Camp at Lagrange,
Tenn., November 17, 1862.
Our whole regiment went on picket Saturday evening. Didn't
reach our posts until 9:30 p. m. Had plenty of fresh meat next day
(notwithstanding stringent orders), and beautiful weather. Our going on picket
saved us a tramp of 22 miles, for which I am duly grateful. They had a scare at
Summerville while we were out; our brigade (except we who were on duty) were
started out, nobody hurt, happy to chronicle. Squads of prisoners taken by our
cavalry are constantly arriving from the front. Very little skirmishing though,
mostly unarmed citizens, etc. There are an immense number of slaves at the
different military posts through here and in this vicinity. The officials are
using them to good advantage in securing the large crops of cotton to the
Government. The camps are overflowing with them, and their music and dancing
furnish the boys with amusement unlimited. Don't have half the fun with the
natives that I used to, in fact haven't spoken to any since I have been out this
time. Guess I'm steadying down some. Like soldiering as well as ever but the
novelty's gone, and its more like a regular way of living to me than a spree as
it used to be. Don't see any immediate prospect of a move, but a chap can't
tell what any symptom means here. I'd bet several times that we're on the point
of starting. We have been reviewed twice within four days by Grant, McPherson,
McKean, Logan and Pugh.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 141
No comments:
Post a Comment