September 17, 1861.
Well, I've slept half of this day and feel sleepy yet. I had
a tough time on picket last night. We were divided into four squads and owing
to the small number of men we had out (only 50) the corporals had to stand
guard as privates; so I had all the stationing of reliefs to do myself and did
not get a minute's sleep all night. We were not troubled any by the enemy but
the mosquitoes and fleas gave us the devil.
A coon came sliding down the tree Sam Nutt was stationed
under, and he thought he was taken sure. The people here say that there are
lots of bears and tiger cats killed here every winter. Sam has been to Cairo
to-day and says that Keef, Fred Norcott and Cooper are all much better. There
is a rumor now that our right is going to Virginia, but I don't believe it. It
is too good to be true. Our cook has been sick for several days and we have
been just about half living on account of our being too lazy to cook. I don't
mean to be disrespectful when I say I was about as glad to see him cooking
again this morning, as I would be to see you. He is a splendid nigger, seems to
think the world of us boys. He buys a great many little things for us with his
own money, which as we are all out, is a good institution. We are to get our
pay next week the officers say. My pay is some $18 or $20 a month now. I am
entitled to a straight sword now, but as I have to carry a musket also, I'll
trade it off for gingerbread if they'll let me, and if they won't I'll lose it
sure for I have enough to carry without it. I can hear the tattoo now before
the colonel's quarters at the other end of the camp and our boys are singing, “Home
Again” as they lie around me in our tent. I thank goodness that none of them
get homesick like some do that I know in our right. I do despise these whiners.
I expect (I have just this instant heard that they have been fighting in
Washington for the last 24 hours. Now I'll finish the sentence I had commenced)
to be with those I love in eight months if the expected battle in Washington
results favorably for our country, if not, do not look for me for three years.
If they whip us again there I want to fight the rest of my life if necessary,
and die before we recognize them as anything but Rebels and traitors who must
be humbled. I don't believe yet awhile the news but I kind o' feel it all
through me that there is a battle more to be recorded and that we are the
victors. All that we have heard is that they are fighting. Colonel Turchin's
19th left Cairo last night for the east somewhere. We are rapidly learning to
appropriate and confiscate. On our last scout one of our boys rode a stray
horse back and another came in with a female jackass and her child. Chickens
are very scarce here now and the natives complain that sweet potato hills have
turned into holes since we have been here. Our mess have this p. m. confiscated
the roof of a man's barn to cover our cook house with.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 31-2
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