Camp 103d Illinois
Infantry, Jackson, Tenn.,
March 5, 1863.
You certainly should not complain of my neglect, in writing
no more than once in ten days while we are quartered at such an intolerably
stupid place as this, for there really have not been two incidents ocurred
worthy of notice, since we pitched our tents on this ground. Never since I
first entered the service have I passed two months in which there seems so
little worth remembering Nothing but a dull round of picket, fatigue, and camp
guard; no alarms and no enemy within a hundred or more miles of us, save
“citizen guerrillas,” and they in no force sufficient to scare even a foraging
party. In lieu of something real to talk of and speculate about, I give you the
following items: There seems this morning to be some movement on foot, though I
have not heard a word of the object which has raised such a commotion in our
usually quiet military circles. I only know that all the mounted men stationed
here have this morning started under command of Colonel Mizner, with an
ammunition train and small provision ditto. Also hear that Dodge at Corinth and
the command out at Trenton have set all their cavalry in motion. To make the
case a little stronger I will add that one of Sullivan's aids galloped into
camp half an hour since, and required at short notice the number of rounds of
ammunition on hand. Well, I expect that Van Dorn or Morgan is on our side of
the Tennessee again. It can't be more than that. I'd give a month's pay to get
this regiment into a fight. Don't want it for myself particularly, but think it
would do the regiment a great deal of good. The feeling is some better among
the men, but there is still much room for improvement. Desertions are not so
numerous, but one slips off occasionally. Colonels Kellogg and Babcock were
both here a few nights ago. Both in good health, never saw them looking better
Don't know that anything of importance was connected with their visit. My own
health continues prime. I know that I don't fully appreciate the Lord's
goodness to me in granting me such continued excellent health, but I assure you
I do feel grateful to the Power that rules that matter, although I am tolerably
regular in my habits and intemperate in none, yet I know I am very careless of
myself and health in regard to dress, sleeping any and everywhere, etc. General
Sullivan will visit our camp at 3 o'clock to-day to look into its sanitary
conditions, and inspect our policing. The health of the regiment is much improved.
Two months more and we will be veterans. Another of my boys, the second, died
in General Hospital at this place yesterday. James Conyers, is his name.
Formerly worked for Stipp.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 158-60
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