Captain Charles Wright Wills: May 7, 1864, 12 p.m.

Two miles south of the Gordon's Mills crossing of the Chickamauga,

May 7, 1864, 12 m.

We started at 8 this morning and made this by 11. We are now waiting for two or more divisions of the 16th Corps to file into the road ahead of us. I think they are coming from Ringold. A circular of McPherson's was read to us this morning before starting, telling us we were about to engage the enemy and giving us some advice about charging, meeting charges, shooting low, and telling us not to quit out lines to carry back wounded, etc., and intimating that he expected our corps to occupy a very warm place in the fight, and to sustain the fighting reputation of the troops of the department of the Tennessee.

The men talk about hoping that the divisions now going ahead will finish the fighting before we get up, but I honestly believe they'd all rather get into a battle than not. It is fun to hear these veterans talk. I guess that about two-thirds of them got married when they were home. Believe it will do much toward steadying them down when they return to their homes. They almost all say that they had furlough enough and were ready to start back when their 30 days were up.

It is hot as the deuce; two of our men were sun struck at Lookout Mountain on the 3rd.

Dust is becoming very troublesome. I am marching in a badly-fitting pair of boots, and one of my feet is badly strained across the instep, pains me a good deal when resting. That and my sprained wrist make me almost a subject for the Invalid Corps, but I intend to carry them both as far as Atlanta, after our “Erring Brethren,” if I have no further bad luck. One of my men, when he rolled up his blanket this morning, found he had laid on a snake, and killed him—poor snake!

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 235-6

Captain Charles Wright Wills: October 26, 1863

Iuka, Miss., October 26, 1863.

Let your pocket ’kerchief float out on the breeze, halloo a little and throw up your bonnet. It's only a “march at 12 o'clock to-night” but that's good enough. We've been here a week now, drawing clothing and making all kinds of preparations for a “forward,” and the blessed word has come at last. I don't believe anybody enjoys anything better than I do marching. I feel as coltish all the time on a move as I used to, when after a long week of those short winter days at school, with just time enough between the school hours and dark to cut the next day's wood (how I did work), Job Walker and I would plunge into those dear old Big Creek woods with our guns or skates, and make such a day of it that I would almost wish all time was cut up into Saturdays. I was on picket last night; full moon, splendid post, right on the old Iuka battle ground, where the fight was the hottest; the old clothes, straps, cartridge boxes and litter always found in such places, the scarred trees, and the mounds a little further up the road, marking the pits where lay the glorious dead, then a half dozen neatly marked single graves, showing the care of some company commander, all tempted me to commit some more poetry. You know I can. But I nobly resisted the temptation. There were no coons or owls. I wished for them. My picketing the last year has almost all been in swamps, and I have learned to love the concerts those innocent animals improvise. When I got in this morning found orders to be ready to move at 12 this p. m. We cross the Tennessee river, I suppose, near Eastport. This beats me all hollow. Can't see the point, unless we're moving to check some of Bragg's flanking motions. Anything for a move. I put the profile of a fort here the other day under the direction of Sherman's engineer, and the chief told me if I would like it he would have me detailed to assist him. Have had enough of staff duty and excused myself. The men are rapidly becoming more healthy. I have but one person sick now. Dorrance arrived here a few days since, and brought a splendid long letter from you. Have to go to work on some ordnance reports now.

Am half inclined to think that our big march is played out. Rather think now that we will stop at Eastport on the Tennessee river. Isn't that heavy? Eight miles only and then go to guarding navigation on a river that's a twin sister of Big Creek. Can't tell though, one rumor says that we will go 128 miles beyond the river. These generals are positively getting so sharp that a man can't tell one month ahead what they are going to do.

One of my men who was captured down near Panola, Miss., last April returned to the company for duty yesterday. Some Confederate soldiers captured him and some citizens offered them $10 to each captor for the privilege of hanging the d----d Yanks. They couldn't make a bargain. Transferred five men to the invalid corps yesterday. Jacob J. Nicholson among them.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 197-8

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, October 21, 1863

Last night heavy rains Continued raining until 10. A. M. Order on parade to report all convalescents in the co's for the Invalid corps. Weather cold health better—

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 499

Veteran Reserves

An order has been issued from the Provost Marshal General’s office, at Washington, which states that the name of the organization authorized by the War Department as the Invalid Corps is changed to that of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and that all orders relating to the Invalid Corps will remain in force as at present with respect to the Veteran Reserve corps. This is a change of name which will no doubt be hailed with great pleasure by the gallant soldiers in this corps, and will greatly increase its present high and well deserved popularity. Three years of hard fighting have given our brave soldiers of the Union armies a just title to be called veterans, in the noblest and truest sense of the term. – We have now Veteran Volunteers and Veteran Reserves; nobly have they earned their name, and proudly will they protect the title and gloriously wear its honors. – [Phila. Inquirer

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, April 9, 1864