Dear Mary

     I wonder how you spent New Years day and if it occurred to you to wonder as to the whereabouts and doings of this cousin of yours. Quite possibly, for I suppose you were receiving calls at Frank's and some of my friends may have inquired about me.
It was quite a memorable day for me as I was for the first time under fire. Probably you have read about the affair before this. Our part was not a very important one in it. Our regiment and the 47th [i.e., 47th New York Infantry] were sent to assist Gen Stevens [i.e., Brig. Gen. Isaac I. Stevens'] brigade which is encamped at Beaufort.
     WE by boat, they by march reached our rendezvous New Years morning and no enemy appearing there as expected

Commenced our march on the fort at Port Royal Ferry nearly two miles off. Skirmishers were thrown out on the flanks and the gunboats kept up a fire of shells that invisible rushed over our heads with a mingled whin and roar bursting in the woods beyond where the enemy were supposed to lurk. The advance regiment that at our distance looked like a long black band with a glittering fringe had hardly disappeared when a rattling fire of muskety told us our skirmishers had roused up the enemy. WE pushed on at double quick until balls from in front commenced whizzing over our heads, then we were halted and rapidly formed into line of battle. WE could not see the enemy concealed by the underbrush in the edge of the woods but the smoke at every discharge of their howitzers was plain enough. "One volley and then the bayonet" was the colonel's order as we moved on again, but the 'best laid plans o' mice, men

(and generals) gang aft agley, and the wood through which we were to pass proved utterly impassible.
Battles, I have discovered, are fought not as they are planned, usually, but the best way they can be and we had to file back out of the woods and see what we could do in the way of attacKing the battery through the field in front. so we marched to about three hundred yards from it and threw out skirmishers to discover its position and strength more exactly. Balls Kept whizzing over our heads and occasionally one would strike the ground in front and scatter dirt over us, two men received trifling wounds & had their fire been accurate we should have had a long list of casualties. WE were now ordered to lie down and soon the sKirmishers reported that there were five howitzers apparantly supported by a large force of infantry but before we could

move forward came orders to retire as the fort at the ferry was taken and Steven's orders forbade his doing anything further. So we marched by the flank around the battery stacked arms and spent the night about three quarters of a mile from the enemy. I was on picket guard all night and as a night attack was fully expected Kept myself pretty busy patroling. No enemy however appeared and in the morning we found that they had retreated & though I saw several of their scouts before we reembarked they Evidently had no wish to come very near us.
     Our men behaved splendidly, moving as steadily as if on parade, and though the firing was not hot enough to test their nerve very severely they will go into battle next time with a deal more of confidence from having had this taste of danger. WE returned to camp next day and are very anxious

sent you the huge bouquet of camelias and roses I brought back.
The Beaufortites seem to have a decided leaning towards Theology judging from the contents of their libraries. I brought back "Edwards on the Affections" Will you read it if I give it to you?
     I had letters from Ogden and Nellie this evening dated Oct 3d & 4th. They were blue enough over Bull Run.
     I am glad that our trouble with England is amicably settled. For myself I should rather Enjoy a Summer campaign in Canada after a Winter one here (taKing a few days furlough to spend at Hunter on my way North) but I think Uncle Sam has his hands quite full enough already.
     Give my love to Frank and Aunt Helen [i.e., Helen Mann Edwards] and thank Uncle W [i.e., William W. Edwards] for the newspapers he has sent. They were very welcome.

Sincerly yours
Robert S Edwards