Camp at Pocotaligo S. C

                                                                                                            Jany 18^th 1865.

 

My own dear Fannie

                                    I have another opportunity of droping you a few lines which I will improve. In my last I think I told you that we were under marching orders, but we did not leave Beaufort until the day after I wrote. we are now encamped at a little town called Pocotaligo about twenty five miles from Beaufort and about forty miles from Charleston. we had quite heavey skirmishing all the way to this place, and now the enemy are only two or three miles from us, and probably will try to hinder our advance. they had some very strong forts between here and Pocotaligo Beaufort but our boys as usual were to much for them and they had to skedaddle. in one instance some of our boys were advancing on a strong fort which they supposed / the enemy had abandoned. they had got up very close to the fort, when the Johnnies opened on them with Grape and canister. they were immediately ordered to lay down and luckily were so near the fort that the Rebs could not depress their guns enough to do them any injury. they could hear the Johnnies talk in the Fort. One of them said “Those are not nigger troops if they were they would not stand this fire, it must be old Shermans men” and very soon they retreated leaving our boys the Fort. We shall probably stay where we are for about one week by that time we shall be in good trim for Charleston or Willmington or any where else that Sherman wants to go. we have a beautiful camp. it is situated on a level plat of ground at the foot of a small hill on which are the Johnnies old Barracks. they left them in such haste that they had not time to eat their breakfast which they had cooking on the fire Pocotaligo is on the Rail Road between Savannah and Charleston so that we hold the Road and prevent any cars running, much to the inconvenience of the Johnnies. We are having Regimental Inspection this morning / and the boys though weatherbeaten and som of them ragged, yet they look fine. they have seen enough soldiering to know what it is. Fanie what do the people north seeme to think about the prospect of the war terminating soon. there is a strong impression here that before next fall we shall have peace on our own terms and that we shall have the pleasure of seeing home and friends once more. I hope such may be the case, though my time expires before that time. I want to see our country once more at peace and Our Glorious old flag wave in triumph over all her foes. Fannie, it has been a long time since I have heard from you. December the seventh was the last. but we have none of us received any mail to speak of I suppose there is a plenty on the way somewhere for us and I expect I shall get about half a dozen from my dear little Fannie wont I have a good time reading them though.

 

            But my page is nearly filled and I must close I am very busy as usual. so my dear Fannie will excuse a short letter this time. please give my regards to all your people. Good by and accept much love from

                                                                                                Your Affectionate

P. S Fannie, if you should in addition to the                                                              Frank.

            other directions put on your letters Shermans Army, I should probably

            get them sooner

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