Camp at Messenger's
Ferry, Big Black River, Miss.,
September 22, 1863.
I wrote you a few
lines from Vicksburg on the 18th inst. to notify you that I had escaped the
perils of navigation (sandbar and guerillas) and of my safe arrival. I had a
delightful trip down the river. A splendid boat, gentlemanly officers, not too
many passengers, and beautiful weather. Major General Tuttle and wife and Mrs.
General Grant were of our number. I think Mrs. Grant a model lady. She has seen
not over thirty years, medium size, healthy blonde complexion, brown hair, blue
eyes (cross-eyed) and has a pretty hand. She dresses very plainly, and busied herself
knitting during nearly the whole trip. Believe her worthy of the general. Vicksburg
is a miserable hole and was never anything better. A number of houses have been
burned by our artillery firing, but altogether the town has suffered less than
any secesh village I have seen at the hands of our forces. But very few
buildings escaped being marked by our shot or shell, but such damage is easily
repaired in most cases. No business whatever doing in the town, except issuing
orders by generals, obeying them by soldiers and the chawing of commissary
stores without price by the ragged citizen population. I was of the impression
that I saw some rough country in Tishomingo County, Miss., and in the mountains
in north Alabama, but after a day’s ride in the vicinity of Vicksburg and to
our present camp, I find I was mistaken. They call it level here when the
surface presents no greater angles than 45 degrees. I found only one officer to
a company present here, and the colonel is also on leave. There is a great deal
of sickness but the health of the regiment now is improving. We have lost a
large number by disease since I left the regiment. Anyone who saw us in Peoria
would open wide his eyes at the length of our line now, and think we'd surely
passed a dozen battles. The greater part of the material this regiment is made
of should never have been sent into the field. The consolation is that these
folks would all have to die sometime, and they ought to be glad to get rid of
their sickly lives, and get credit as patriots for the sacrifice. We are now in
the 2d Brigade 4th Division 15th Army Corps, having been transferred from the
16th Army Corps. We are camped on the bluffs of Black river, which we picket.
Our camp is the finest one I ever was in. There are two large magnolias, three
white beeches, and a half dozen holly trees around my tent. I think the
magnolia the finest looking tree I ever saw. Many of the trees are ornamented
with Spanish moss, which, hanging from the branches in long and graceful rolls,
adds very much to the beauty of the forest. Another little item I cannot help
mentioning is the “chigger,” a little red insect much smaller than a pin-head,
that buries itself in the skin and stings worse than a mosquito bite. Squirrels
skip around in the trees in camp, and coons, owls, etc., make music for us
nights. Capt. Gus Smith when on picket several nights, saw a bear (so he
swears) and shot at it several times. The enemy's cavalry are maneuvering
around on the other side of the river, constantly making it unsafe for our boys
to straggle much over there. Sabbath evening we, our brigade, moved out across
the river about four miles to meet a party of Rebels, but as usual they were
not there. We ate our supper while waiting for them and returned by moonlight,
8 o'oclock p. m. We've had a brigade review and a short brigade drill, and I've
eaten a very hearty supper since finishing the last period. I feel perfectly
well once more. Much better than I did any day while North. Did I tell you that
I had the ague for a week or so before I started South? My continued ill health
more than anything else is what started me off for the regiment so suddenly.
The general wanted me to stay until after the fair, but I wouldn't have done it
for a horse. Altogether, I feel very happy over getting back to my company. The
boys profess being very glad to have me with them again, and I assure you that
such compliments do me good. I didn't know that I could take as much interest
in any strange humans as I feel in these men of my company. While I was in Central
Illinois I wished many times that this war was over, and that I could settle in
one of the many good points I saw for trade. I know that I could do well
selling goods in any of a half dozen towns that I visited there, and even in
Decatur. But I know I could not be satisfied out of the army while this war
lasts. I am glad to be out of staff duty for several reasons. One of the most
important is that it costs all my pay to keep me. I did not make a cent while
with the general, and have only two months' pay due me now. It has been very
cold here. Night before last I had six blankets over me, last night five and
will use four to-night. ’Twas quite warm this p. m., but the nights are very
cold. We will have hot weather yet. There is a great deal of ague here.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 187-9
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