Year: 1864

CHESAPEAKE BAY. March y, lSo+


Most snugly and cozily am ensconsed in an arm
chair IN the lades' saloon. on this new and elegant
steamer Of I29s tons We have board 1900 col
ored soldiers. bound for Hilton Head. 5 L. The eve
is lovely as lovely can be- but rather chilly So after
oing all over the ship and seeing that the men
as comfortable as can be- and drinking in delight for
a WHILE as I viewed from the top Of the bulwarks.
the sky the stars. the gorgeous sunset clouds, and
the CLASSY sea, have taken my portfolio from my
vaIise and in this quiet place. turned my thoughts
homewards- AT my feet lies our noble ST. Bernard
and Newfoundland dog. Charlie, the nObest brute L
ever saw. At my elbow sits our chaplain, Higgins,
young, noble hearted, pure minded aspirant after
the beautiful and the good. worshpper Of nature,
whole souled apostle of African freedom and a cap
ial fellow, sings n sweet tenor. and is my constant
companion, (with Charlie) Every is gay to-
night This is, so far. pleasure sail-some are
singing, some reading, all merry.


But who will come back, of all these whose hearts
now throb with life whose eyes lit with the hope
within them Never mind, time may indeed be


little shorter for this war, but at the longest, how
brief it is and 1 don't bother myself much about
possibilities. bu: strive rather obey the calls of the
present. and trust in God. If fall, be assured that
never better prepared than now for the worst.
Since entering this branch of the service. have felt
the high duty and sacreduess of my position. 1t is
no sacrifice for me he here, it is rather glorious
opportunity. and should be nowhere else than here,
II could with these colored troops. This constant,
this almost supreu e satisfaction, has shed a rich
glow upon my life. feel that am among the apos-
ties of human liberty, striking the deadliest possible
blow oppression and what duty more glorious than
that. What nobler work has been given to man
since the Reformation I feel more than ever in
sympasI.y goou, irvfy. the Jus, aud the
vrue and the blesseduess of religion has descended
upon me. in a sweetness, beauty, a richness,
power that it never had before.


March sth.-WelI. have said voyage was
pleasant altogether, and off the dreaded Cape HATTIE
ras there was no storm, and after a three days
voyage South Carolina hove in sight, and soon we
were at anchor in the magnificent harbOr at Hilton
Head. We have had, unfortunately, no music books
board, and only resource was small tattered
school hymn book, around which, from six to twelve
of us would gather and sing - Arabys Daughter.
"Duke Street. &c. We have some good singers among
the officers, and our united voices often rise and
swell on the evening air, and thoughts steal
houleSaris as we sing - Sweet Home Singing is
agreat comfort TO US.


Thirteen hundred men, large amount of provi-
sious hospital stores, SC, all shore in few
hours / was the last leave the ship, and spent
the nigh, in the village a pine floor. This morn
came camp. We lie just outside the fortress,
and overlook the scene of confusion which al
ways occurs in establishing camp. | set to work
heartily, and am in a most comfortable, nicely
fitted up tent. Ii is late at night, and closing
my arduous days duties, by making this note of
them. will tell you more of my tent. Within are
the usual few but abundant means OF comfort The
chaplain Is with me, and either end OF the tent are
palmetto leaves arranged in clusters. In the front of
the large arbor, doubling really the size OF
the tent overhead with the 'hy of the tent,
richly protected with the boushs of the bay
which abundan. here fragrant, the classic bay
green leaves that grows in profuson and
protect which is almost constant
L. flying AL around the bower where
gather The poles estooned
shaped palmetto well with the
bay, making with these simple beautiful
Iuxurant and good spirits both
writing tonight strangely pleasant sound
reaches the first time in three IS the long
that be eernay repeat
ing mysterious has for the human soul
which while understand it, yet leads Us to
think sublime eternity before and ennobes all who
will listen 0 n spirit of a disciple.


you me, welcome it is how it
binds again home revvng sacred recoections of home
brings my memory of uneerthy
which used spend the front verandah listen
ing the very sound long time