Provost Marshal's
Office, Waterford, Miss.,
December 23, 1862.
Suspect this will be my last from this country. Where the army
is going I know not, but the divisions which have been in front are now filing
past us, faces northward. The movement commencing at the time of the raid on
Holly Springs, gives it the appearance of a retrograde for that reason, but I
think that has nothing to do with the matter, for though I have no idea of the
future plans of the general commanding, yet have known for some time that it
was not the intention to pursue further than Grenada on this line, and that
point has been evacuated by the enemy for some days. The raid into Holly
Springs was capitally done. The Rebels made a No. 1 haul. Immense stores of
clothing, commissaries and ordnance fell into their hands, all of which,
however, they were obliged to destroy, save what they could carry away on their
horses. About 1,200 or 1,500 officers and soldiers were paroled by them, some
1,000 horses carried off and I think not less than $1,000,000 of greenbacks.
One-half million worth of cotton was burned, etc.; loss to Government cannot be
less than three or four millions of dollars. Colonel Murphy is the man who is
responsible for the whole thing, and I can think of no punishment equal to his
deserts. ’Twas but nine miles from us and we of course immediately prepared for
a visit, but were not so honored. These successful raids of the enemy almost
make me sick. If our men would only be on the alert so that they could make
something of a fight, I wouldn't care a d--n. But to lose a thousand prisoners without
the enemy's having one killed makes me disgusted with the army. I'm allying a
little fun with business as opportunities offer. Friday last I got permission
of the colonel to make a little reconnoisance of the country along Tippah
river, and on the Tallahatchie between the mouth of Tippah and the railroad. I
stayed six miles from camp the first night and went possum hunting. Hunted
until 2 o'clock a. m. and although we treed a good many, couldn't get them.
Examined the country thoroughly next day, made a map of it, found there were no
guerrillas near our camp and then got a shot gun and hunted. The young fellow I
was with and myself, in an hour killed seven squirrels and a coon. Got back to
town at dark, Saturday night, and found everybody terribly excited about the
Holly Springs affair. They had given me up for a goner. The regiment laid on
their arms and I laid on my featherbed, for I knew devilish well there was no
danger. We've been on the alert ever since but the enemy has gone. To-day the
guerrillas have been seen on all sides of us within a few miles, but Ross'
division has just arrived so there is no chance for a fight.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 137-8
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