Accession Number: XX84:63:6
U.S.S. "Mohawk"
North Edisto Aug.11, 1862
Dear Mother,
It is pretty hard work answering letters, when I have none to answer, for thus far I have only reed, one from you, but now every day are we expecting a mail when I hope to hear from you. I am very anxious to know what your plans are for the future; when are you going West; when you are to return; what you are going to do when you do return, etc., etc., which I hope you will inform me as soon as you know. I am more anxious to learn now while I am so far away, then I should be very likely if I was at home. Every little thing that is going on, every little item of news, possesses twofold interest to me. The great day with us here is that in which the mail comes. Letters are read and reread and before night comes, our eyes grow weary.
I am very glad that I went into the Navy, before this last call for 300,000 men to be drafted was made. Little did I think when I left New York that such a large additional force was to be called out. We are all anxious here to hear the latest news from McClillans Army, and earnestly hope that large reinforcements will reach him before he is called upon to give battle again. It looks darker to me now, than it has done for the last eight months and I do not see as there is any immediate hope for peace. I begin to think that it will be 1864 before this war is over, but before that time I hope to be back and see you of course I do not know when I shall, but our boilers are very old and will not last longer than next spring at the outside. If we had good boilers, our ship would be in tip top condition. If we had to remain outside and be obliged to keep up a heavy head of steam, they would not last six months. As it is we expect to go to Port Royal next month to repair them.
Our life here has been very uneventful. Nothing of interest occurs from day to day. No Rebels are seen, and consequently no fighting has been done, to relieve the monotony of our life. One day is the index of all the rest. Eat, sleep, read and write and when we wish, a run on shore for exercise.
The health of the officers and crew remains good during this hot weather, and hot it is. The thermometer ranges at noon from 90 to 100 degrees and if it was not for a breeze which we generally have it would be perfectly insupportable, but soon this will pass away and then cool days and cool nights. I am getting into splendid habits here. Go to bed regularly by 10. Get up at 7 etc. Never go out of the house in the evening but always remain at home with the family. I wonder if it will remain so when I get home. I rather think if I was in Troy today, that I should be somewhere tonight.
We live like gentlemen here now. Watermelons, peaches, squash, apples, fish and crabs are our daily foods. I went off in the boat day before yesterday, with Mr. Smallsy fishing but not having good luck thought we would see what we could do in the foraging line. So we pulled up a creek to a plantation sown four I miles away owned by a man by the name of Townsend. As we have seen the house very plainly through a glass, we had a great desire to visit it as it looked like a very fun one, but when we got there, it dwindled down to a poor wooden house, with a cupola, built carelessly and evidently for hot weather. There were a great many negro huts around it, and evidently Townsend was a man of great wealth but now by neglect everything was in poor order. The walks, garden, grounds were all overrun with weeds and the inside of the house was in like order. Old pieces of furniture scattered here and there, a fine piano all broken to pieces and the wall covered by marks made by the soldiers. But we found what we came after, as we returned to the ship with 60 melons, peaches, green lemons and oranges, squash, pumpkins and honey. We got the melons from a large field which was perfectly covered with them and the lemons and oranges make fine lemonade. If we only had some ice it would be glorious, but that is a luxury which we do not have. Did you ever eat "deviled crabs'? At the Northern hotels they are "entrees" but here we have them as the principal dish at dinner. Do not think that my only thoughts are on my eating for you know that was always a secondary thing with me - but I must fill up my shirt with something.
Sunday Aug.17, 1862. We have just finished dinner and since yesterday enough has occurred to allow me to fill up my sheet. We have lost two officers by being taken prisoners by the rebels, and that within a mile of the ship. Yesterday morning about 10, Mr. Carpenter Chief Engineer and a member of our mess, and Mr. Hounsby Masters mate, went off onto the shore for the purpose of having [sic.] a walk. They said they would not go farther than the "negro huts." There are huts where three negroes live, who were left behind when the rest of them were taken away, and they are about a mile in a strait line from the ship towards the center of the Island - but hidden from our observation by some trees, about noon some of our men who were on the beach cutting some wood, heard some shots from that direction, but when they came on board and repeated the fact, we thought nothing of it, for it was a common occurrence for us to fire off our pistols either at a target, or for the purpose of reloading. But night came, but brought no Officers, and we began to be alarmed, but surmised various reasons why they might have been detained - They might have caught some horses and rode away farther etc. etc. But this morning nothing was to be heard or seen of them and after breakfast, two boats with some 20 armed men were sent ashore to search for them. The men proceeded to the huts and questioned the negroes and they said that the officers came over there yesterday morning, and after talking with them a little climbed up a fig tree to get some figs. While there, the negroes saw some fifty armed rebels coming and very near the house. One of them ran to alarm our men but before they could get away, the rebels surrounded the ten and fired three or four shots at them. Our officer jumped down them and started on a run for the beach with the rebels after them, who soon caught them, and carried them away. Whether or not they were wounded we do not know as they did not pass the huts on their return, but went off in another direction. It has cast a gloom over us all, but we are happy to know that they are alive.
We have been in the habit of roaming all over the Island. I have told you in this letter, about ray going out four miles and it was only luck on my part that it was not me instead of the others, but this puts a stop to all such proceedings, and here after we shall not be permitted to go at all on shore.
We who have roamed all over, have gone free, which two officers who only went a mile from the ship, and that for exercise have been taken. This shows the uncertainty of war.
We have taken all their things, and locked them up to be disposed of, as may here after be determined.
This Mr. Hounsby seems to be followed by ill luck, for he was one of the prize crew put aboard the "Emily St. Pierre" which was recaptured, and carried into Liverpool, from whence he returned to the U.S. last May -
But I have written long - Give my love to all the family at Syracuse-and believe me
Your Aff. Son,
George