* Misdated as Saturday, September 27, 1863. September 27th fell on a Sunday.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 192
For the last month nothing but a dull monotony has reigned in camp, but things are now becoming more lively. The paymaster has made his appearance; green-backs and gray-backs are plentiful. The latter now and then dash from their hiding places in the brush upon the soldiers. Sergeant Leatherman and two men belonging to Company K, while out on a detail, were captured to-day. Companies B, C, E, and K, under the command of Captain Johnson, are now in pursuit of the guerrillas.
During the time we
remain in camp, all seems monotonous and dull, scarcely anything happening to
relieve it. Every day the boys are seen wending their way out of camp to gather
blackberries, which are very plentiful around Corinth.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 180
From day to day nothing but the weary routine of camp and picket duty greets us—rain or shine the same continual thing—no relaxation. But such is the soldier's life. These sleepless nights, surrounded by a chilling atmosphere, incident to the climate, watching for lurking traitors, is not an enviable life; but cheerfully the sentry paces his lonely path, and when his hours are up he rolls in his blanket upon the cold damp ground, and is soon lost in dreams, perhaps of home, perhaps of battles, the clash of steel and the roar of cannon.
DEAR GENERAL: I
would most respectfully suggest that you use your personal influence with
President Lincoln to accomplish a result on which it may be the ultimate peace
and security of our country depends. I mean to his use of the draft to fill up
our old regiments.
I see by the public
journals that a draft is to be made, and that 100,000 men are to be assigned to
fill up the old regiments, and 200,000 to be organized as new troops. I do not
believe that Mr. Lincoln, or any man, would at this critical period of our
history repeat the fatal mistakes of last year. Taking this army as a fair
sample of the whole, what is the case? The regiments do not average 300 men,
nor did they exceed that strength last fall when the new regiments joined us in
November and December. Their rolls contained about 900 names, whereas now their
ranks are even thinner than the older organizations. All who deal with troops
in fact instead of theory know that the knowledge of the little details of camp
life is absolutely necessary to keep men alive. New regiments for want of this
knowledge have measles, mumps, diarrhea, and the whole catalogue of infantile
diseases, whereas the same number of men distributed among the older regiments
would learn from the sergeants and corporals and privates the art of taking
care of themselves, which would actually save their lives and preserve their
health against the host of diseases that invariably attack the new regiments.
Also, recruits distributed among older companies catch up, from close and
intimate contact, a knowledge of drill, the care and use of arms, and all the
instruction which otherwise it would take months to impart. The economy, too,
should recommend the course of distributing all the recruits as privates to the
old regiments, but these reasons appear to me so plain that it is ridiculous
for me to point them out to you, or even to suggest them to an intelligent
civilian.
I am assured by many
that the President does actually desire to support and sustain the Army, and
that he desires to know the wishes and opinions of the officers who serve in
the wood instead of the "salon." If so, you would be listened to.
It will take at
least 600 good recruits per regiment to fill up the present army to the proper
standard. Taking 1,000 as the number of regiments in actual existence, this
would require 600,000 recruits. It may be the industrial interests of the
country will not authorize such a call, but how much greater the economy to
make an army and fight out this war at once. See how your success is checked by
the want of prompt and adequate enforcement to guard against a new enemy
gathering to the rear. Could your regiments be filled up to even the standard
of 700 men for duty, you would be content to finish quick and well the work so
well begun. If a draft be made, and the men be organized into new regiments
instead of filling up the old, the President may satisfy a few aspiring men,
but will prolong the war for years and allow the old regiments to die of
natural exhaustion. I have several regiments which have lost honestly in battle
and by disease more than half their original men, and the wreck or remainder,
with colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major, ten captains, lieutenants, &c.,
and a mere squad of men, remind us of the army of Mexico—all officers and no
men. It would be an outrage to consolidate these old, tried, and veteran
regiments and bring in the new and comparatively worthless bodies. But fill up
our present ranks, and there is not an officer or man of this army but would
feel renewed hope and courage to meet the struggles before us.
I regard this matter
as more important than any other that could possibly arrest the attention of
President Lincoln, and it is for this reason that I ask you to urge it upon him
at this auspicious time. If adopted, it would be more important than the
conquest of Vicksburg and Richmond together, as it would be a victory of common
sense over the popular fallacies that have ruled and almost ruined our country.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 3 (Serial No.
124), p. 386-8
This morning the boys are seen wending their way to the timber to chop wood. It is very cold, and the boys are kept busy getting fuel. It snows all day, and except those detailed to get wood, the boys keep close around the camp fires, busily engaged at something. Some talking of home and friends, some about the armies, and others about the Emancipation Proclamation. Some are perusing old Waverlys, and others amusing themselves with Harper's cuts, one has a volume of Shakspeare with his mind following intently the dramatic play of Edward the "three times.” We are wondering now, how the leaders of northern democracy would feel could they hear the comments made, and the anathemas heaped upon their devoted heads by the soldiers, sitting around the winter camp-fires to-night in Mississippi. We are of the opinion that they would not consider themselves very much flattered.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 131
This morning we find the clouds have disappeared, and the sun is shining brightly on the carpet of snow that mantles the earth, but it is cold, and the soldiers are compelled to keep close around the camp fires. Such weather was never known in this climate, and the citizens say that it is caused by the Yankee's superhuman agency. This evening it is all mud—the snow did not tarry long. And yet the cry goes forth fromthe “P. O." "no mail—"no papers." Oh! cruel fates!
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 132
Our camp now puts one in mind of an Illinois farm-yard, roosters crowing and hens cackling all over camp. The roosters the boys are training for game-cocks.
"Hello, Hampton, I'll bet you ten dollars that my rooster can whip yours!". cries a soldier across the way, “Well, done!” replies Hampton of Company K, and a crowd of soldiers assembles, sprinkled considerably with shoulder straps—the fight commences; they show pluck-show that they have been well trained, but Hampton's rooster gets vanquished, so decide the judges. Thus the weary hours are killed in the camp of the Seventh.
It is raining to-day. The soldiers keep in their tents, some reading, some writing. All peaceful and quiet this evening.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 133
Still raining; how dreary the hours, and how slowly they pass away; what a dull monotony reigns in camp, and the cry is for something to dispel it. The soldier's prayer is for action; yes, give us action, for action gives vigor to life, and value to being. Let us bear the old flag on.
This morning the boys are busy shelling corn to make hominy, and while we walk through the camp of the Seventh we are reminded of the stories told of our revolutionary fathers, in their struggle for independence.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 128
CAMP NEAR STRASBURG, VIRGINIA, October 15, 1864.
Dear Mother:— We have remained quiet in camp during this week with the exception of one afternoon's skirmishing. Early, or somebody with a considerable force, is entrenched near us. We may fight another battle with him, but I have no information as to the intention.
Colonel Comly is very well. He has had great luck to get through all this fighting with so little injury. He and the Twenty-third have been in all the hottest places. Over twenty officers in the regiment have been killed or wounded since the first of May.
My love to all.This morning we are busily engaged in cleaning off our new camping ground. It has been suggested that the Seventh take the contract to clear off Tishomingo county. We have already cleaned off nearly enough camping ground to camp the old Second Division, this being the sixth camp the Seventh has prepared in the last six months; but, as one of our officers remarked to-day, the Seventh stands flat-footed for anything, whether it be cleaning off camping grounds, doing guard duty, running, or stealing, and it is now whispered around confidentially that in the latter the Seventh might be safe in claiming a little accomplishment.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 87
All is quiet; a dull monotony reigns in camp. It is rumored that the command will move from Corinth ere long. All seem anxious for that hour to come-seem tired of this inactive life. General Rosecrans has command of the forces here. In the evening he visits our camp; seems greatly pleased with our dress parade, and the efficiency of the regiment in the manual of arms.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 88
To-day we move our camp; we now have a pleasant situation. The signs of the times are changing. Direct communication is now open from Corinth to the Mississippi River.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 81
This morning is still and beautiful. From the distant fields come the sound of the bugle's sharp notes. The artillery is going pell mell, practicing in the evolutions. Drill, drill, seems to be the order of the day, coming from every quarter. During our stay in camp here, nothing of much interest occurs; now and then an occasional something turns up to relieve the dull monotony of camp life.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 81-2
February 7, 1863.
. . . Emerson and Thoreau are oftener in my mind, in connection with this camp life and these people, than any other writers I know. While I am constantly studying how to keep these men well, or to alleviate their sufferings, they as constantly fill me with something higher than a feeling of philanthropy, a sort of oriental sympathy, outreaching the wants of the body. Gen. Saxton has said that these people are “intensely human,” and I will add that I find them intensely divine. It is, however, more difficult to call out the divine than the human. The blessings resulting from freedom will wash away the accursed stains of slavery and all the world will see that these are also children of God. They have a boundless conception of the divine spirit and an intense trust in the fatherhood of God. . . . It is true, they will commit almost as many sins as their white neighbors, but I am speaking now of the religious element and leaving the moral to be controlled by culture. . . .
Keeping our men below so long on the John Adams destroyed more lives than the rifle shots would have done. It seemed a choice of evils and the least apparent was chosen. But the return of sunshine will help restore the sick.
SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 358
A CHANGE OF BASE.
And now something else has turned up, and here we are encamped just outside the city and behind our batteries. The order to move took us by surprise, as the first notice we had was to pick up our traps and be ready to march in half an hour. At the time appointed everything was packed and loaded on the wagons and we were on the march. Dark found us here with our tents up ready for housekeeping, and our coffee boiling for supper. All this and a march of twelve miles in one afternoon. Two companies, G and K, are left back for a few days, and are assisted by cavalry. All the advance regiments are drawn in behind the forts and the whole division, with the exception of three regiments, are now here. I have heard no reason why the division is concentrated, but perhaps the general expects company and intends to be in readiness to give them a right royal reception. Our line of defenses extends from the Neuse to the Trent rivers, a distance of about one mile, and on the line are three forts mounting in all 32 guns. There are also eleven light batteries of six guns each, with gunboats on the rivers that have an enfilading range in front of the line. With 10,000 troops behind the works, with a wide open field in front, it looks as though our position was a pretty safe one, and if anybody comes here with any hostile intent, hell will begin to fill up pretty soon after they get within the range of our guns. Our life up in the woods, on the whole was rather a pleasant one; I reckon the boys rather enjoyed it and were in no hurry about leaving. There was less restraint on them, they could do a little more as they pleased and were free from the drills, parades, red tape and formalities of the regular camp, with just enough excitement about it to keep them from getting dreary and homesick.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 60-1
We are now in a neatly arranged camp on somewhat elevated ground at the west side of the city, and about a quarter of a mile to the rear of Fort Totten, a large field fortification mounting twenty heavy guns. A back street runs along the left flank, on which is situated the guard quarters, and a line of sentinels extends along it. This camp is named Camp Oliver, in honor of Gen. Oliver of Salem, Mass., formerly adjutant-general of that state. We can now brush ourselves up and settle down to the dull routine of camp life—Drills, parades, reviews, inspections, guard duty, fatigue duty and all manner of things which come under the head of a well ordered camp. Our two companies left at Red house are drawn in about five miles, and are now at the Jackson place on the Trent road. That brings them within easy distance. They can be easily reinforced in case of attack or make their own way back to camp. The Red house is again in the enemy's country, but Mr. Bogey is not there; he thought he had rather live under the old flag and take his chances, and so moved with us into town.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 61
