162. LETTER—4p 8x10 Officer of Comm of Musters Dept of the South, Hilton Head S.C. June 5, 1863. Regt still at Ferdinand, FL Building Pt. Clinch on the upper end of Amelia Island some 2 1/2 miles north of the village or city as it proudly styled itself before the rebellion. When it is completed it will effectively block the entrance ot the St. Mary's River Talks of the NEGRO's comming down from Beaufort on an expedition up the St. Mary's after lumber or anything of value they could get from the rebs. Rebs came and fired on the Negros. Talks of other villages and of the Cavalry raid Area he is in is a Paradise of orange groves, flowers and shrubs Talks about the 54th Mass and the 2nd S.C. on a raid. Every able bodied negro is being put into the army and as far as found in this dept, they make excellent soldiers and will fight like tigers. Their knowledge of the country and habits of the people gives them largely the advantage over our troops...says the SAMBO'S are a match for the rebels, talks of being armed with Sharps Rifles.etc Nice content. June 2nd. RAID in Combahee River, S.C. Office of Com. of Musters Department of the South Hilton Head S.C June 5th 1863 My Dear Nephew. Your long and interesting letter of the 29th Jan. came to hand 24th March while our regt were at Fernandina Fla. just across the state from you about a hundred and fifty miles We went to Fernandina just a little before the middle of Jan. and had cleverly settled down for as long a stay as should be considered necessary for the good of the service in which we are engaged It was a very nice place pleasant + healthful with a small population of whites and some thousand or more herd of negroes refuges from various surrounding point I was on account of my health detailed as a sort of Com. Sergt. pro.tem. to them and once in the days drew and issued rations to upwards of seven hundred of the most destitute of them Garden vegetables flourished amazingly and before the middle of may we had peas squashes cucumbers raddishes and young potatoes all of our own raising The work on Fort Clinch on the upper end of Amelia Island some two + a half miles north of the village or city as it proudly styled itself before the rebellion is going forward briskly and when the Fort is completed it will most effectually blockade the entrance to the St Marys river. While we were lying at Fernandina, the negros came down from Beaufort on an expedition up the St Marys after lumber and indeed any thing they could get of value from the rebs. When at St Marys a pretty village in sight across the stretch of marsh & water ten miles the rebels came into the place and fired upon the negroes; upon this the place was shelled and set on fire and off in smoke and down in crumbling ruins came another beautiful sea nested village of the rebellious south The expedition continued across the river fighting along landed and beat off a company of cavalry killing quite a number & carried fear and consternation far into the country. They realized for government a load of brick and considerable lumber. They lost one man killed and two or three wounded. About the middle of May we had orders to go to St. Augustine which we had but just accomplished when I was ordered to report to the Head as Clerk at A.A. Gen's office and so here I am there accounting to you for my absence from the regt which still lies in the healthy and pleasant shades of the oldest town in the United States. I spent but a day and a half there after the move before I came here. I was charmed with the place and its historical associations and could have spent much longer time there very agreeably but I had to obey orders and not inclinations. It is a paradise of orange groves, flowers and shrubs. In the yards I noticed the date palms and bananas as among the tropical fruits grown here while peach and pomegranate indicated a plentiful crop of fruit in the season of it which I judge to be at least from six weeks to two months earlier than with us at the north. Since I have been here our weather has come down on us a little scorchingly as the thermometer in Dexters tent stood 102°. one day. Dexter is clerking here in the same office that moore left to become Adjt. of our regt as you may have heard. He took a fine leap up from a private to 1st Luiet and Adjt. but I consider it a very worthy bestowment of favor or influence Sammy has come like as tough as an alligator and at meal times has almost as open a countenance. He is company with one other garrison the Fort (Marion) . It is a curious looking piece of old pottery but from the material of which it is constructed I should judge it stand a considerable of a battering before it would come down. Here of late two little raids on the main have sharpened up our appetites for something glorius from Vicksburgh. We have four Negro regts in the Dept or parts of them besides the 54th Mass (Colored) just here Col James Montgomery of Kansas notoriety is in command of the 2d S.C.Vs. the other night he took four of his companies struck the main Pocotaliys way and guided by some "intelligent contraband" late we approached a battery of eight guns from the rear took it, burned the R.R. bridge across the Coosawatchee also a mile of trestle work, tore up the track for three miles cut the telegraph, destroyed property to the amount of two millions of dollars, secured some five hundred negros mostly males and able bodied and came safely back with out the loss of a man. This band of negros was undoubtedly the most prized by him as he had only six companies in his organization and now he can fill his regiment. Every able bodied negro is now being put into the army and as far as proved in this Department they make excellent soldiers and will fight like tigers. Their knowledge of the country and habits of the people gives them largely the advantage over our troops, and on the place these mounted rebels pursue Sambo is fully a match for them. Yesterday said the second with White troops came off. A detachment of two Co's from our [rupt?] and two companies from the 6th all armed with Sharpes rifles, two Co's of some other [rupt?] on the Island and five Co's of 48th N.Y. stationed at Pulaski made a descent upon the village of Blufton on the main where they suspected the rebs. were erecting batteries. They found no batteries but burned the place and came off in the smoke but few rebels showed themselves and these at a safe distance. I have now Eben given you all the local news, hence my pond is out. Remember me to all the Salisbury boys. Ham, Shem and Japhet. Also give my regards to Brother Wheatley. I deem your regiment fortunate in procuring so good a Chaplain. We have been likewise fortunate. I trust you are a good boy if you do weigh enough to whip your Uncle, and hope you are not unmindful those duties you owe yourself, friends God and your country. Ever bear in mind that if God wills you will soon go back to the dear home hearth side, but Eben strive to go there a wiser nobler and better man for the army experience you have had. Go not back charred and tarnished but purified and brightened by the trials you have had. Present my compliments to Capt. Landon who was once a cousin of mine. I had a letter from home of 24th May, all well. Direct to Office of Com. of Musters. Hilton Head, S.C. Aff. Yours. Ashbel Landon Office of Com. of Musters Department of the South Hilton Head, S.C. June 5th, 1863 My Dear Nephew, Your long and interesting letter of 29th Jan. came to hand 24th March while our regt were at Fernandrid Fla. just across the state from you about a hundred and fifty miles. We went to Fernandrid just a little before the middle of Jan. and had already settled down for a long a stay as should be considered necessary for the good of the service in which we are engaged. It was a very nice place, pleasant & healthful with a small population of whites and some thousand or more had of negroes refugees from various surrounding points. It was on account of my health detailed as a post of Com. Sergt. pro tem. to them and once in the ten days drew and issued rations to upwards of seven hundred of the most destitute of them. Garden vegetables flourished amazingly and before the middle of May we had peas, squashes, cucumbers, raddishes and young potatoes all of our ____ raising. The work on Fort Clinch on the upper end of Amelia Island some two & a half miles north of the village or city as it is proudly styled itself before the rebellion is going forward briskly and when the Fort is completed it will most (end of page) effectively blockade the entrance to the St. Marys River. While we were lying at Ferandrind the negroes came down from Beaufort on an expedition up the St. Mary's after lumber and indeed any thing they could get of value from the rebs. Where at St. Marys a pretty village in sight across the stretch of marsh & water ten miles the rebels came inmto the place and find upon the negroes; upon this the place was shelled and set on fire and off in smoke and _ _ _ in crumbling _ _ _ land another beautiful sea nested village of the rebellious South. The expedition continues on up the river fighting along landed and beat off a company of cavalry killing quite a number & carried fear and consternation far into the country. They realized for government a load of brick and considerable lumber. They lost one man killed and two or three wounded. About the middle of may we had orders to go to St. Augustine which we had but just accomplished when I was ordered to report to the Head as clerk at A.A. Gens Office and so here I am this accounting to you for my absence from the regt. which still lies in the healthy and pleasant shades of the oldest town in the United States I spent but a day and a half there after the move before I came here. I was charmed with the place and is historical associations and could have spent much longer time there very agreeably but I had to obey (end of page two) orders and not inclinations. It is a paradise of orange groves, flowers and shrubs. In the yard I noticed the date palm and bananna as among the tropical fruits grown there while peach and pomegranate indicated a plentiful crop of fruit in the season of it which I judge to be at least from six weeks two months earlier that with us as the north Since I have been here our weather has come down on us as a little one accordingly as the thermometer in Dextus but stood 102 (degrees) day. Dexter is clerking here in the same office that moore left to become adjt of our supt. as you may have heard. He took a fine leap up from a private to 1st lieut. and Adjt but I consider it a very worthy bestowment of favor or influence. Sammy has come to be as tough as an alligator and at meal time has almost as open countenance. His company with one other garrison the Fort (Marion). It is a curious looking piece of old pottery but from the material of which it is constructed. I should judge it stand a considerable of a battering before it would come down. here of late two little sands on the main have sharpened up our appetites for something glorious from Vicksburgh. We have four negroe sergts in this Dept or parts of them besides the 54th Mass (colored) just here Col. James Montgomery of Kansas notority is in command of the 2nd S.C.Vs. the other nigh he took four of his companies (end of page three) struck the main Pocotalys way and guided by some "intelligent contraband" late we approached a battery of eight guns from the rear took it. burned the RR bridge across the covsewatcher also a mile of trestle work, tore up track for the three miles and the telegraph, destroyed property to the amount of two millions of dollars. Secured some five hundred negros mostly males and able bodied and came safely back without the loss of a man. This band of negros was undoubtedly the most prized by him as he had only six companies in his organization and now he can fill his regiment. Every able bodies negro is now being put into the Army and as far as proved in this Department they make excellent soldiers and will fight like tigers. There knowledge of the county and habits of the people gives them largely the advantage over our troops. and on the plan these mounted rebels persue Sambo is fully a match for them. Yesterday said the second with white troops came off. A detachment of two Co's from our regt and two companies from the 6th all armed with Sharpes rifles, two Co's of some other regt on the island and five Co's of the 48th N.Y. stationed at Potoke made a descent upon the village of Rlufton on the main where they suspected the rebs were erecting batteries. They found no batteries but burned the place and came off in the smoke but few rebels showed themselves and these at a safe distance. I have now Eben given you all the local news hence my pond is and Remember me to all the salisbury boys___ and ___ also give my regards to brother Wheatley. I deem your regimen fortunate in having so good a Chaplain. We have bee likewise fortunate. I trust you are a good boy if you do weigh enough to whip your uncle and hope you are not ____ful those duties you owe yourself, friends God and your country. Eben bear in mind that if God wills you will son go back to the dear home hearth side, but Eben strive to go then a wiser noblier and better man for the Army experience you have had. Go not back charred and tarnished but purified and brightened by the trials you have had. Present my compliments to Capt Landon who was and a cousin of mine. I had a letter from home of 24th May, all well. Direct to Office of Com. of Musters, Hilton Head, S.C. Aff. Yours Ashbel Landon Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.