William W. Edwards Esq.
Sir

     While at Seabrook I received a letter from you, with a perfect satisfactory account of Monies sent to the "Brooklyn Dime Savings Bank" by Thomas Parrott [i.e., Pvt. Thomas Parrott, Co. C, 48th New York Infantry] and I — In your letter, you made Mention of a "Sermon" that had, or was to be delivered "by Rev. Dr. Storrs, on the death of the late Lieut Edwards." I saw a Notice of the same in a Brooklyn paper—and noticed the Mistake Made, that Lieut Edwards was Killed at Fort Gregg — As I, and Many other Members of Co. C, would have been pleased to have received a copy of the Sermon, we have waited anxiously for the same, Therefore I take the liberty to remind you of the letter written — And as I was much with your late Nephew, I thought that you might be pleased to learn all facts connected with his Melancholy death — None but eyewitnesses can ever learn of the toil and sufferings of the 48th whilst we were in our Sand pits on Morris Island — Officers and Men shared alike — And never can I forget the Night of the 15th of last July — Through out the day, Co. C. had

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lain in Sand pits near Fort Wager. We were there to protect our Engineers working on the Batteries a short distance below — All day long the Rebels Kept up a constant fire upon us from Sumpter Wagner & Battery Gregg—and we could hardly leave our pits for a drop of water—and a scorching Southern Sun pouring down upon us — After darkness set in, Your late Nephew went around to the different pits and called out the Men, we were formed in line and all felt pleased as we then expected to be taken back to our Camp — But no sooner than we had gained the Beach, before the word was given "By the left flank March" and thus we March along in Silence, not Knowing where we were going and approaching Nearer and Nearer that dreadful Fort Wagner — I assure you that it was a gloomy March—so silent and breathless seemed all, and Lieut Edwards had warned us not to speak above a whisper — At last we were halted—skirmishers sent out, and the rest of the Company thrown into rifle pits and not far off from Wagner — Your Nephew had charge of the rifle pit, and the poor Man went in among the Men and gave all necessary caution and orders —above all, he begged of them to Keep awake if possible — He spoke so kindly to the Men — He told them that he Knew how much they had suffered—how much they wanted rest—how he Knew that "Nature had her rights"—how human

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endurance had been severely tried" — Yet for all these kind admonitions and warnings, the greater part of the Men had no sooner got their places before they fell asleep — And in this condition we remained until all were suddenly aroused by the fire of our skirmishers — It was then that I saw the cool and determined firmness of your Nephew — Even before our skirmishers regained the rifle pit Lieut Edwards had every thing in readiness to give the approaching rebels, a proper reception, and although we were driven from the rifle pit—by the overpowering Number of rebels—yet we only retreated to a short distance when Lieut Edwards soon has us in line and again we poured a deadly volly into the advancing rebels and soon they were in full retreat for Fort Wagner — Every Man in Co. C. complimented Your Nephew, and all felt that he was "every inch a Soldier" — On the Morning of the 18th of July every Man of the 48th was in line, ready to March again to the Sand hills—as we expected that we were only to go there, to protect our land batteries in case of an attack during the terrific bombardment to come off on that day from our land & Mortar batteries and the Monitors — We remained on the Sand hills quite contentedly witnissing the explosions of shells over Wagner—and all thought that before the setting of that day Sure, Wagner would be ours — In this way

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we spent the day watching the contending strife, and giving cheer after cheer as we noticed gun after gun on Wagner being "silenced"—(or at least we truly supposed so) until only one gun feebly replied to our batteries — (But alas, how cruelly we were decoyed into that great Slaughter House —) Then it was that the 48th was ordered into line, and soon on the Beach and going at a "double quick" towards Wagner — The air, at this time, seem to be composed of nothing but solid balls and shells—as all our land batteries—Monitors, gun-boats & Ironside were pouring a constant fire into the fort—and not a rebel gun replying—onward we pushed our Men in company front — I never say the Beach of Morris Island look more beautifully—and never saw the Men in finer spirits—as all, at that time, really supposed that we had nothing to do, only to double quick it to Wagner, and dig out the burried up rebels — Closer and closer we approached the slaughter house—yet not a rebel gun fired — But no sooner had our batteries & Monitors ceased their fire, before Wagner Sumpter, Gregg & Moultrie sent their dreadful Missles into our rank — As quick as thought—the sight was appalling, the beautiful Beach was strewn with the dead—the dying and the Mangled—Yet the Men of the 48th faltered not — "Keep your places Men, heads up—no stooping — Steady Co. C—let no man of Co. C. drop out—show Yourselves Men Company C—steady on the right—steady men on the left" — These were the words I could

constantly hear coming from the lips of our late Lieut. Edwards — His words did encourage us on during that trying time—as we came to the dreadful Moat or canal we then came under the telling Musketry in the hands of five hundred rebels — It was here that our company line broke, and I lost sight for a Moment of your Nephew — But no sooner were I decending the banks of the Moat, before I saw Lieut Edwards rushing up the slope of the fort near the parapet, wavering the glorious Stars and Stripes over his head—speaking out in a cool & determined tone — "Come on Company C—follow this Flag—the Fort must be ours." These are the last words spoken on Earth by the late Lieut. Edwards—as I was not a Moment crossing the Moat, and had just gained the slope of the Fort when I saw Capt. Farrell lying dead within a few feet from the Water and Your Nephew lying dead near the parapet with his head downwards on the slope — It appears that he had gained the parapet when he was instantly Killed by a charge of grape & cannister — He was struck just above his thighs, and his left side torn away — I endeavored to get to him, but the surging mass of Men on the parapet and on the slope above me, pushed me back into the Moat—and just as I gained a good footing on the slope, and was endeavoring to gain the

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parapet, when at that instant the 100th N.Y. Regt. came up to the bank of the Moat, halted, raised their pieces and fired into us — With beseeching voices and lifted hands we told them that they were Killing their friends — But alas, the warning came too late—the deed had been done—and the 100th N.Y. paid dearly for their mistake, as by their halting on the edge of the Moat—they came in range of the two right & left rebel Howitzers—and it appeared that every Man of the 100th N.Y. was instantly swept from earth — The darkness at this time was so great, that one could hardly tell friend from foe — As I passed over the parapet, I looked for Lieut Edwards—but it was so dark—and the dead and dying were so heaped up, that I could not then recognize anyone, It was not so much the darkness of the hour, as the smoke I only fired seven times after getting in the fort, as everything was were in such confusion, that we kenw not what to do—and to fire at random—was only endangering the lives of our friends — And thus we remained being cut to pieces, without any hope of success until the word "Retreat" was sounded — As I again passed over the parapet—I thought of Lieut. Edwards, but found that I was on another angle of the fort And under the Providence of a Merciful Creator I worked myself down to our Camp — And

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thought, as I firmly believe now, that the Rebels skillfully decoyed us into the storming of Wagner that day—for with all our terrific bombardment of Many hours—we had only silenced one gun and hardly a rebel hurt — They were safely hid away in the Bomb-profs of the fort—and all day they had been resting for the expected attack — And after we had double quicked it for a Mile & a half—we had to Meet the fire of Sumpter, Wagner Gregg, & Moultrie—to say nothing of the 1400 fresh Men with deadly rifles in hand waiting our coming — Oh! how Many [illeg] were Made desolate for that uncalled for and bitterly lamented Attack on Wagner — We were truly decoyed into that Slaughter house — The rebels held out the bate—and we eagerly seized it — I shall never forget the feeble reply of that "corner gun" on Wager — It seem to tell us that they had given up—come and take us and get us out of our misery — As I have endeavored to tell you everything connected with your Late Nephews death—I must Mention about his little contraband waiter boy, whom he called "Careless" — Poor Careless Kept beside of Lieut Edwards all the way until we began to receive the rebel fire—then Lieut Edwards ordered him back — Careless halted for a moment and then

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ran up to Lieut Edwards and gave him his canteen of water. The poor black boy then threw himself down in the beach and waited for over three hours for the return of his Kind Employer—and all this time he was in great danger of being cut to pieces from shells — The next morning the poor boy came to me nearly disconsolate, I asked him if he knew what had "become of Lieut Edwards"—he replied, "Oh! Yes Boss, Lieut Edwards gone to Heaven" — Are you certain Careless that Lieut Edwards is Killed — "Yes Boss, I am certain — I wait most all night for him and he never come dat way agin, I Know Boss, Lieut Edwards gone to Heaven"—and then looking up to me he cried — "And now Boss, I want to Know if I may Keep this Haversack, Lieut Edwards put it around my neck when we started for Wagner" — We soon after missed "Careless" and could gain no tidings of him until he made his appearance in Camp when we were at Seabrook — I asked him about the "Haversack" — He told me that his Mother got it all safe for him and again wanted to Know if he could Keep it in rememberance of his dear late friend—our boys are very good to Careless whenever he visits our camp — He is now with an officer of the 115th N.Y. Regt —

     I have endeavored to give you a simple & truthful account of all facts connected with the death of your late Nephew — Every Man, not only of Co. C. but of the entire Regiment gives him the name of being a true Soldier and an honest Man — I subscribe Myself Respectfuly Yours

Dayton Britton Co. C.