Franklin County: Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May 13, 1864
Summary:
Christy talks about the Confederate torpedos that blew up a Union ship recently. He also
expresses frustration at not having been paid and says he and other soldiers in the 54th MA
will continue to fight for the same rights that white people have.
Mary Jane Demus
May the 13th 1864
Morris Island
South Carolina
Dear Sister
I take my pen in hand to inform to you that I am Well and I hope these few lines may find you the same We are all well at preasant And are geting along verry well I received your letter and was verry glad to hear from you All once more We have now Come back to Morris Island Again the gun boats are still fighting with the rebels thay capture one of the rebels boats While we we was at Florada The rebels blowed up two of our boats with torpetos And since we come back to Morris Island We was one picket one night And the rebels was throwing Shell and [unclear: thay] was apeice of shell struck standley Johnson A kill him
our men are at richmon fighting away thay wont pay mor they wont let us home And so the men all says that thay will wate tell the last of this month and if thay dont pay us we will get Troublesum on their hand if we cant get our rights we will die trying for them We have been fighting as brave as ever [unclear: thay] was any soldiers fought I know if every regiment that are out and have been out would have dun as well as we have the war would be over I du really think that its God will that this ware Shall not end till the Colord people get thier rights it goes verry hard for the White people to think of it But by gods will and powr thay will have thier rights us that are liveing know may not live to see it I shall die a trying for our rights so that other that are born hereaffter may live and enjoy a happy life
We all keep our health verry well David is well he is cooking now Samuel and Joseph and George Demas are all well and thay all cend their love to you and father and Elizeberth
I wish when you rite that you would let me know wither the letters that I cend without postage stamps cost anything to get them out of offerce or not now I will bring my letter to a close
rite soon Direct to Compy J 54 Mass vols Morris Island South Carolina by way of Hilton Head
Jacob E. Christy
Here is a presant I cend to Elizebert a likeness but it dint mind. Mary J. Demas
