Accession Number: XX84:63:22
"Mohawk"
Port Royal S.C.
July 13 1863.
Dear People at Home,
I have no letters from you to answer since the 30th June, but I expect that some came on the Fulton last Friday, and were carried to Charleston on the "Wabash" which went up there on Saturday morning.
We have been overjoyed during the past three days by news of the Rebel defeats North & West; the rout of Lees Army, and the capture of Vicksburgh. We have received papers up to the 9th inst, and truly were greatly cheered therewith. It looks as though daylight was beginning to appear in our affairs, and heartily do wish that the war might be ended by the time I return, so that my services could be dispensed with. But there are operations in progress in this Department, which will surprise people generally in the North, but you are somewhat prepared for it by my last letters. It has been studiously given out for the past three weeks that every thing here was quiet, that no active operations were contemplated, and that part of the forces here were going to be sent to other points. Now if you will look on your map of Charleston Harbor, you will better understand the nature of operations here.
During the first attack on Charleston, Genl Hunter occupied Folly Island by his forces, which is separated from Morris Island by a creek called Light House Inlet, but did nothing farther. As soon as Gillmore came, he commenced secretly to build batteries upon Folly Island, facing Morris Island. This he was enabled to do, as all the work was done during the night, and high sand bluffs on the edge of the creek concealed the troops from the observation of the rebels. All the steamers going & coming from Folly Island, managed to arrive and leave Stono Inlet during the night, and I know of several loaded with troops, which did not arrive there so as to hit the tide, come back & wait until next night. In fact it was so well managed, that last Thursday morning the rebs on Morris Island, were awakened from their slumbers by the shot & shell from our guns falling in their midst. Our forces shelled them four four hours, when the troops crossed the creek, & charged upon their batteries, and before night, all of Morris Island was in our possession with the exception of Cummings point, Thus far that has defied assault & bombardment, but every steamer arriving today, says every thing is working finely & its bound to fall. Our Monitors will again come up close under its walls, and pop away 15 inch shot at it, oh its bound to fall now and no mistake. There do not seem to be many troops there on the rebel side, and I expect the report, that 30,000 men and Beauregard had gone to Virginia, is correct, for they had no idea of any attack being made. Our loss thus far has not been great, but how much I cannot say. Orders came down from the Admiral on Saturday, for the Wabash to go up, to be used as a hospital ship, & she immediately got under weigh – and went out. By the way do you know girls why a ship is called she – Give it up? Why its because the rigging is worth more than the hull – However that’s foreign to the matter under discussion. I expect news hourly of our success, & if it comes before the mail goes North I will give it to you. Now don’t things look favorable all around the horizon.
I am about tired of saying or thinking anything about our going home, but we have appearances from the Fleet Engineer, that as soon as the Admiral returns from Charleston we shall go – This may be so, and it may not, but I yet keep my courage up above freezing point. You cannot imagine how great is my desire to see you all. My heart yearns for the sight of you all, and it will be one of the happiest moments of my life when I can "meet my friends once more" I am not tired of the service, but in the service. (Do you recognize Mother in that sentence,) and after a month or two of furlough, I should be willing to again go to sea in a decent ship, but would not go in such an old tub as this. I don’t know but that you think I am a regular old "barnacle back" for I am growling all the while, and that is the especial prerogative of seamen, but we don’t have any thing else to do, and that fills up part of the time. I have just recd orders to sit on a poor fellow tomorrow, and find him guilty of refusing to obey orders, and that will take up part of one day.
Its terribly hot here at this season, and the nights are almost insufferable, but thank goodness we do not have any mosquitoes or sand flies here, and that’s a relief that does not accrue to the vessels in the harbor, and just at this juncture the ice house in town takes a fit of being out of ice, and so we drink tepid water, smack our lips & call it good. I wish I had a few bottles of that [illegible] that you sent me last winter. I saved it until warm weather began, & then found it delightful. I think I must engage a few dozen for my next cruise. Who keeps it for sale or for sail.
I have no farther news to write, and will reserve my powers until a future occasion. So with much love to you all, I am
Yours Affectionately
George