request of General Stevenson for the piano, afterward altered it for his band to play But it is about time for church.

 

Evening. I have just come in from prayer meeting. Lieu. Wright went to his quarters and learned that the mail was going to close in camp at nine o'clock to night so I must finish this up double quick and have it off. The text this afternoon was from Ecce. 7^th ch 10 verse As illustrations he took the rebellion of the children of Benjamin and of more modern nations and showed that former days were no better than present ones / For by considering that case I have already mentioned of the children of Israel at the bitter waters of [?] and when they were in want of food, of campaign of the English in the early part of the present century. Of the Revolutionary war in our own country. It all appeared very plain. Surely we have no cause to be discouraged or at all disheartened by the present condition of our country it will all be right yet This land will be free from the curse of slavery. This people will be a free and happy people if we but put our trust in Him who is able to do all things well I believe the boys are all as well as usual and quite as fat I am sure I never was so on fat before

                                                                       

Yours aff William

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