Yours of FEb 5th reached me a few days ago and many thanks for it. Before this you and Miss L have received my letters from Hilton Head and Stoddard's plantation this place. You would have heard sooner but for two or three weeks no mail was allowed to leave for fear of some information in regard to this expedition reaching the rebels through the New York papers.
     The plans have been entirely changed since starting and we are all waiting for we dont Know exactly what, probably the Completion of a battery on Tybee which in a few days

is to unmask and open on Pulaski. Our batteries on Jones and Bird Island having already cut off the retreat and communications of the Garrison
     If our gunboats had much pluck or rather if Capt Rogers had they would have been in the Savannah before this either by jamming through Mud Creek or running past Pulaski. Our scows do the latter most Every night but they can keep much further off than a gunboat could
     If we had only pushed on as soon as Hilton Head was taken we could have entered Savannah River before the rascals had time to block up all these creeks
     One of our officers brought yesterday from Hilton Head news of the capture of Fort Donelson. It is a comfort to Know that our forces are not

Everywhere inactive
I have been a deal more despondent than I was willing to confess Even to myself. A Richmond paper stated the case pretty correctly lately saying that with our immensely superior force we could hardly fail of gaining some advantages but if they could only avoid any decisive engagements our tremendous expenditures would soon crush us. At last we seem to have gone to work in good earnest. Grant and Burnside follow up their successes instead of stopping to cackle over them as our generals have formerly done. Now that our first enthusiasm or receipt of these news has somewhat subsided our thoughts return to our own disgusting inaction and "Perry's saints" swear like the profanest of sinners over it
     This swearing is a camp vice which

it seems impossible to prevent though the presence of an officer checks it. Sabbath observance is another thing difficult to maintain though the fault does not here rest chiefly with the men.
     Yesterday was the first Sunday I have been able to spend satisfactorily for two or three months.
     It has been my luck to be on duty nearly every Sabbath lately and for six weeks before leaving Hilton Head either Viele or Sherman was sure to have us out for either drill, review or inspection so that it was usually the hardest working day of the week. Our prayer meetings have languished from having no place to hold them in except our tents
     The first time we were paid off we commenced raising money to buy a large tent and would soon have had the amount needed ($100) but the colonel advised us to give up the plan as all baggage not recognized

by N. S. regulations must be left behind as soon as we took the field. Another drawback is the fact that our chaplain is most miserably inefficient. But in spite of all disadvantages there are many men who are much the better for having enlisted. The large sprinkling of educated intelligent men are none the worse themselves for roughing it with the rest and exert a good influence over them. Two of the best men in our company, one a corporal, were confirmed drunkards for years before enlisting and there are many such in the regiment. indeed drunkenness has never troubled us much. Many men too who were loafers or bummers have learned to be obedient, clean, neat, and orderly. One, at first so incorrigible, so, that we had to detail a file of men to scrub him was publicly

commended at inspection yesterday for his soldierly appearance.
     You say "dont get sick" of soldier life. There is no danger. I would not be hired to leave the service before this business is thoroughly settled. The charm of novelty of course wore off long ago from camp life and we are impatient to move forward but I still heartily Enjoy myself and don't consider the time we have spent in drilling as by any means entirely wasted. WE shall yet give a good account of ourselves, our men are proud of their regiment and colonel and anxious for a chance.
     I am glad the oyster boy got out of his scrape so well. I am sorry for his regiment if he gets on guard very often, He might just as well be asleep as awake.
     Last not least for your own affairs I dont believe your leaving C & Co

will be any permanent injury. quite the contrary. You would have stuck there without going ahead at all. Even supposing them to have prospered, of which you Know I was never very sanguine. If you join your friend Fairfax I may see you down this way.
     The best of luck to you what Ever You do, my dear fellow.
I hear but little of business affairs in New York but judge from that little that things are going to the dogs at double quick.
     My old employers R H & Co [i.e., Richards, Haight, & Co.] are coming out badly I am sorry to Say.
     I Enclose a note for Miss Holmes. I don't Know her address. That programme called up a host of old associations
The "Littells" arrive regularly.
You once offered to send the Atlantic

If you have no other use for it I should be glad to get it. Most anything in the way of reading is acceptable to wile away the tedium of guard duty where there is no possibility of an enemy's coming I always prefer picket duty as there is always at aleast a possibility of it there.
Give my best regards to Mrs L Miss L Mrs B and any acquaintances who may ask for me

Sincerely yours
Robert S Edwards

P. S. If I ever say anything as to our plans, strength etc don't quote it too freely as some trouble has been made by the publication of private letters