Seabrook Island

 Sunday evening March 29^th 1863

 

Dear Parents.

                        We left our camp on St Helena island on the twenty sixth and went on board the steamer Cahaba. Where we were going no one knew but all wanted too. Yesterday morning the steamer started we put out of the harbor and when fairly out to sea headed north. we kept in sight of the land all the way about noon we put into an inlet. Here we found four monitors lying in a small bay formed by the island Several mortar schooners, a small steamer and a gunboat. Our Brigade is all the forces here, three regiments now, the fifty sixth New York has been temprarily joined to our Brigade. Of course it was. The Tenth regiment / was the first to land, followed by the fifty sixth New York they by the twenty fourth Massachusetts. Before we landed two of the monitors went and shelled the woods. As soon as the regiment was all on shore, one company B. we deployed as skirmishers, and the the regiment started on its march through the woods. there was only a narrow path through the bushes we marched until about eight oclock when we came to an open field, across which was the White house, and the out buildings in the edge of these woods we halted for the night. no lights were allowed. Pickets were stationed across the fields near the creek and preparations were made made to make ourselves comfortable we had just got fixed and had lain down for the night when we heard a shot followed by two others quickly followed by several more almost together. / All hands were quickly up and line formed. And a lieutenant sent out to learn what the trouble was. We found the rebels had been among the pickets and wounded two men of Company K and carried off a sergeant by the name of Parks of Co. F. after this was over we turned in again and slept the remainder of the night and until broad daylight the next morning. It had been cloud all the time since we left Hilton Head and now it began to rain. About ten o'clock we had orders to to get ready to return. soon after we started to go back to the landing leaving one of the regiments to do picket duty. We arrived back at the landing about half past eleven, raining all the time furiously. We had left our knapsacks here, overcoats and and rubber blankets / the men got their shelter tents and pitched them. My tent was not brought on shore so I had to get in with some one else. the best place I found was the commissary tent. We were sitting talking when the Quartermaster came in and said there would be a chance to send letters in the morning. So I up and set myself at work. Co. I. is all well I believe and safe.

                                                                       

Your affectionate son

William

SOURCES