Camp Reed, Jackson,
Tenn.,
January 22, 1863.
I received your four-volume letter of the 5th, 12th, 13th
inst. last night, and return you my sincere thanks for the time and writing
material you expended in my behalf. I suppose that you now understand why you
did not receive my letters.
You ask me how I like the news from Vicksburg. All right.
That was only a little reconnoisance in force, which paid its way by gobbling
up Arkansas post. We want to get these seceshers all together at Vicksburg and
then close the war in this country. Wait about a month, if you want to hear a
call for bombazine, etc. We'll have that little town then, or a very large
portion of the loyal people of Illinois will go to make that a very fertile
point. By the way, aren't you afraid that Rosecrans will get his hands full if
it be true that Longstreet with 13 brigades has arrived at Chattanooga? Guess
those Eastern Rebels must know better how to fight than Bragg, Price, Van Dorn,
etc., at any rate I'm a little suspicious of that Longstreet and wish that one
or two of these divisions here could be sent to oppose. Believe I would rather
we would be whipped here than see "Rosy" beaten. There will be
somebody awfully hurt though, before that latter item takes place, and
Rosecrans himself will never live to read an account of it.
Staff appointments are nicer than the line business, but
chance for promotion is not so great nor so honorable in my opinion. Although
one does get more credit in reports, and has more influence. Anyway the chances
for a captain to be detached on staff duty are very limited, and nearly always
matters of outside influence. A first lieutenant's chance on his merits are
much better for several reasons. Officers are beginning to resign in a very
lively manner in our regiment. Am satisfied that of the original captains, only
Sid., Frank Post and myself will be left in two months from now, and I can see
that both Sid. and Frank would not object to being let out gently and
honorably, especially if they could happen on a good little fight shortly, and
then leave. Poor fellows! One has a new wife and the other an old girl, each
gets five letters a week and looks a little sicker after each letter than
before. Guess I'll have to get me one of them girls to be in the fashion,
though I haven't yet got over that one's patting me on the shoulder when I
enlisted, telling me what a fine, brave fellow, etc., I was and then marrying
within three weeks after I'd gone. I'm not very desperate in consequence, but
can't think it was fair. Sid. got back from Cairo to-night with his men, minus
30, of whom some ten deserted and the remainder were left sick. Profitable
trip. We are on half rations again for five days, but I managed to secure a
700pound beef for my company, so we'll not starve. I report more men for duty
than any other company in the regiment. Call that doing pretty well when you
consider that mine is a picked company. Major Phelps is here and says we will
be paid off shortly. That means between now and July as I take it. Am not
particular though. Uncle Sam can go to the d---1 with his greenbacks, if he'll
only send us to Rosy or Vicksburg. Weather here has moderated considerably. It
is 1 o'clock a. m. now and I am without coat or fire and am comfortable. I
never retire before 1 or 2 o'clock any more. Am ashamed to say what time I get
up. We think here that this place and Corinth will be evacuated ere long Troops
are passing through here from Corinth every day, going to Vicksburg. Every sign
says that we will leave here within ten days, but all signs are unsartin. The
moon to-night says a dry month. Don't I hope she won't fool us. This
half-ration business is only so in name, the full ration has a tremendous
margin for waste and men can grow fat on half rations. I do believe that they
live just as well. When the 1st of January proclamation was issued a number of
our officers became very much excited. Several of them talked strongly of
tendering their resignations in consequence thereof, and one of them really
did. But we were too strong for the d----d compromising lickspittles, and
to-day you can't hear a whimper against it. The major and adjutant were
strongly opposed to it, but they dare not say so to-day. All of that excitement
at home is working on the army though, and even if it requires bayonets, the
good of the army demands that the agitation cease. That is the cause of all the
desertions, and they are many that are occurring, and nine-tenths of the
discontent and demoralization spring from the same source. A tremendous number
have deserted of late and the evil is growing.. Thousands would leave if we
could be stationed on the border. Well, the old soldiers are very, very tired
of the war. Any number of them would recognize three or four confederacies to
get home, and their influence over the new men is boundless. The Confederate
rank and file feels the same way. Nineteen-twentieths would vote for the United
States or any other man to secure peace, but their officers and citizens
control the matter. It don't make any difference what commission you intrust
your sanitary stores to for the stealings are all in the hospitals, and these
sanitary commissaries all issue to any hospital that is in need.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 149-51
No comments:
Post a Comment