Franklin County: John J. Miller to George Miller, September 30,
1862
Summary:
John J. Miller writes to his brother about the daily routine of Union soldiers in South
Carolina. He also offers a negative view of General McClellan.
George Miller
Sep 30th 1862
Hilton Head Port Royal South Carolina
Dear Brother
I received yours of the 10th this morning and i hasten to reply by
saying i am pleased to hear that you are all in the enjoyment of good health i am still
enjoying the same blessing although it is very sickly here at the presant time about one half ou our Reg't are sick there was one died out of my mess day
before yesterday so many being sick makes our duty still harder on us the one half of the Reg't
has got to do what the whole did i think we will have to do the provost guard duty this winter
as General Mitchel says the Reg't that does the Post guard has to do the provost guard this
winter they are putting up splendid barracks for the Reg't that remains here to guard this
place i think that they will attack Savanna and Charleston before
long but i dont think that our Reg't will go along as we have no field
Officers and Col Brown the post commander says that the 76th is the only
Reg't fit to guard
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the post around Hilton Head. we had a warm march from Seabrook on
Saturday we had been on picket duty a week the mosquitoes almost eat me up post was on top of a
signal station i could see plenty of rebels on the main land with a large telescope i could see
Fort Pulaski planely they telegraphed from the station that i was at
to Fort Pulaski the oranges are ripe and we are enjoying ourselves with them. I think the
rebels were nearer to Pennsylvania then they will ever get again that was the only good move
that Gen McClellan ever made to let the rebels get up there and entrap them i would have liked
to be there at that time to act guerilla on them i would have shown them what it was to be a
live guerila i would have shot every picket on the York County
hills you were saying that they would spoil your looking but there is no danger of that they
they will never go back again for they were to badly licked i guess by the time you receive
this you will have some rabbits caught already i would like to help you to catch some Give my
respect to all relations and also to acquaintances.
Your Brother
John J. Miller
PS/ I wish you to have those seed planted they are a very pretty Flower
if they grow I got them in Beaufort
PS/ you had no need of sending any post stamps i had
enough i forgot to let you know
