8 pages, 4 3/8 x 8, in pencil, written by Benjamin Wright, to his wife. Comes with cover addressed to Mrs. Benjamin Wright, Greenwich, Conn., postmark Port Royal, Feb. 12, with 3 cents embossed George Washington postage stamp, with bullseye cancellation. Ink notation, Feb. 8th, 1863. Propeller Vidette, St. Helena Isl., Feb. 8th, 3:30 P.M., 1863
My Dear Abbie,
We moved from our achorage at Hilton Head this morning and came across to this side, the distance perhaps four or five miles. We came close by the Navy anchorage. Had a good view of the new Ironsides, the monitor Weehawken, and the other vessels of the Navy. The Ironsides is a fine looking craft. I think she will make Fort Sumter beg, not withstanding, if she can bring her fifteen inch guns to bear on it. The Monitor is a curious looking thing. Looked about like a new coop on a raft. Does not look as though it would stand any sea at all, hardly to go to Capts. Island, but in coming down here it has proved itself perfectly sea worthy. We had good news this morning from the Montauk. She had again commenced the attack on Fort McAlister at the mouth of the Ogeechee River, and had dismounted five of their guns. They were casemated, ten in number, one hundred lbs. Armstrong guns. Most of the fighting had been done at six hundred yards. Pretty close work. She had been struck over sixty times but it had no more effect on her than so many peas would have had. If she succeeds in taking the Fort as she probably will, the Rebs will be some what afraid of the animal. This Fort they considered impregnable, and they were quite encouraged when she attacked them before with so little success. She could run right past the Fort now but for the fear of torpedoes in the river. Today has been a very quiet Sabbath for being onboard boat. The day has been warm and pleasant, a little cloudy. We land tomorrow morning early with three days rations in our haversacks. We have got to dig a well before we can have any water which I suppose will be the first thing to be attended to. If they had only taken us up to Beaufort and put us ashore there we would have been where we could get plenty of water. By our having to take three days rations I don't see the point whether we are to stay only three days or whether they think it will take that length of time for the commissary to get his things on shore. Be it as it may, I don't believe we are going to have a very nice place to encamp. Looks to me like a sand bed. We shall be where it will be difficult for us to get over to Hilton Head for anything. It will be two weeks tomorrow since we came on the boat. It does not look much like getting back to Newbern in four weeks. I don't believe we shall get back much before the middle of March, if we do as soon as that. Things have not gone right.
Feb. 10th, 8 P.M.
We landed yesterday and have been to work hard all day getting things in shape. We are perhaps half or three quarters of a mile from the landing place. All our things, provisions &c have to be brought up by hand as there is no teams with us. We will have quite a nice camp ground when we come to get it fixed up. The shelter tents look very nice. We brought our shelter tents with us. I have been very busy all day fixing Capt. Greeley's and mine. I have got it quite comfortable. Built a bedstead. Got nice soft bed on it. Got the ground covered with pine twigs. I am now laying on the ground writing to you. We shall have some cracker boxes in a day or two to make seats and a table of. We shall then be all right. Capt. Greeley has gone out and I am all alone. I think I shall go to bed pretty early tonight as I have got a pretty good bed. Capt. Greeley and the boys got back this morning all safe. The General wished them not to tell where they had been, but I have found out some things about the expedition. They had a fine time. Went into Charleston Harbor. Saw Fort Sumter. Landed somewhere, they don't tell where, and went to within a mile and a half or three quarters of Fort Sumter. Ascertained how many troops there was around Charleston. Saw the Rebs throwing troops on Sullivan's Island. They had between 30 & 40,000 on the Island and about 60,000 in all. Our men divided in two squads. One of them marched about five miles and the other ten, as near as I can find out. I think one squad came near being taken. I guess they saw enough. I would have been delighted to have gone with them. Gen. Foster left for the North last night. He will probably probably go to Washington before he returns. I am afraid he will have trouble with Hunter. As soon as Foster gets out of the way he orders a review of our Division. I suppose he has a perfect right to do so, but it does not look very well in him. The men can't turn out in very good shape as they did not come expecting anything of the kind. Hunter might help Gen. Foster a good deal if he would, but he will not unless he can have the command. He has a seige train we ought to have but I don't suppose he will let us have it. I think Foster will bring a good many more troops down from the North. We shall probably be here for two or three weeks before we make any move at all. There is lots of oysters about here. Some of the boys have been after them today. I believe I will not write any more tonight. I will take a look at your photograph and then prepare to retire. Good night.
11th, 7 A.M.
This is a nice pleasant morning. I have just been out back in the edge of the swamp and had a good wash. I feel first rate or shall as soon as I get some breakfast. Last night after getting to bed Capt. Greeley told me about the reconnoisance they made. He says there is about 17,000 troops on James Island and not as many as that on Sullivan's. The best way of approach to the city is from the North. He did not find things half as bad as he expected. Thinks we can take Charleston with 25,000 men with the assistance of the monitors. Thinks our company may have a chance to go off again before the expedition goes. I hope I shall have a chance to go. Capt. Greeley said he came near getting in a scrape. The only thing that saved them was the Rebs thought they were friends. Nothing could have permitted the Rebs from taking them all. I hope we shall get a mail soon. I suppose when it does come it will be two weeks old. Will go to Newbern first. They get their mails at Hilton Head direct from New York in about three days. I wished when we first came here I had told you to direct here. I hardly think it would do now, but we may be here a month before we go back to Newbern. I think by the time I get my clothes I shall need them, but I don't want them on this expedition although I shall probably not look very fine some of the time to go on day's parade. I suppose we shall have drills as we had before we left Newbern. We have not much of a drill gtound. Yesterday was a very warm day. More like June than Feb. I don't know what it will be here by and by, but I must close this and put in the mail bag so that it can go over to town today. Give my love to all, Bennie in particular.
Ever Your Affectionate,
Benjamin
Excellent content! Light age toning.
Included will be the following xerox copies: war date documents which are written by and signed by Benjamin Wright with his full name, rank, and regiment, a war time envelope addressed in the hand of Lieutenant Wright to his wife, his photo in uniform, the gravesites of Abbie and Benjamin Wright in Connecticut, and his obituary. |
