Franklin County: John J. Miller to George Miller,
August 4, 1862
Summary:
John J. Miller provides news about troop movement, enlistment and coming battles
in South Carolina.
Letterhead: 76th REGIMENT, P.V.
POWER'S ZOUAVES,
Camp George Miller
Aug'st 4th 1862
Hilton Head
Port Royal
South Carolina
Dear Brother
I recieved both of your letters yesterday and was
glad to learn that you were all in the enjoyment of good health as i am
receiving the same blessing. we are pretty busy here just now preparing to give
the rebels a warm reception they have got a iron ram at
savanna and tried to run past Fort Pulaski and
they have got flat boats and rafts to cross over to us with a large land force
but it will be the most sorrowfull thing they ever
attemted we have only
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about six
thousand men here and I wish they would bring fourty
thousand and try to lick us we would show them the difference of fighting behind
batteries there was heavy canonading this morning about two oclock towards Fort Pulaski I dont know
what it was but I guess it was the ram trying to pass you may do as you think
propper with the money put in the bank or keep it
yourself change is getting Scarce here too at first you could see nothing but
gold, now you get all one dollar bills we get paid with United States Bank notes
that was a fine turtle you was writing about but it was not as large as a one
the boys brought
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in about two weeks ago it came out on land to lay -
they were out on picket and five of them run their bayonets into it and could
hardly master it it weighed two hundred and trirty
five pounds i saw it weighed i got them post stamps which you sent leave me know
how recruiting takes in York if they would know what i know it would go pretty
hard to raise one company in York im afraid the niggar question will raise a rumpus in the army Yet if
ever i get back i'll shoot all the niggars I come
across Give my respects to all enquiring friends no
more at presant but remain
Your affectionate Brother
John J Miller
the boys are catching plenty of fish about here we are
making a large seine to drag
Write soon I send you a ring made of James Island live Oak