April 16, 1862
Camp Buckingham Ship Island
13th Req't. Co., U.S.A.
April l6th 1862My Dear Wife,
I write to you from Ship Island for the first time since I came here. We anchored April the 12th in the afternoon. The Col. came onshore and reported us and we marched onshore on Sunday (the Regiment). I did not come onshore until Monday. Our tent come onshore Tuesday and I put it up, but have not slept in it yet (Wednesday). W & C have not been onshore yet as we cannot get our goods onshore. The reasons are not yet known, but they will not let any goods except baggage come on shore. There is no prospect of our goods coming onshore in a week.
The reasons why I am not allowed to tell as the order of Gen'l. Butler is that we must not write what we know about things on Ship Island, the movement of the forces or the strength of our forces. I will write the whole of that as soon as the law will allow.
Ship Island is a sand bank about 9 miles long and one mile wide in the widest place and nothing west until you get within one mile of the upper end where we get our wood for the use of the Regiment. There is a fort near the upper end and one on the lower end near Gen'l. Butler's Headquarters, one house and a lighthouse which the Rebels left when they left the Island. The house is a small one occupied by the Brigade now. They burnt the lighthouse inside when they left. It was made of brick and stood the fire. There are. 2 mi. high points on the Island although most of the land is low. The wood is all pine. There is some low places where the water stands. It is kept fresh by the sea breaking over where there is a gale. The water on the Island is good, very good, and you can dig a well in 15 minutes anywhere. Every tent has a well (or nearly every one). They dig down and then they have a good well.
The first night I come onshore and stayed with Carlo Wann & Frank Anderson. They are both well and like staying very much. They have lost only one man with sickness since they came here the 3rd of December. Also, the 26th Regiment (Mass.) has lost but one man. They came in the same ship There was one man shot in the 9th C.V. since I came here. It was accidental. The Regiments which have come here lately are not as healthy. We lost 7 on the passage from New York 21 days out and about 30 sick. We number 934 men in our Regiment, the largest on the Island. We are in Gen'l Phillip's Brigade, the same with the 9th Reg't. C.V. and 12th Reg't. C.V.
Willy Slate arrived here last night from home as he was left sick when the 12th left. I have not seen him yet. He came down to our camp to see me and I was on the ship Charley & Willy are well. They came down on the ship Gen'l. Butler shared, the 15th, and brought no mails for the Division, as we are called. The New England Division, Maj. Gen'l. B.F. Butler commanding.
I now quarter with the compound officers of Company "I". Gen'l Finley from Marlboro, a cousin of Mary Blish and a very fine man. I shall stay with them until we get our goods over. I like Ship Island very much. I just enjoy myself as I have been well since I arrived here. Never had a better appetite in my life and we get a plenty to eat - good fresh bread baked every day at the Brigade Bakery at five cents a loaf, enough to last one man all day. Goods are very high: cheese 25 cts. per lb., butter 50, raisins 40, tobacco 8 cents per paper, everything in proportion, preserves 2.00. You get molasses 1.00 for gallon and goods sell quick.
I am now writing in Capt. Prindle's tent, a very fine Officer. I just came from the ship and was coming up from the wharf and stopped to see him. He said I could write in his tent as he had finished. I have had invitations from 4 or 5 Captains to stay with them until we get things arranged. They are all very good to me. Capt. Comstock of Co. "B", Left Flank Company, is also a particular friend of mine. A more perfect description I will give you when I write again.
I did not know that the ship was a-going to leave until this afternoon about 4 o'clock. The letters will be delivered at 6 o¹clock and it is now 5:30 minutes. We now hear cannon in the distance, another Rebel catching it. The 9th Regiment went onshore a week ago last Thursday and had an engagement at Beloxie, Mississippi. They drove about 1,800 Rebels and took their tents and baggage and brought it. They are the Crack Regiment on the Island -Gen'l. Butler's right flank Req. 't. in the Division, the highest post of honor in Divisions. As a Regiment, Gen'l. Butler puffs them sky high -good for the 9th. The 13th is yet to come.
You must excuse the looks and writing of this letter as I have no con-'lenience for writing. You can imagine your husband sitting in the sand with a cracker box for a desk writing to you. The weather has been very fine since we arrived, a good breeze and no mosquitoes yet. I send you a sample of the sand on the Island. It is all just alike. I take it from the ground of this tent. It is impossible to find any black sand or dark, perfectly clean. I am again as I must say, enjoying myself as well as can be expected considering that I am here away from a dear home and dear wife. I do not know but you will think that your dreams has come to pass by this letter. It is written so hastily sent. I can say it will never be the last letter I write. I was afraid I would scare you, but it was a one time letter and I only had time to write to let you know where I was and how I was. Tell Father I will write him a full description as soon as the Regulations will permit and I want you to write home and let our folks know how I am and all about me as I have not time to write. It is time the mail was closed. Yes, here comes the Captain. He calls for the letters. Good-bye for this time. He says a minute he will wait. Write often as you can and send all the papers you can. About coming home, it is uncertain as we do not know how long we shall stay. I wish you were here to see Ship Island, yes, and here to see me. It's been one year, I think now, a few days more, you know. My love to all, Father, Mother, Bros., Sisters, and right about face, and the true love of a husband.
I remain yours,
H.S. Lord
February 16, 2001
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