Huntsville, Ala., April
3, 1864.
Thunder, lightning and rain are having a little time by
themselves outdoors to-night. No audience, but guards and government mules, but
that don't seem to affect the show. We have a right good hotel here, a rather
lively party, and have spent a pleasant, highly gaseous evening, Colonel
Oglesby, Dr. Morris and Captain Wilkinson of our division. We came down on two
days' leave, principally to see the place, but all having more or less
business. Found Will Trites this a. m.; dined with him, and this afternoon four
of us have been riding. I enjoyed it very much. Had good horses, and 'tis a
beautiful town. I think the finest I have seen South; but nothing near what
Decatur, Bloomington, Quincy and a dozen other Illinois towns promise to be
when they have half its age. In the cemetery there are as many really fine
monuments as there were in the Chicago cemetery in 1859, and should think it
not more than half the size of the new Canton graveyard. Our soldiers have been
registering their names on the finest of the monuments. It looks so
sacrilegious, and fully as ridiculous. They have a beautiful custom here of
placing wreaths of flowers and bouquets upon the graves. This p. m. (Sabbath)
nearly every grave had one or more such offerings. I attended the Presbyterian
church this a. m., and certainly never heard the English language so abused
before. The minister was a citizen. Did not by a word allude to the war in
sermon or prayers. Most of the ladies wore mourning. Very full attendance of
them. All who refused the “oath” here, have been sent across the river. Saw
General McPherson at breakfast this morning looking as of old. We were paid
four months last Thursday.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 222-3
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