May 30, 1862.
We have our horses saddled all the time since 2:30 yesterday
morning. Owing to Colonel Kellogg's continued illness he was this morning
retired from further command of brigade, and Mizner put in his place. We could
hear the cars running at Corinth all last night, and now there is a heavy black
smoke hanging over the place. Some think they have evacuated, but 'tis
doubtful. Firing all the time since 3 this morning. Up to this time we (our
regiment) have had but three men killed and nine wounded here. Have been
remarkably fortunate. I gave up my cot to Major Rawalt and am sleeping on the
ground now, and the confounded lizards are working me into a fever. They are as
thick as you ever saw grasshoppers. One of them ran into Allan Heald's shirt
bosom yesterday and they say he moved rather sprightly for a few minutes. Lots
of snakes here, cottonmouths, copperheads, rattlesnakes, and commoner varmint.
There's also a scorpion that looks like a lizard with a green head. They say it
is poisonous.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 95-6
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