Petersburg,
Va., May 8, 1865.
I'll take
back all I ever said against the Potomac Army. I have been down to Fort
Steadman to-day and troops who will work up to an enemy as they did there, will
do any thing if handled right. There were some sad sights along that part of
the line. Right in front of Steadman 40 or 50 of our men are lying with only a
few shovelfuls of dirt thrown over them, their heads and feet exposed. I passed
through the Rebel burying ground, quite a large and thickly settled village.
Poor fellows. I wish the leaders who led or rather pushed them into these
little clay hills were all beside them. This is a nice town, not very pretty
though. Good deal of business done. Hundreds of Rebel officers, Lieutenant
General Gordon among them, walk the streets in full uniform.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 378-9
