July 3^rd 1864

Steamer Cannonicus in North Edisto

River S.C. (20 miles from Charleston)

 

Dear Wife

         Once more I will try to scratch a few lines in answer to "yours" that I have not recieved yet but hope to soon. Soon after finishing my last letter at Hilton Head I had the good fortune to recieve two months pay. I sent you two Hundred dollars ($200) of it by Adams Express and if I do not forget it I will send in this the receipt for it which I have with me here. Well now about the expedition which brought us up here almost in sight of the much talked of "Hot bed of Secession" (Charleston) We started from Hilton Head on the night of the first of July fourteen transport loads of troops—one brigade / under the command of Gen^l Birney—one under Gen^l Hatch—and one under Gen^l Saxton—the whole commanded by Major Gen^l J. G. Foster after beating about all night we arrived in this river on the morning of the second. We lay in the mouth of the river until nearly sunset when we came up the river about seven or eight miles and disembarked about nine oclock at night and started back into the country and after marching about one mile and having a little skirmishing with the "Johnnies" and formed "line of battle" and then "Bivouaced" in line.

 

Steamer "Cannonicus" "Stone Inlet" near Charlestown Monday July 4^th 1864

 

Dear Hannah

                        Another fourth of July in the service and this time in "Stone Inlet" close to the shore of the much talked of "James Island" almost in sight of the spires of Charleston. Well now to finish / from where I left off yesterday. When I got up yesterday morning I did not feel well enough to go on with them and so the doctor sent me back to the boat and the Regiment marched about three miles further on and came to a Rebel battery and after skirmishing about it for some time the gunboats went up and fired a few shots and about nine oclock last night the troops came on board bringing one wounded man of my Company which was all the men that was hurt in our Regiment. He was slightly wounded by a piece of shell that struck him on the breastbone and glanced off only making a slight wound. One man had a piece of shell strike the muzzle of his gun just as he was firing it and it doubled the barrell up almost double and knocked / the man down but did not seriously injure him. Capt Smith had a bullet strike the scabbard of his sword and knocked it off his belt and bent it all up. Well after the Reg^t came aboard we came down to the mouth of the river and this morning put out to sea and made for Stone Inlet and the boat is lying here now. The Regiment got off this forenoon at eleven o'clock and we have not heard from them since. Well it is no use for me to finish this letter now as I shall have no chance to send it under two or three days so I will close for the present as it is nearly dark. By the way I guess I will try and finish this page and begin a new sheet next time. It has been raining nearly all the afternoon and faster than I ever saw it rain before in my life I verily believe. Well good night and love and a kiss for my darling ever yours

Joseph H. Prime

 

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We have got back from the expedition all right—Joe

 

Steamer N.P. Banks

July 12^th                                 

a kiss for you

                                                Write Soon

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