Center for Archival Collections

Beaufort. S.C. Sept 10th 1862.

Dear Cousin Roxie

Your very welcome letter was received nearly a week ago, but this is the first opportunity I have had of answering it. I have been very busy for the last five weeks. I have had all the Company writing to do, besides drilling two hours every day. Our Captain was taken sick the 1st of August and had to be taken to the hospital, both Lieuts were already in the hospital and our Orderly Sergeant sick in his tent, another Sergt gone home to recruit for the Regt, and a Color Sergt who does no duty except take care of the Regimental Colors and four Corpls [Corporals] sick in quarters.

We were firstly bad off for officers and what there were of us left had a pretty tough row to hoe. I had to drill the Co about half the time. One of our Lieuts came back in about a week and took charge of the Co. The Capt continued to fail till the 19th inst when his spirit took its flight from its earthly tenement to a happier world where there is no more war and tumult but all is happiness and peace. God grant that we may all live in such a manner, that we may meet him in his heavenly home when we come to die. He was buried in the Episcopal Churchyard on the 20th with Military honors. The same day Private Mack died in the hospital and was buried the next day. It cast a gloom over the Co and I might say over the whole Regt. The Orderly Sergeant was appointed Administrator, and I had to help him make out the Inventories and Final Statements of the Estate.

The 26th inst we got news that Sergt Perkins who had gone home to recruit was dead and the 27th a telegraphic dispatch from Hilton Head told us that Corpl Hickox was found dead in the road near Draytons plantation[.] He had been connected with Maj-Gen Hunters, Mounted Guard since we first landed on Hilton Head, the cause of his death is unknown but he was supposed to have been murdered. Then I had to make out the Muster & Pay Rolls, Monthly & Weekly Reports, Ordnance Returns, Bills of Company Savings & c, and it kept me just about as busy as I wanted to be. I have only written two letters home since I wrote to you. Our Officers have got better & the Co is quite healthy now. The 1st Lieut has been promoted to the Captaincy and our 1st Sergt to be 1st Lieut, and your "Yankee Cousin" has stepped up one peg and now ranks as Sergeant. I hope I shall be able to visit my Ohio friends sometime but I think you can call me 21 years old with perfect safety by the time I get there. We have just got orders to go out on picket for ten days at 3 O Clock this afternoon. So you will please excuse this short letter. I will write again when we get back. Our Co, I understand, has got to go to Port Royal Ferry[.] I enclose a piece of Palmetto Bark for you. Give my love to all & accept a large share for yourself from your

Cousin Gus.

Beaufort. S.C. Oct 26th 1862

Dear Cousin Roxie

It is a rainy Sunday morning and as there is no inspection this morning, I take this opportunity of answering your very welcome letter. I meant to have written to you when we returned from the ferry, but I had to go to work on the Quarterly Returns as soon as I got back and it took all the time I could spare to attend to those. After I got them finished and answered one or two letters I had received from home we got orderst to go to the ferry again. So I packed up and we started for the ferry about 3 O Clock P.M on the 10th of this month. It was quite cool and we marched ten miles in about 3 hours. We found boards enough to floor our tents all over and we raised them up abouat 18 inches from the ground Our Camp was in a spendid oak grove and we enjoyed ourselves finely. The Niggers brought us fish Crabs, Shrimps Oysters, hoe cake & c and traded with us for Stale Bread and we dug what Sweet Potatoes and Peanuts we wanted from a field nearby and I tell you what we lived high for ten days. I was on picket when I received your letter, one of the boys brought it out to me and I assure you it was a welcome intruder into my clump of bushes[.] it was quite a relief from the monotony of picket duty. About dark we got ready and went out on the Causeway where we stayed till morning. We were not over 200 feet from the rebels, who came out on the opposite end of the Causeway. Some of the boys began to talk across to them and at last got them to answer us and then we talked with them for about 3 hours. They appeared to be very pleasant young men and answered our questions promptly and we had a nice little chat but they were very bitter against the North and seemed to be bound to hold out as long as possible. One of them told us they should fight as long as they could for "blessed is he that holdeth out to the end." It was a pleasant night and passed away very quickly and at daylight we went back to our bushes and I went and visited the other posts and reported to Head Quarters and then my 24 hours picket duty was done. I went to Camp and washed up and got my breakfast and went out and got some Sweet Potatoes for dinner[.] After dinner I felt rather sleepy and thought I would have a little nap and then answer your letter[.] so I went to sleep and the next I knew one of my tentmates called me to breakfast the next morning[.] I had taken cold and every bone in my body ached like the toothache[.] I lay around all day feeling rather blue and as soon as it was dark I went to bed but couldn't sleep any. In the morning I got my breakfast and went on picket again. I had to go to the outpost on the right about four miles from Head Quarters and by the time I got there I was pretty much tired. I took off my equipment spread down my blankets and made up a good fire and took things easy during the day. I went up to the next post and got some Oysters and we had a good roast. about dark we made some Tea and eat our supper[.] The Lieut came out with the Countersign and we got ready to look out for Secesh. The old oak tree that we built our fire in had got on fire and just after dark it burst out about 20 feet from the ground and made everything as light as could be. About ten O Clock our Lieut came out and told us that Capts Hudson and Prouty and 6 men had been taken prisoners by the rebels and they had the Countersigns with them and if the rebels should get hold of them they might come over and try to capture some of our pickets. So they changed the Countersign and told us to keep a sharp lookout and report to Head Quarters early in the morning. I didn't feel sleepy at all, so I sat up all night and watched with the boys. About daylight we made some Tea for our breakfast and then I started for Camp. I reported everything quiet to the Capt and then went over to Camp. About noon the 8th Maine Regt came out and relieved us and we started for Beaufort. I didn't feel as if I could walk a mile but I was bound to go as far as I could and I made out to get into camp but I couldn't have marched much farther. As soon as I got my things off I went to the Drs [doctor's] and got some Medicine and went to bed.

In the morning I felt worse and went to the Drs again. I done some writing for Capt and we got paid for four months in the forenoon[.] The Regt got orders to be ready to march at half past one O Clock but the Dr told me I couldn't go. No one knew where they were going but the report was that they wree going to destroy the railroad bridge. After they were gone I got things straightened and made out furloughs for three men that are sick. The next day I went down town and got my picture taken to send to you. It is "Gus" complete only he has daubed to[o] much red paint on the cheeks. You can compare it with the others you have of me and see if there has been much change. The Regt got back day before yesterday. they had some pretty tough fighting while they were gone. They went to destroy the bridge but found too many rebels. they drove the rebes about ten miles when their ammunition gave out and they had to fall back. The loss of our Regt is 5 killed and 35 wounded including the Col and Lt Col [Lieutenant Colonel]. I wish I had been able to have been with them for I want to share all their trials as well as pleasure. Our Co only had one man wounded. I wish I could be with you for a while. I think I could do a pretty tall piece of talking just now especially with the aid of a female and I think I could take care of a piece of that Peach Leather although I don't chew Tobacco. That Palmetto Bark is not exactly the outside bark, though it is all the bark there is. Your opinion on the Drafting question is the same as mine. It does me lots of good to see some of the old hypocrites squirm and try to get away when they are drafted. I only wish I was there so that I could laugh at them and bother them a little. it would fat me an inch on the rib. Parson Brownlows writings are very interesting but I can only get such as are published in the papers. Lieut Stowe of Co "G" has bought that Melodeon [sp?] but I use it whenever I choose. I give Lizzie a good long letter once in a while. I wrote her one of 29 pages and wrote between every line so that it was as good as 58 pages. it took her from seven O'Clock till ten to read it.

[In margin of page 1] Tell Artie I don't know what the girl I left behind me would prefer but I should most decidedly prefer my Yankee home to any place this side of Mason and Dixons line. So if I can't get one that likes Yankeedom I shal live in solitude all my days. Ask Mary if she thinks I will do for her everlasting Love. I think I will, for if I don't think so there won't any one. I send you a little piece of Cotton that was picked on the battle field. it is rather dirty Give my love to all and accept a large share for yourself from
Coz Gus.