Accession Number: XX84:63:7
U.S.S. "Mohawk"
North Edisto. Aug. 25, 1862
My Dear Mother, and Brother and Sisters,
This is rather a comprehensive title, and maybe will make the letter rather more of a partnership affair than you like, but if I should attempt to write to you all different letters, you would soon tire of endless repetitions. I do not wish to make any unpleasant allusions to the past, but I do think that one short letter from Mother, together with a few lines from Charles, is rather a poor return for the six or seven I have written to Syracuse, - I do declare, if it was not for the girls, I should be in blissful ignorance of everything [illegible] among my relations. By the last letter I reed, from them I find that none of my letters have reached them and it may be the same with you. However I have written every week or ten days, and although they were letters of no interest, for there is nothing of interest going on, yet they serverd to let you know I was alive and well, and not yet in the hands of the rebels - all the time supposing that you have reed, my letters.
There is one item of news of great interest to me and that is the intention you have, Mother of spending the winter in Syracuse - together with the whole family. I hardly know what to think of it, and in fact I have no right to think anything about it, for it is something which does not concern me, and about which my opinion has not been asked. But even with all my long service in the Navy, I have not yet got over the bad habit of minding other people's business, as well as my own - neither have I got over the feeling that I was one of the family, and just as duply interested in what concerns them, as though it was with you, and not a thousand miles away. So with this short "explanation of the position I occupy" I am going to tell you Mother what I think of it. It will be very pleasant for you all I know to be near Charles and Marcia and Theodore and June, but they will not be there and I have no doubt but that you will enjoy a winter of rest and quiet, but how is Father going to get along with his business in Troy, and yet live in Syracuse? Of course there is not much to do, but there is something. It makes me feel, as though my home and friendships in Troy were all broken up - I like Troy, and I do not like to think that I may never call it home again, and it seems to me that if you go any where else to pass the winter, you will never return to Troy to live -I like Syracuse very much as Marcia can testify, and should rather have you live there than any where else. Business does not wear a very promising look, and I doubt if Father will do anything in the Mill for a year or two to come, or if ever. In case the Mill should be given up by Father, I think I should remain in the Navy, provided I can get a permanent commission and for that I trust that Mr Sedgwick will yet exert his influence, so that I may remain if I wish to. I should much prefer to go home after the war is over and go into the Mill but if that does not promise well, I can probably do much better here than anywhere else - The pay is very good of a full Paymaster ($2,000) and increases every five years, until it reaches $3,000, and besides the position is one of the best in the Navy - You rank as Lieut. for the first 12 years then as commander, and after 20 years service as Captain.
I did not intend writing all this when I commenced, but only to tell how sorry I felt, that maybe business would be so in the future, that we should never again be united in a pleasant house in Troy. Still this war, and the elements have made other houses much more desolate than ours and I ought not to complain.
When do you go West, Mother? I hope that you will enjoy much your journey and write me often and let me know when my letters reach you. I am much concerned to hear that Marcia is no better, but I am in hopes that her trip to the seaside has done her good - I used to think that a trip to the seaside was a mighty fine thing, but I rather think that when I get ashore, I shall not leave it with any regret, while I take a trip inward.
I presume that T.F. and June have taken possession of their old rooms at the [illegible] and that the view upon the [illegible] is as delightful as ever. Does Theodore have to work any during this recess? I hope not. If not he can find time to write me now and then.
There has absolutely nothing of interest occurred since the date of my last letter. It is the same ole story of passed away time by reading, talking, playing dominoes, or backgammon, eating and sleeping - interspersed by target practice by our guns, our crew are getting very proficient by practice, and could lull a vessel every shot half a mile away. It was very interestion at first witnessing the target practice but like all things, the novelty has passed away, and now it is only an ordinary thing.
Nothing further has been heard from our officers who were taken prisoners. Our running ashore is entirely stopped and for exercise we are now obliged to walk to and fro on the quarter deck - port side when in harbor, lee side when at sea - The Captain always has the starboard or weather side for his walk and none of us walk there when he is on deck except by his request.
Sunday was the birthday of Dr. Wood, our Surgeon, and we celebrated it by an extra dinner. The bill offair was Julienne Soup Roust Chicken, green corn, potatoes, onions, plum pudding, raisins, almonds and coffee - washed down by a bottle of claut and champagne - My Birthday does not come unfortunately until next May and probably I shall not see it on this vessel.
There are reports that the Iron clad [illegible] at Charleston are about ready to come out and attack our fleet there or at Port Royal. We ought to have the Iron clad boats down here so as to attack Charleston, and gain possession of the city. It would be madness for our wooden vessels to attempt passing Fort Sumpter. They would be sunk in short [illegible] time. We expect to go down to Port Royal the first of next month, for provisions and coal - also to do some repairs upon our boiler - Whether we shall come back here or not, I do not know. I think it hardly probable, as we shall by that time have been here over two months, and that ought to entitle me to go somewhere else. But my shirt is full - I have got so now that I do not think I have written a letter unless I fill four pages of this paper - I hope to have letters from you when the mail comes - Love to all my family friends - Remember me to Jenny and Henry -
Your aff. Son and Brother.
George