“Hilton Head” Port Royal S.C.

                                                                                                November 13.1861.

 

My dear Sister

                        You will see that we are in the “land of cotton, cinnamon shoes, and sandy bottom.” We did not fight very hard to force a landing because our gallant Navy did the thing up brown and in a very short time too, only lasting 3 hours, at the expense of 8 lives on our part, and the little pile of shot & shell amounting to over 200 000 lbs of We have taken Horses, Mules, all their tents & camp equipage and a great deal of Ammunition. The possesion of this point is worth everything to the [?] Government. We have stoped up the main entrance to Savannah since they had this port only where they could run in stores. As it is now, the whole coast of Georgia and the Carolinas are completely guarded. By looking at the large map of the E. coast coast you will see an Island at the enterance of Port Royal, a little to the South & West. it is called “Popes Island” and the point commanding the channel is called “Hilton Head.” Upon Hilton Head the rebels erected a Fort mounting 20 large guns, but this Fort was not bombproof and they lost it with several lives/ and left the Island in great haste.

 

                        So much for Southern chivalry”. They were the ones that were to whip 10 Yankees each if ever bro’t into action with them. We found letters they left behind from the Surgeon who said he hoped we would have humanity enough to take care of their sick & wounded (!) Did you ever hear such cheek? They well know that they could not expect any kind treatment, if we were to follow their example, but we do not. Thank God But all of We have treated their wounded and prissiners much better that they themselves treated them, and we have the word of the men for it. One prissiner told me that he had suffered everything while in the rebel service. He was wholly unfit for the service from the fact that he has a bad ey and he would be refused in a Northern Recruiting Office.

 

                        He says they told him to run or the Yankees would kill him but he knew the Yankees better than than that, as he has lived in the Northern States for several years of his life.

 

                        The weather has been very fine ever since we landed a week ago. One Regt is encamped on a line with the 3^d Brigade about 60 yards from the water, so that our Guard cries run to the waters edge thus giving/ the men a good chance to bathe in salt water. The voyage was very rough coming out here, so rough that many men sick the whole time and they did not wash themselves the whole time, or even change their shirts, so tht when they landed, they were a sight to behold.

 

                        By the time we get straightened out we shall have one of the best encampments in the world. There are three Brigades here. One of them contains 5 Regts and one force now amounts to 12000 men.

 

                        I regret to say that our men who are sick in this Regt do not get the propper care from the Surgeons and I took the matter into my own hands yesterday. I have a man who was sick on ship-board with measles. When we disembarked he was anxious to come, and he was obliged to wade in the water through the surf. He slept out in the night air that night and took a fever cold. Now he has the worst leg I ever saw, a regular bone sore, and I am afraid he will lose his leg. I reported his case 5 days ago. The Dr said he would call at his tent but did not. the poor fellow was in such agony, that I could bear it no longer so I took the Dr and gave him fits I told him to attend to our sick or I would have him brocken brouken and would publish/ him and his crowd. He flaxed round smartly after that and last night he visited my tent and made an apology.

 

                        Dr Greeley of Nashua is the Assistant Surgeon. He is a cold-hearted individual and is on his “dig” too much for a surgeon of a Regt. where poor sick men need prompt and careful attention.

 

                        I have sent in a petition to the Col to have them removed—and every Officer in the Regt will sign it. Col wants to give him a trial of a week more—

 

            We are preparing ourselves for an attack and are fortifying ourselves in every possible manner. Our transports are mostly unloaded and they will return to New York where they will land with troops & provisions for our army and return immediately. This will be our Winter Quarters and a permanent post. Is it true that McClellan has whipped Beauregarde at Mannassas Junction?—I hope so.

 

                        I want to see brother John but it may be a long time before I do so Give my love to all the folks. Tell Andrew I am sorry for him. I hope he will not receive a permanent injury from his wound—

 

                                    write soon and direct to New

 

York City—                                        Your Brother

                                                                        Martin

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