Tuscumbia, Ala., August
8, 1862.
My pet negro got so lazy and worthless I was compelled to
ship him. I'll take back, if you please, everything good that I ever said of
free negroes. That Beauregard nigger was such a thief that we had to also set
him adrift. He stole our canned fruit, jellies and oysters and sold some of
them and gave parties at the cabins in the vicinity. This was barely endurable
but he was a splendid, smart fellow and the colonel would have kept him, but he
got to stealing the colonel's liquor. That of course, was unpardonable, when
the scarcity of the article was considered. In my last I spoke of a ride on the
railroad and having to turn back on account of bridges being burned There were,
maybe, 150 sick soldiers on board, and they concluded to march to Decatur, only
10 miles. They were attacked just after we started back, five of them killed
and about 100 taken prisoners. There was a woman along and she was wounded.
There were three little fights yesterday between here and 25 miles east. In
all, four killed and 13 wounded. The fight first spoken of was day before
yesterday. Orders have been given us to put every woman and child (imprison the
men) across the line that speaks or acts secesh, and to burn their property,
and to destroy all their crops, cut down corn growing, and burn all the cribs.
That is something like war. ’Tis devilish hard for one like me to assist in
such work, but believe it is necessary to our course. Having been very busy
preparing reports and writing letters all day, feel deuced little like writing
you. People here treat us the very best kind, although they are as strong
Rebels as live. Bring us peaches and vegetables every day. I can't hardly think
the generals will carry out the orders as above, for it will have a very
demoralizing effect upon the men. I'd hate like the deuce to burn the houses of
some secesh I know here, but at the same time don't doubt the justice of the
thing. One of them has lent us his own cook, or rather his wife did; and they
don't talk their secessionism to you unless you ask them to. We are getting a
good many recruits from this country. All poor people, in fact that is the only
kind that pretend to any Unionism here. There are now three full companies of
Alabamians (Union) at Huntsville, and many more coming in. It is the opinion of
the court that this new law, a copy of which you sent me, will boost me out of
the service. I will make no objection, although would rather stay in if I
thought the war would last 30 or 40 years. Don't see how the boys can stay at
home under the pressure. A young man here, and a splendid fellow, if he is a
Rebel, showed me four letters from different young ladies urging him, by
ridicule and appeals to his pride to go into the army. He was in for a short
time, and was stationed at Fort Morgan. Business keeps him out now — crops,
etc. I think will arrange things so that he can leave, if we carry out orders. ’Twould
be quite a change for me to be out of the army now. I don' know how I would
relish it while the war continues, although am sure could stand it if peace
times would come again.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 123-5