Winchester, Tenn.,
November 11, 1863.
We arrived here at 9 this a. m., our brigade making the
distance from Salem, 11 miles, in three hours. That, we call fast walking. I
wrote you last from Florence., Ala., on the 1st inst. From there we marched to
Rodgersville and thence up the right bank of Elk river to Fayetteville, where
we crossed there onto this place. Rumor says that we draw 20 days' rations
here. It is three-fourths official, too. It is certain that we leave here in
the morning, but nobody knows where for. We could certainly march to
Chattanooga in six days, but could go much quicker by the railroad from Decherd
station, which is only two miles from here. The wagon road from here to
Chattanooga is awful. But one brigade has ever marched it. The mountains
commence right here and continue to, the Lord knows where. Our brigade is to be
mounted immediately. In the last 60 miles marching we have mounted 800 or
nearly half. The citizens along the road very kindly furnished all of stock and
equipments. My company was mounted four days ago. Company C is to be mounted
next. As fast as the men are mounted they are put out as foragers for more
horses, etc. The first day my company was mounted we got 30 horses, and would
have done better, but confound me if I could take horses from crying women,
although I am satisfied that half of their howling is sham, got up for the
occasion. My first day's foraging almost used me up. We had fed our horses and
I went to unhitch a mule from the fence to give him in charge of one of the
men, and the brute scared and jerked the rail from the fence and started like
lightning. The end of the rail struck me on the calves of my legs and elevated
my boots five feet. The attraction of gravitation brought me down to the globe
and I landed with a great deal of vim on a rock about the size of our parlor
floor, and as smooth as a peach stone. The only severe injury either the rock
or myself sustained was a very badly sprained wrist. I got that. My left hip
and left shoulder were hurt some, but the wrist has pained me so confoundedly
that I don't count them. It has pained me so for the last two days and is so
tender that I could stand neither the jolting of a horse or wagon. I tried to
ride my horse this morning; we were in column and had to strike a trot and that
beat me. Think I will be all right for the saddle in a few days, though will
have a tender wrist for a good while. Well, our division came through in the
advance and our brigade has had the lead most of the time. We have had plenty
of forage, but light issues of regular rations probably average. Half Morgan L.
Smith's and John E. Smith's divisions are close up to us, will be here
to-morrow. Osterhaus and Dodge are behind them. We have five divisions all
told, probably 25,000 or 30,000 men. We met here the first troops belonging to
the Army of the Cumberland.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 200-2
