1862 February 14 Roanoke Island

Camp Raliegh 21st Rhoanoake Island
Wednesday Feb 14th Dear Sisters
Were now living in
Buildings Built for Soldiers by
Uncle Jeff he has done Great things
here for the use of the yankees.
Built four Batteries & Cleared land
& fixt up Buildings Enough for a
Small village but he made a
little mistake. We commenced
Shelling one Battery Friday noon
landed friday about five O clock
in the rain we laid in the woods
all Night as guard for the Others
to land Saturday had a fight

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& Drove them from a Masked
Battery in an old Swamp we had
to fight in the mud to our knees
but Drove them & have taken three thousand
prisoners. & 35 Canon. Some poor
fellows fared hard. in this Camp
there is not one hurt. in the reg –
6 killed & about thirty wounded
I stood where the pills[?] wer thick
but did not Get a Scratch
One Canon Ball Struck a tree
within four feet of my head but did no damage
When they left the fort the 21st
was within ten rods of then & wee
was putting for them as fast as the
mud would let us & Blazeing away
the best we knew. the 25th fired
longer than we but we worked Closer
& was there when they run the
prisoners are mostly N.C.’s Stil
we have one Georgian regiment. have got
two fellows here who peddled watches
& trinkets at Inapolis they were
spies but we have got them now. Dres parade
now & I will finnish this to morrow Good night

[letter of Erasmus C.Davis, a private in Co. I, 21st Massachusetts will continue on the 15th]

MSS 828