Jackson, Tenn., June
26, 1863.
Such splendid weather — nice, fresh breezes ruffling the
leaves on the trees all the day long—and plenty of rain to keep the dust in
order. I was up early this morning and the mocking birds were playing a
reveille, from whose sweetness bees might make honey. There are hundreds of
these birds living in a grove near our headquarters, and I can't find time and
ease enough to enjoy their concerts as I want to.
A flag of truce came to our lines yesterday on the Holly
Springs road. The general sent me out to receive it. A lieutenant and eight
men, all rough, dirty fellows, made the party. They were not very
communicative. They brought a small mail and a trifling communication about
prisoners. They belonged to Colonel Morton's 2d Tennessee (Rebel) Cavalry, and
were sent by General Ruggles. The general has promised to let me take a flag to
Okolona. Don't know when I shall go. I do think that General Oglesby is the very
ideal of a chivalric, honorable, gallant, modest, high-spirited, dignified,
practical, common-sense, gentleman. Nobody can help loving him. He hates a
particle of meanness as much as he does a bushel. If we were only doing
something more active I should be perfectly happy. As it is, I think seriously
of asking to be sent back to my regiment. The general will not be able for any
more field work, and I hardly think it right manly in me to stay back here with
a railroad guard, when there is so much to be done in front, and I am so strong
and able to bear the field duty. You should hear the general talk. There is
such a big rolling river of fun and humor in his conversation. Such a hearty
honest laugh; I know his heart is big enough to hold a regiment. I believe he
thinks as much of the old 8th as of his family. When he has been speaking of
the gallant conduct of the 8th at Donaldson and Shiloh, I have seen his face
flush up and it seemed as though his heart jumped up to his throat. I was over
to the negro camps yesterday and have seen a good deal of them since I last
wrote you. An honest confession is good for the soul. I never thought I would,
but I am getting strongly in favor of arming them, and am becoming so blind
that I can't see why they will not make soldiers. How queer. A year ago last
January I didn't like to hear anything of emancipation. Last fall accepted
confiscation of Rebel's negroes quietly. In January took to emancipation
readily, and now believe in arming the negroes. The only objection I have to it
is a matter of pride. I almost begin to think of applying for a position in a
regiment myself. What would you think of it? We had quite an alarm two or three
nights since. Nobody hurt, but some Tennesseans badly scared. I guess I will go
to Memphis to-morrow to look for a spy who has been along our line, and whom we
think is now in Memphis. Well, I must go and see the provost marshal about
disposing of some prisoners. First, I'll tell you what three soldiers did the
night we had the alarm here. Colonel Mizner, with 1,000 of our cavalry, had
been on a scout nine days, and that night we heard that he was within 15 miles
of here on his return. We heard of the enemy about 1 a. m. and immediately sent
these three men (volunteers for the purpose) to notify Colonel Mizner and have
him march all night. They reached the little town, Mt. Pleasant, without
incident on the way. There was a lot of guerrillas camped in town that night,
and their guard hailed the boys and fired. Our men, only three, charged with a
yell and scared the whole party out of town. They couldn't find the colonel and
started to return. When two miles on the way back, at a turn in the road, they
met Mitchell's Rebel company (60 men). Our boys yelled, “here they are, come on
boys,” and charged, firing their revolvers. They brought one man down, and made
the next fall back some 200 yards where they commenced forming line. Our
fellows then took to the woods, got around them and back to camp at 6:30 a. m.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 183-4
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