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Long letter written by a sailor aboard an unnamed vessel in the Union navy performing blockade duty, with news of action as well as scuttlebutt of the war. In part: " I thought I would comence a letter to you for fear I should not go home in the next boat... I am told to day by one who knows that the talk in the [war (?)] room is we shall start in a month, that the ship will have a new battery & be repaired & not go out of Commission.... we have news of the burning of Charlston & that V. wants to come back into the Union, & that there is every prospect of trouble with Eng. I hope not but if they want it let them come on... that is the sentements of the ships company, only they want some change in our ship. there is another steamer coming in now & perhaps we shall get more news... now I must tell you of a bit of adventure we have had & not at all to the credid (credit) to our Capt & to the disgust of the crew, wensday morn we found at daylight a rebel steamer at the light-house... some 4 miles (not over) from us. she kept up a black smoke all day. at noon they burned a house a 2 story one. we cant imagine what they wanted, in the afternoon the V [Vincenness] sent up a boat & they went in shore to see what was up, the steamer then came out into the pass & stoped & then turned slowly round & then ran up the pass a few miles & s(o) another one came down & mett them. well that was enough for our Capt.... we have got to stand watch for a while as well as every one else, for this ship is in danger the Capt says. our bell has not struck nor has the band played for two days for fear they might hear us a shore...we have news of a fleet of 30 sails coming down to the Gulf somewhere. Mobile or N. Orleans I think. it is now pretty certain that we shall be mid-weigh for [now (?)] within a month, so I am sure of being out of her(e) in a month... I am in my usual good health & hope this will find you all the same at home your son F. Foster Jr." Complete transcript available on request.