Camp at Lagrange, West
Tennessee, November 7, 1862.
To say that we have been crowded, jammed, put through,
hustled, skited, etc., don't half express the divil-of-a-hurry headquarters has
shown and is showing us. We left Peoria one week ago last night, crossed the
bridge at precisely 6 o'clock p. m. Since that we have traveled one day and one
night on the cars, a day resting, beside stacked arms waiting orders, the first
quarter of a night pitching tents, then received orders to march with five
days' rations at daylight, and the rest of the night spent in preparation
therefor, then two days' marching through the awfullest dust you ever saw, so
thick we almost had to kick it out of the way to get our foot to the ground,
then a day of rest and fat living off secesh pork, etc., and the seventh day a
march of 20 miles by our whole brigade, after a little party of Rebel cavalry
that couldn't more than eat a hog a day. Pretty good work for a green regiment,
wasn't it? It seems real natural to be down in Secessia, the country where a
300-pound porker don't cost any more than a chicken that costs nothing. But
some things we have to buy for our mess, and to show you what they cost, I will
mention the items of flour and salt. The former is worth 50 cents per pound,
and the latter $1 a pound. We wouldn't have to buy them of citizens, but
scarcity of transportation obliged our A. C. S. to leave everything but
traveling rations, viz.; Bacon, sugar, coffee and crackers. There is a man
making boots in town at $45 a pair, and he can't get leather to fill his
orders. Fine country. Between here and Bolivar, some 30 miles, I think there is
not a house left or rail left unburned, and 'twas all done on our trip down.
The fires were all lit by troops that marched ahead of us, and although the
smoke and heat were disagreeable enough, yet I think the 103d generally approved
of the proceedings. Yet I was glad enough when the colonel, by the general's
orders, called us to answer the question, “Do you know that any of your men
burned rails, houses, or destroyed any property on the march from Bolivar?”
that the 103d had not participated. Major General McPherson, commanding this
corps, disapproves of such conduct and will severely punish offenders if
caught, which latter item is not at all probable. Tis generally understood that
the Union Tennessee Cavalry did the work. The 7th Illinois is here with us and
all are well that you know.
We have good tents and are otherwise better prepared for
soldiering than I ever was before.
We have between 30,000 and 40,000, I suppose, between here
and a point eight miles east. Price is supposed to be in the neighborhood of
Holly Springs, 30 miles southwest, with 40,000 to 60,000. They say we are
waiting for the Memphis troops to join us before we go down and scoop him. We
have the half of the old army of the Mississippi here, and part of the army of
West Tennessee, nearly all experienced troops.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 129-30
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