Camp 103d Illinois
Infantry, Jackson, Tenn.,
March 7, 1863.
The rumors from Vicksburg in the Tribune of the 5th
are enough to make one's flesh creep, and more than sufficient to account for
my little touch of the blues I do feel to-night as though some awful calamity
had befallen our army somewhere. God grant it may not be so! We have another
report in camp this evening that is not calculated to enliven me much, viz.; “Lawler
and some four companies of the 18th Illinois Infantry have been captured some
30 miles east of town.” In my last I spoke of an expedition having started out
to look for some of Van Dorn's forces which were reported as being on the
Tennessee river, looking for a crossing place. We don't give credence to the
story of Lawler's being a prisoner. But if he is, and the Vicksburg rumor be
true and we have been repulsed at Charleston, and were whipped at Tullahoma, I
wouldn't feel half as badly over it all if our people at home would quit their
wicked copperheadism and give us the support and encouragement they should, as
I do now when we are worsted in even a cavalry skirmish. For every little
defeat we suffer only seems to make them so much bolder, as is shown in every
new set of resolutions which reaches us through the Times and the Enquirer.
So that miserable Davidson really published the lie that only one man in my
company really voted for the resolutions. Every man in Company G voted for them
and with a will, too. I don't have any politics in my company, although there
are some companies in the regiment which indulge considerably in discussing
questions of State. Above all things I dislike to hear it. I am glad to hear
that my men speak well of me in their letters. I think I have had less trouble
in my company than most of the officers. Allen Roodcape, the man you sent your
letter of the 1st inst. by, got here to-night. Poor fellow, he will never be
fit for a soldier. Davidson has gone home again. The 50th Indiana went out
yesterday morning to reinforce Lawler, so we will again be on picket every
other day. When it is here, once in three days is the rule. I was out on the
worst post last night and it rained nearly all night. It thundered and
lightened most splendidly. I like to get pretty wet once and a while for a
change. It's raining hard now. I go on picket again to-morrow. I'm sleepy,
tired, and the rain is coming through my tent so much that I believe I'll get
into bed.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 160-1
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