HEADQUARTERS OF 54TH
REGT. O. V. U. S. A.,
CAMP SH1LOH, TENNESSEE,
March 31, 1862.
We have not yet had the good fortune to meet the enemy. I
have made, in connection with Generals Sherman and Stuart, various
reconnoitres, and day before yesterday we were just on the heels of a body of
cavalry, but they managed to elude our forces. As I mentioned to you in a
former letter, there is a large army concentrating at this point, where, I
suppose, will be congregated a force of an hundred and forty thousand. The
enemy are in force at Corinth, some seventeen miles distant. Our men are fast
becoming acclimated, and are becoming restored to their wonted health and
vigor. As I said before, my own health is most excellent, and I am really
insensible to fatigue, at least on horseback. It is no unusual thing for me to
be eight or ten hours on the stretch in the saddle. If the spring and summer
heats do not overcome me, I am sure I shall derive benefit from the campaign. I
desire continually to assure you of my safety, and to pray you to disabuse your
mind of apprehension of danger to me either from ill-health or the casualties
of an engagement, the latter are of the most trivial character; there is not
one chance in a thousand of my being scathed.
SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of
Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 191
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