Same place, June 7,
1864.
Our brigade has to-day been on a reconnoisance, supporting
Girard's (formerly Kilpatrick's) Cavalry Division.
We started the Johnnies not more than a mile from here, and
skirmished with them, driving them to the Kenesaw range of mountains, about
five miles. Our brigade lost nothing. Wilder's mounted infantry did the
skirmishing and had some eight to ten wounded. Four dead Rebels fell into our
hands. Cousin James called on me yesterday. I am much pleased with him. He is a
No. 1 soldier, I know. He has run some pretty close risks this campaign, but
who would not for the sake of taking part in it? I shall always think it
abundantly worth risking one's life for. To-morrow night we can tell whether
the enemy intends fighting us at this place or not. They left on the field
to-day a dozen or twenty real lances. They are the first I ever saw in the
service. The staff is eight or nine feet long with a pointed head of ten inches
in length. They were a right plucky set of Johnnies.
Our battery burst a shell over the edge of a piece of woods
and I saw some 20 Rebels scatter like a lot of scared rats.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 257
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