Headquarters 1st
Brigade Cavalry Division,
Camp near Boonville,
Miss., June 6, 1862.
I am leading an inglorious life now, nothing to do but the
brigade writing and ride with the colonel when he goes out on business. The
only time I am on the fighting list is when the brigade goes out, and that is very
rarely, and only when reconnoisances in force are made, and there is seldom any
fighting done then. General Hamilton's whole division marched by our tent
to-day and it was a splendid sight; I had thought that I'd never want to see
any more troops but his division looked so splendidly, that I really enjoyed
the sight of them. I knew that they were only marching into a new camp, but
they all had got the idea that they were going into a fight and they were in
grand spirits. I never saw the men look as healthy as they do now. One reason
is those who were sick have been all left at the river and the weakly ones do
not pretend to march in the ranks this hot weather. We are within one hundred
yards of General Pope's headquarters and there are continually a lot of
brigadiers passing. They nearly always ride on the gallop, and with the aids
and escorts all told, say 60 in number to each general, they make quite a
dashing appearance. Rosecrans, Buell, Granger, Smith, Sherman, T. W., Plummer,
Paine, Hamilton and Pope all rode by at one time to-day.
All the companies we have had out to-day report skirmishing
with the enemy We lost two men prisoners, some wounded and several horses. Got
some prisoners. The enemy are in some force six miles from here. They are
dodging all around us. Rumor says to-day that Buell with his army is going down
through Alabama to Montgomery. Pope will move slowly after the enemy through
Mississippi, and Thomas will go across to Memphis and down the river to
co-operate with Butler in a movement through Southern Mississippi. 'Tis
probably the plan of some cuss in the ranks. I wish for one day that you could
hear all the camp rumors. They would make a remarkable book.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 97-8
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