Letter of Sidney B. Chase to Joseph R. Clark and Emily Augusta Chase Clark

    Off Charleston, Jan 4, 1863.

        Dear Brother and Sister,

            I received your letter of the 21^st last night and right glad I was too. I had been waiting some time to receive one from you as I thought that I had written since I had received one from you. I think that perhaps that there may be some on the way as I get those that are written last first sometime and that must be the way this time. I received a letter from Rodney¹ a few(?) days ago and from home about a week ago. The(?) one that I got from from Rodney I have answered and the one from home I have yet to answer which will take most of my time today. There is nothing new to write now that is to me and I have written to you all that there is going because it is nearly the same all the time. We lay here in front of Fort Sumpter about [page 2] 8 or 10 miles frome (sic) it. We can see the fort very plain. Some times on a clear day we can see the sentry on top of the walls. We can also see Fort Moultrie and the Batteries along shore. Some days we can see them firing and can see the shots strike on the water. We went down to Port Royal² a little while ago for Coal + Provisions and stayed a week and took in Provisions for about 4 months and 290 tons of Coal which which(sic) will last about the same time. It took about 3 days to take in coal and that is handling coal pretty fast I think.. I am getting so that I like lime(?) better than I did but not well enough to try it again. I do the best I can and get along very well most of the time but some times I get a little vexed but it dont do any good. I am glad that Rodney is doing so well as I think it will be a great help to him in more ways than one. And Joe³ too and I hope that they may both of them succeed to their satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the people. [page 3]

I hope you will enjoy your rides well and I should like to come and take ones with you but I cannot do it this winter but perhaps I may do so by the time that another winter comes.

Last night we had a little excitement about a schooner that came out from(?) some of the forts along the coast. We went up on one side of her and another boat on the other side. We boarded it first but the other one claimed it and took it to the Flag Ship. She was loaded with turpentine and pitch I don't know whether she is worth much as not(?) but it will be something. Well I should like to be at home today first rate(?) and see the folks and get a good dinner and see the folks. Carrie⁴ and Rodney both wrote me that Grandmother⁵ was very feeble. I am sorry but she is getting old and it is not to be expected that she can live always but she may live a good while yet. Glad that that (sic) Father + [page 4] Mother⁶ are so well and I hope that they may remain so.

Well I have had to knock off to get my dinner and get up anchor and come up to the flag ship where we now are but I suppose we will go back to our old station before dark. We come up here nearly every day and stay a few hours and then go back.

Well I have got about out of argument and it is near supper time and there is no time after that. Remember me to Mr. Clarks folks⁷ if you please.

Please write to me again and I will try [to] answer it provided I get it.

From your aff. Brother

S. B. Chase.