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REMARKABLE HILTON HEAD ISLAND LETTER DATED 1863 – COMBAT CONTENT, CLARA BARTON CONNECTION

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Hilton Head Island, a popular modern vacation destination, served an important role during the Civil War.  After the fall of Port Royal to US forces in 1861, the island became the headquarters of the Department of the South, the federally-protected home and place of employment of multitudes of freed slaves, and the host of tens of thousands of US troops.

This letter was written by a gentleman named Lou, and although a search of available records yielded no preliminary results, details provided in his writing make a clear case that he served in the 10^th Army Corps within the Chief Quartermaster’s Office.  He writes to Mary Dorr of North Oxford, Massachusetts on 6/17/63 – whom he calls his “darling May” and details recent events among the sea islands of South Carolina.  He begins with an account of a rebel ram named “Fingal/Atlanta” trying to run past the US controlled Fort Pulaski and the subsequent blockade.  He notes that socialites and civilians from Savannah (from where the ram left) accompanied the ship in small pleasure boats, expecting to view an easy mission with little US resistance.  Instead, the USS Weehawken, a Monitor, was concealed and opened on the Confederate ram, killing and wounding 18.  The ram returned fire without doing any damage, promptly surrendered, and the pleasure boats returned to Savannah with their shocked occupants.  He notes that the action resulted in 200 prisoners who were being processed on the ship as he wrote the letter.  From there, he makes suppositions about renewing offensives against Charleston and Savannah and talks of an editor from Harpers Magazine who visited the Island for an upcoming article.  Lou makes a reference to the toll disease has taken on the troops, and says he is now occupying the same quarters in which General Mitchell died – with his Colonel, John J. Elwell, staying in the very same room.  Colonel Elwell would become fast friends with Clara Barton upon her arrival at Hilton Head and during her service of caring for the wounded from the upcoming battle of Fort Wagner, became romantically involved with her despite being married.  Clara remained on Hilton Head to assist newly freed slaves in their efforts to read, write, work, and be healthy but decided to end the affair once the war and her Hilton Head service ended.  He left quite an impression on Clara, who remained fond of him for the rest of her life.

A continuation on a separate page is headed “Friday” and intended to write just a few more lines before a mail transport ship leaves for the North. The content bounces between missing home and the upcoming operations against Charleston.  He compares the weather to Massachusetts and mentions frequent rainstorms, one of which was just strong enough to “purify the atmosphere”.  He mentions the native fruits of the Lowcountry but laments the lack of ripe Strawberries and how difficult it is to obtain the plentiful Plums on St. Helena Island. In a moment of clear humanity, he says that he would like to dine with May that evening and asks her what good foods she has to eat. He closes by offering the next issue of the New South newspaper when they arrive on Saturday.

The letter consists of two embossed 8x10 sheets of paper, with writing on both front and back.  The condition is excellent, with no tears or wear and very legible handwriting.  A cover accompanies the letter with writing that reads “June 17^th 1863 Hilton Head Island S.C.” along the edge, an address of “Miss Mary E. Dorr, North Oxford, Wor. County, Massachusetts”, a postal stamping reading “PORT ROYAL S.C. JUN. 19”, and an “OFFICIAL BUSINESS” heading at upper right.  An original 3 cent stamp is still affixed and complete, with light peeling and folding in the upper right corner and along the upper edge.  A full, typed transcript of the letter is included.

The Port Royal Sound and Hilton Head Island saw some of the most momentous events of the Civil War and this letter perfectly illustrates the experience of a soldier serving at this sub-tropical posting.  A very rare piece that would be a feature of most letter collections.  [cm][ph:L]

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