Camp 103d Illinois
Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn.,
March 19, 1863.
Nine whole days of the most beautiful sunshiny weather
imaginable. Warm as our home June, almost. The boys bathe in the river that
runs near our camp. The little birds warble in the trees, the beautiful young
ladies walk out to enjoy the gentle spring breezes. Seldom now do we hear those
gloomy omens of cold in the head, viz.: sneezes, and nature, grand old mother
nature, almost in human tongue proclaims this balmy Southern spring atmosphere,
a sure cure for the wheezes. Poetry, my dear, is the soul of — Sis, I'm getting
under the influence of this weather, as happy as a clam, and as lazy as I can
be, that is when I have nothing to do. I enjoy it intensely. Lieutenant Nick's
resignation has been accepted and he will be at home within a few days. I send
this by him, probably. I came pretty near having a fight a few days since. I
had 40 men out guarding a forage train of some 125 wagons. There was also about
50 cavalry. We stationed the cavalry as pickets while the teams were loading,
and 50 guerrillas attacked and drove our cavalry in (only 20 of our boys). We
got ready for a muss, but the other thirty of our horsemen charged secesh and scattered
them, wounding several and capturing two. 'Twas certainly censurable in our
post commander's sending so light a guard with so large a train, which was over
a mile long. My men showed the right spirit. That is the nearest to a fight any
of the 103d have yet been.
10 p. m. — I want you to be sure and get “Harpers Weekly” of
March 14th, and read that army story about the officers captured by pretended
guerrillas. It is all true and happened near Waterford, Miss., while we were
there. I know the two women well. Don't fail to get the paper or you'll miss
one of the best things of the war. I have just returned from a whist party.
Colonel Wright, Dr. Morris and Dr. Shaw, of the 6th Iowa, and no liquor. I
don't drink any, and intend to continue my habits in that respect. Very few of
our officers drink.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 164-5
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