Morris Island S.C.      

Saturday evening, Sept. 26

 

Dear Parents,

                        I am only going to write a few lines to you to night and the reason why I am going to write I will tell you directly. To day I went to the mustering officer of this regiment to see about my muster. He said I had got to be regularly discharged as an elisted man before he could do any thing for me. He then inquired how large the Co. was and how many officers it had. Two officers and fifty nine men, not enough / he said to entitle them to three officers. Therefore he could not muster me in as a second Lieut. of Co. F. So there I am just so far and no further. I came back to the regiment and the commanding officer would not have my discharge papers made out but thinks I will have to continue to do duty as Sergt. Maj. I don't know but I shall. But it is very hard work to see it, with a commission in my pocket. I would look well being a Lieutenant a week and then becoming Sergt. Maj. I don't really know how I shall come out yet. Therefore you need not do any thing about the uniform until you hear from me again

                                                                                   

Your son

William

 

Sunday eve, Sept. 27^th

                        It has been a day of quiet here nothing has been going on of importance, no fatigue or any other duty, until tonight there was a detail for grand guard.

 

We had a sad and very careless accident happen in our camp here this afternoon. One man was cleaning his gun. he put a cap on and snapped it, then tried it again, after doing the same thing two or three times over, the gun exploded and passing out of his tent crossed the street, into another company, and into one of their tents wounding one of the men, in both legs, about six inches above the ankle. One leg will have to be amputated, very bad wounds. The wounded man belongs in Co. E. the other in company G. The man was placed under arrest immediately. We have had quite a number of cases / in the regiment of men being wounded accidentally, and in one case very similar to this it proved mortal.

 

I wrote this letter last night, a part of it and was going to send it off but there is no mail likely to leave in a day or two so I did not put it in. I do not know yet what is to be done. The Major says I had better continue as Sergeant Major a while, he thinks he can arrange it in the course of a week or two. But it is generally thought he has no right to ask it, and can not oblige one to do duty as such. I suppose I shall find out in a few days what is to be done. Then I shall write again.

William

 

There was no mail by which to send this so I have kept it until this time Oct. 2^nd

 

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I believe I am entitled to a discharge and can get it if I press the matter, but I'll see how the thing works, for a few days.

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