Franklin County: John J. Miller to George Miller,
May 15, 1862
Summary:
Miller talks about camp life. He also reports that an African-American regiment
is being raised and predicts problems to arise from this.
George Miller
May 15th, 1862
Hilton Head Port Royal S. Carolina
Dear Brother
I received yours of April 29th and was pleased to hear that
you were in good health i am enjoying the same blessing but there are a great
many sick in the regiment we have lost but one man out of our company and he
shot himself when on guard one night he pulled out his shoe and stocking and
pressed the trigger with his toe our Capt served us a nice trick he resigned and
left us Lieutenant Young is our Captain now i think it will go better as Mc Intire was a real tyrant on his men but he never
punished me they are
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raising a nigger
regiment there to do the guarding as it is getting too hot a white man can't stand it i don't think it will do any good as they
will throw down their arms sooner than fight alongside niggers there is nothing of importance going on here now you was a
writing about having my body brought to York if I
should die don't think of such a thing as that it would
be foolishness if i should die get four or five jovial young fellows and a
fishing you do go drink out of half gallon bottles In memory of old
[unclear: rosin] the bow i don't care much
about fishing Just now i tried it several times i caught a mess of crabs last
week and some fish i wish the hot weather was over
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mosquitos gnats
and sand fleas are very troublesome at night give my
respects to Sister Father and all inquiring friends
let me know how father is getting along and grandfather no more at present but remain your affectionate brother
John J Miller
