Writing just 6 days before he became Colonel, Major John Lord Otis writes to his wife from Port Royal, South Carolina on March 8th, 1863.  Otis writes 6 pages in ink giving great descriptions of monitors and going to “Robbers Row” – the sutlers on Hilton Head! 

·         “About that tree at the Athenaeum.  I helped the chaplain get it myself and was at the trouble of getting
down to New Berne.  It was cut from a grove of small trees, where our regiment fought at Kinston.  When
you see it you will wonder that a single one of us even came out of the grove alive.  It had not been sent
away three days before we left New Berne and I did not know that it was in Hartford.  Most of the trees
in the grove were marked nearly as bad as that.” 

·         “…am pleased to think so far if treasury notes depreciate as fast as they have done for a few months past,
my pay will not half support us six months from now.  However, I hope things will brighten up before long,
but must confess I don’t see much prospect of it.” 

·         “It begins to look now as if the expedition against Charleston was going to fall through.  One of the monitors
came near being destroyed down at Ogceehee last week by a shell from a mortar, which nearly went through
her deck.  It is said now that they have got to send to New York and get more iron plating to put on their deck
before they will be safe from mortars.  If that is the case, Charleston will not be attacked at present.  I am
going to board Capt. Worden’s monitor this afternoon to see the effect of the shots on her.” 

·         “Hudson talks of resigning and I hope he will.  He is ruining his company as fast as possible.  Complaints
come to me about him every day and I shall have to notice them before long.”

·         “You will think it extravagant to write on gilt edged papers and I don’t know that I ever used any before in
my life, but I could get no others that was decent and had to look half a day to find this.  There are no stores
or sutler establishments on the Island, and it is five miles over to Hilton Head by water.  When you get there
you find a long street called “Robbers Row” containing about twenty stores kept by sutlers of the different
regiments.  The name of the street is sufficiently significant.”

·         “There are several vessels in the harbor having goods aboard, and we sometimes go out to them in boats.  I
had sent to every store in Robbers Row for paper collars and good writing paper but could get neither, so I
took a boat and started out.  After visiting three vessels I found one where I got both articles paying five
dollars per hundred for the collars and two and a half for just such a package of paper and I paid Huntington
a dollar for.”

A very nice Connecticut Colonel’s letter… who would eventually become a Brigadier General.  The letter comes with the envelope addressed to his wife.

#L210 - Price $395

                                    Transcription:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                Port Royal March 8^th, 1863

                                        Dear Wife,

            A mail arrived three or four days ago by which I received your two letters of the 10^th &
16^th of Feb, directed to New Berne.  I do not know when a mail is to leave, but Samuel Howlett
and Milton Russell are here and I shall send the letter by one of them.  In one of your letters
you inquire about how we are situated here and also whether I am Colonel of the regiment. 
Both questions I have answered before they were asked and you have most likely got the letter. 
Do not encourage the Irish woman much about the body of her husband being sent home, for

it is very doubtful whether I can do it.  Still I will do it if possible.

            Tell the children I glad to hear that they have pleasant dreams about papa.  A pleasant
dream is a bright spot in a soldier’s life, so well as a child’s.  When I was a boy I used to tell
my dreams before breakfast because I was told that was the way to have them come to pass. 
I can’t say that telling them ever produced that result, but they can try the experiment.

            Burton is as well as usual, it is strange how such reports get in circulation.  About that
tree at the Athenaeum.  I helped the chaplain get it myself and was at the trouble of getting
down to New Berne.  It was cut from a grove of small trees, where our regiment fought at
Kinston.  When you see it you will wonder that a single one of us even came out of the grove
alive.

            It had not been sent away three days before we left New Berne and I did not know that
it was in Hartford.  Most of the trees in the grove were marked nearly as bad as that.  Harry
and Phil must be getting on fast to wear suspenders but I had us idea I had an old over coat
that was worth making over, but am pleased to think so far if treasury notes depreciate as
fast as they have done for a few months past, my pay will not half support us six months from
now.  However, I hope things will brighten up before long, but must confess I don’t see much
prospect of it.  It begins to look now as if the expedition against Charleston was going to fall
through.  One of the monitors came near being destroyed down at Ogceehee last week by a
shell from a mortar, which nearly went through her deck.  It is said now that they have got
to send to New York and get more iron plating to put on their deck before they will be safe
from mortars.  If that is the case, Charleston will not be attacked at present.  I am going to
board Capt. Worden’s monitor this afternoon to see the effect of the shots on her.  Hudson
talks of resigning and I hope he will.  He is ruining his company as fast as possible. 
Complaints come to me about him every day and I shall have to notice them before long.

            Now to furnish up my rambling letter.  I want something as usual.  I can get no shirts
here without paying about eight dollars a pair for them and they don’t suit me at that.  I
wish you to get some of the cloth such as we have our shirts made of.  I don’t know what they
call it.  Select the color to suit yourself and make me about three.  Make them the same size
you used to my white ones.  Make them without collars of course and sew on the buttons so
that they never can be got off.

            Those stockings you sent me last are the best I ever had, they wear remarkably.

            You will think it extravagant to write on gilt edged papers and I don’t know that I ever
used any before in my life, but I could get no others that was decent and had to look half a day
to find this.  There are no stores or sutler establishments on the Island, and it is five miles over
 to Hilton Head by water.  When you get there you find a long street called “Robbers Row”
 containing about twenty stores kept by sutlers of the different regiments.  The name of the
street is sufficiently significant.  I will say nothing about prices.  There are several vessels in
the harbor having goods aboard, and we sometimes go out to them in boats.  I had sent to
every store in Robbers Row for paper collars and good writing paper but could get neither,
so I took a boat and started out.  After visiting three vessels I found one where I got both
articles paying five dollars per hundred for the collars and two and a half for just such a
package of paper and I paid Huntington a dollar for.  Well, Milton is waiting for the letter
and Dr. Newton is waiting for me to go with him so good morning.   

                                                                                                                                    Otis