On Steamer Henry Clay,
off New Madrid, Mo.,
April 16, 1862.
I finished my last in a great hurry, helped strike and load
our tents and equipage and started for the levee, confident that we would be
off for Memphis, Orleans and intermediate landings, before the world would gain
12 hours at farthest in age. That day over 30 steamers arrived, received their
loads of soldiers and departed, all down stream, preceded by six or eight
gunboats and 16 mortarboats. Word came at nightfall that there were not enough
boats for all and the cavalry would have to wait the morrow and more
transports. We lay on the river banks that night, and the next day alt the
cavalry got off except our brigade of two regiments. Another night on the banks
without tents, managed to get transportation for two battalions, one from each
regiment. They started down yesterday at about 10 a. m. and more boats coming
we loaded two more battalions, but at 9 p. m. a dispatch boat came up with
orders for us to stop loading and await further orders. The same boat turned
back all the cavalry of our brigade that had started and landed them at
Tiptonsville; we are at 6 this p. m. lying around loose on the bank here
awaiting orders. That boat brought up word that our fleet was at Fort Pillow,
and the Rebels were going to make a stand there, but that nothing had occurred
when she left but some gunboats skirmishing. What the devil we are going to do
is more than three men like me can guess. It's awful confounded dull here.
Nothing even half interesting. Saw a cuss, trying to drown himself yesterday,
and saw a fellow's leg taken off last night. These are better than no show at
all, but still there's not much fun about either case. I'm bored considerably
by some of my Canton friends wanting me to help them get their niggers out of
camp. Now, I don't care a damn for the darkies, and know that they are better
off with their masters 50 times over than with us, but of course you know I
couldn't help to send a runaway nigger back. I'm blamed if I could. I honestly
believe that this army has taken 500 niggers away with them. Many men have lost
from 15 to 30 each. The owners were pretty well contented while the army stayed
here, for all the generals assured them that when we left the negroes would not
be allowed to go with us, and they could easily get them back; but they have
found out that was a “gull” and they are some bitter on us now. There will be
two Indiana regiments left here to guard the country from Island 10 to
Tiptonsville, and if you don't hear of some fun from this quarter after the
army all leaves but them, I'm mistaken. They'll have their hands full if not
fuller. We have not been paid yet but probably will be this week. I tell you I
can spend money faster here than anywhere I ever was in my life, but of course I
don't do it. Am trying to save up for rainy weather, and the time, if it should
come, when I'll have only one leg to go on or one arm to work with. That Pittsburg
battle was one awful affair, but it don't hurt us any. Grant will whip them the
next time completely. Poor John Wallace is gone. He was a much better boy than
he had credit for being. We all liked him in the old mess very much. Ike
Simonson, of same company, I notice was wounded. He was also in my mess; was
from Farmington. There are no rumors in camp to-day. Yesterday it was reported
and believed that the Monitor had sunk the Merrimac, that Yorktown was taken,
and that another big fight had taken place at Corinth and we held the town.
That was very bully but it lacks confirmation. Think it will for sometime yet,
but Pope says we'll come out all right through all three of those trials. It's
just what's wanted to nip this rebellion up root and all. That's a rather
dubious victory up to date, that Pittsburg affair, but guess it's all right.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 82-4
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