Near Summerville,
October 19, 1864.
Reached this place yesterday. The cavalry advance had some
sharp skirmishing, and brought back some two or three prisoners. We are drawing
full rations, besides preying off the country, all kinds of meat, apples,
potatoes, and I believe the men find a little of everything known to be
eatable. Entering houses is prohibited under penalty of death, but some scoundrels
manage to pillage many houses. Foraging is also half prohibited, but I
am satisfied that our general officers do not object to our taking meat, etc.,
if houses are not entered. Ten p. m.—Have stopped here to draw rations. The 23d
and 4th Corps have already moved forward on the old Alabama road. That looks as
though we were intending to follow the Rebels. We “liners” have no idea where
they are. One rumor is that they are moving northwest, intending to cross the
Tennessee river, south or southwest of Huntsville. Another that they are moving
to their new base at or near Blue Mountain, on the road from here to Talladega,
Ala. If we are going to follow them, I look for a long campaign. But for one
thing, we would rather go into a campaign immediately than into camp. That is,
the men have not been paid off for ten months, and many families are
undoubtedly suffering in consequence. Our money is waiting for us, and we will
get it whenever the Johnnies will let us stop long enough for the paymasters to
catch up. Don't you people ever think of us as being without rations. We
sometimes wish the Rebels would cut our communications entirely, so that we
could live wholly off the country. The Rebels only take corn and meat, and we
fatten on what they are not allowed to touch.
SOURCE: Charles
Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 313
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