Headquarters Second Mass. Inf'y,
Savannah, Ga., January 16th, 1865.
This afternoon, orders came quite unexpectedly for us to be
ready to move to-morrow morning at seven o'clock. Our corps, I believe, crosses
the river and marches up to Sister's Ferry, where the Fourteenth joins us from
the south side; after that, it is a mere speculation where we may go. I am
inclined to believe that the railroads towards Columbia will receive our
attention, so that communication between Richmond, Charleston and Augusta may
be cut off.
General Coggswell has been assigned to duty according to his
rank, by the President, and takes command of the Third Brigade, Third Division,
of this corps, — not our brigade, as I expected. He published a very good
order, taking leave of the regiment, and left, taking with him, I believe, the
good wishes of all.
To-day I sent a request to the War Department for six
hundred conscripts; whether it will effect anything or not, remains to be seen.
I think they ought to be willing to fill up the oldest regiment in the
volunteer service of the country.
Every one anticipates hard fighting on this campaign, and I
don't think we shall be disappointed; if we are successful, Richmond is on its
last legs.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 207
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