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Regiment: 8th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: General Stevens, Quincy A. Gillmore
S.CA.
Beaufort, April 27th, 1862
Respected Father,
Today being Sunday and not having a great deal to do I will write a few lines
to you. I am well with the exception of a sore throat. I hear that you have been very sick
which accounts for your not writing to me any oftener. I have never received but one
letter from you since I have been in the army and you don’t know how glad I was to receive
even one and I live in hopes that I soon shall receive another. I was at Ft. Pulaski when the
Rebel saw came down there. Our Regt. was taken there to guard the Batteries while they
bombarded the Ft. They were afraid that the rebels might try to land on the island and
storm our batteries so we went down to see fair play. We were on Brigade drill when we
received the order to go and in less than an hour we were all on board the Transport steam
ship Bendeford. She wheeled away from Beauport Pier just before dark of the same day
(April 9th) and ran off as far as Hilton Head, where we lay till morning and then ran down
to Tybee Island. We came in sight of Pulaski about 7 am of the next day after leaving
Beaufort. As soon as we came in sight of the men at the Batteries, they opened on the Ft.
and were by the Ft. answered. They opened on the Ft. from the right of the batteries about
8 am and in the very short time the whole lines were playing upon the Ft. firing alternately
from right to left. We landed as soon as possible and remained all day under arms at the
Tybee Light House and Martello Tower. As soon as it was dark we changed our position to
within 7/8 of a mile of the Ft. under cover of a small piece of woods. The batteries were
still for a short time after dark to allow us to pass to our position which we took about
9pm. We spread our blankets and lay down to take a little rest but rest was out of the
question. We were soon roused up by the noise of the mortars which kept steaming all
night and you may think they made something of a noise. They were 13 In. Mortars and
measured 3 V:zft. across the muzzle. It was a strange sight to see the fiery iron messengers
of death speed up and up till they seemed a mere speck in the starry canopy above and
turning, travel down the sky fast and faster and at last disappear beneath the walls of
Pulaski with a crash and roar that would jar the very ground. Early the morning of the
next day the entire line of batteries were got in motion, and kept up a lot and effective fire
until about 3pm when a large gap appeared in the southeast corner of the Ft. Down went
the Rebel rag and up went a Flag of Truce and before dark that glorious old banner we
fight under was waving over her shattered walls. 373 prisoners fell into our hands beside
the various other plunder. We then moved up to what is called Goats Point near the Ft.
where we remained for about a week during what time part of our Regt. were sent by
Brigadier Gen. Gillmore over on Wilmington Island near Ft. Jackson where they fell in
with a body of Rebels numbering Boo Georgia Sharp Shooters. Our boys did not number
over 200 but not withstanding their unequal numbers our boys had to fight or die. And so
they concluded to fight and in about two hours they drove the rebels at the point of the
bayonet. We lost 11 killed and 38 wounded several of which have died since. Warren Cole
was wounded in the hip but not mortally. He is doing well now. When Gen. Stevens saw
the dead and wounded that were murdered as it were by Gillmore be shook his head and
said not a word and in a short time he was seen to step aboard a boat and point for Tybee
Island. He told Mr. Gillmore what he thought about matters and things in a hurry, and
gave him to understand when he got one of his regts. again, he would opt to use them for
something besides skirmishing for this Brigade. We were ordered forth with to our
Beaufort quarters where we now are. The weather is quite warm here now. All the drill
we have to do is between 7 & 8 am and 4 & 5 pm. It is quite healthy in camp now. Wm.
Wheeler is getting better fast and will soon report for duty again. We have not heard here
yet how the battle of Yorktown has gone yet, if they have had one. We have had no mail in
two weeks and we wait anxiously to hear the news. I will send you a cannon cap which I
got at Pulaski. The little wire on the cap must be left as it is. fit is straightened the cap
will explode. I will write no more at present write soon, don’t forget to give my best wishes
to my friends and accept this from your unworthy son in “Dixie”,
Emmett Cole
