This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

(Letters of Republican Governor Adelbert Ames to his wife Blanche Butler Ames and two children at Lowell, Mass. August 26, 1874 -- at Shieldsboro, Miss.).
...Oiir arrangements are definitely made to sail out to the islands tomorrow. Ship Island will be one of those we propose to visit. This I shall view with interest, as one whereon your Father and Mother flourished a dozen years ago.
(M. James Stevens note: U. S. Major Gen. Benjamin F. Butler with Mrs. Butler (formerly Sarah Hildreth) were on the island from March to 1st May 1862 commanding U.S. troops which occupied New Orleans, La. With them
was her sister Maria Hildreth Parker married to Ship Island Postmaster for U. S., John Parker who had a similar position at New Orleans and in 1874 still lived in N.C. Andrew J. Butler, brother of Gen. Benj. Butler, also stayed in New Orleans vicinity until Ben. Butler departed December 1862. Mrs. Gen. Butler feared yellow fever and left New Orleans in June 1862).
August 29, 18 thru Shieldsboro: LONG SAILING TRIP TO SHIP ISLAND. We had a very pleasant sail. We started at four o'clock in the morning and returned at two o'clock the next morning. The wind was light almost the entire day, and we did not arrive at Ship Island until after sunset.
The wind was ahead, and when a mile to the leeward of the Lighthouse beating up to it the full moon rose behind the island, and made the scene quite beautiful, as well as unique.
As we moved along, the moon would be at one time behind the Lighthouse, at another behind the Fort, and again behind the buildings between the Fort and the Lighthouse, which were built for, and once occupied by our troops.
WALK ON ISLAND. We landed, and lighted by the moon and a lantern carried by the keeper of the lighthouse, we walked through the deserted street formed by the officer's quarters, and soldiers' barracks on either hand, to the Fort, which we inspected. It is in perfect condition, and last winter some guns were mounted on its parapet.
The buildings used by the troops as quarters are fast falling to decay. The wind has drifted sand about like snow. Some of the houses have been undermined, while others have been banked up.
There is one house they said was your Fathers HdQrs; though my impression is that he lived in tents or some temporary wooden house he could and did transport from place to place.
I recalled much I had heard of the sojourn there of your parents, and also some of (Col.) Kinsman's narrations, and withal enjoyed the moonlight visit much - though there was a feeling of sadness - a lonesomeness always incident to visits to scenes where those we know have been, especially when every step indicates decay.