Beaufort S.C.

April 2^d 1863

 

Dear Mother

I take my pen to write you once more in the same old camp at Beaufort we have been down to Florida and got back here yesterday I am glad we have got back here but we shall have to leave again in a day or 2 for Charleston we had a pretty ruff time down to Jacksonvill the Rebs shelled ous too or 3 nights the shells struck in the town one went through a brick house it struck the end of the rufe and went down through all the flours and out the end window in to the ground out of sight. / an other one struck a house in which a man and his family lived it went down through the room in which he and his wife was in bead it struck the chare his clothes hung on and stove it all to peaces but hurt no one the next day we went out after them our Regt the 6 Conn and the Nigger Regt the Rebs had a large Rifle Canon on a Car on the Rail Road they wold run it on the track at night and shell ous and then run ther engine back well we went out after them our Co and Co B went ahead as scurmishers we drove the Rebel Cavelry just ahead of ous but out of range of our rifles they kep leading ous on we got out about 5 miles / then the Coln ordered ous to retreat we had all got togather and was marching in retreat when they opened on ous with shells one of the shells struck in the center of our Co just passing over my head and killing 2 men and wounding another in the file just ahead in front of me Willis was wounded in the foot I helped cary him to camp he has since had his foot taken of how was it that I escaped but thank God that I did one of the men that was killed was Joseph Goodwin he belonged in Liman poor fellow When we left Jacksonvill we set it all on fire and burnt the whole City for and took all the women and children / and furniture and &c we could get and left we are back here safe but we have got to leave again soon but when you write direct to Hilton Head S.C. be shure and write often and pray for me oftener and all will yet be well where is Alonzo now is he well and alive yet give my love to all who inquire do not believe any of the storyes in the papers we heared after we got back that we wa shiprecked and all drowned but 4 and they was taken prisners

 

write soon

                        God Bless you all

Farther Mother and evry

            boddy Yours Charley

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