Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“We are raking in about 100 bales of cotton per day and could get more if we had the transportation.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Tuscumbia, Ala., August 14, 1862. Things are progressing here swimmingly. Seldom have more than two bridges burned in the same night, or lose more than five or six men in one day. Scared a little though, now. The 7th went down yesterday through Moulton, where they were encamped but a few days since, and gained [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“Orders have been given us to put every woman and child (imprison the men) across the line that speaks or acts secesh..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Note: This letter–a document written in 1862–includes terms and topics that may be offensive to many today.   No attempt will be made to censor or edit 19th century material to today’s standards. Tuscumbia, Ala., August 8, 1862. My pet negro got so lazy and worthless I was compelled to ship him. I’ll take back, [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“I’ll not enlist again until the policy of this war changes, and in actions as well as words, too.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Tuscumbia, Ala., August 7, 1862. The enemy is reported nearer us than usual to-night, and in considerable force. Have no idea they intend fighting us here though. This has been the hottest day of the summer, and I’ve been in the sun all day with thick woolen clothes on, wool shirts, too. I started for [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“We take what is necessary and give vouchers, which say the property will be paid for at the close of the war, on proof of loyalty.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Headquarters, 1st Brigade Cavalry Division, Tuscumbia, Ala., July 27, 1862 (Sunday). We received orders for our brigade to march on the 19th, and started the 21st. We only made Jacinto that night, when the colonel and myself stayed with Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, who is a very approachable, pleasant and perfectly soldier-like man. There is [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“I guess there are no hopes of a fight there until autumn. I’m getting tired of doing nothing…”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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July 19, 1862. I don’t know whether I have any business sending such a document as I enclose, but guess its no difference. Two spies came in to-night and report that there are not more than 15,000 or 20,000 of the enemy left at Tupelo and Saltillo. Bragg took a large force with him and [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“There is an awful sight of bombast and lying about army reports. Beat politicians all hollow.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Camp at Rienzi, July 17, 1862. I think there is more point and policy in that General Order 92 than in any one that has yet been issued in the West, or East either for that matter; but still I do not think it remarkable for perspicuity, and it is neither as strong nor as [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“Rights and duties of citizens of the States in which we may be stationed.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Headquarters, Army of the Mississippi, July 14, 1862. General Orders No. 92: For the information of all in the command, the following explanations are given, in reference to the rights and duties of citizens of the States in which we may be stationed. 1. All citizens of the States claiming the rights, and holding themselves [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“People here are very indignant about our taking all their provisions away from them…”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Headquarters 1st Brig. Cav. Army of the Miss., Rienzi, Miss., June 29, 1862. What the deuce this army is trying to do, I cannot guess. Buell’s corps moved off in an easterly direction two weeks since. Grant’s is, I think, between Corinth and Memphis, and the headquarters of Pope is about four miles south of [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“All the prisoners and deserters that we get concur in saying that at least 10,000 have deserted since the evacuation.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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The following material contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the work is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Rienzi, Tishomingo Co., Miss., June 19, 1862. This is one of the few days that remind one of Illinois, although there are very few nights that might not [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“I have a clerk, too, for my copying, etc., so I’m a gentleman.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Rienzi, Tishomingo Co., Miss., June 16, 1862. We are camped here enjoying ourselves grandly. As our brigade is scattered over a line of 50 miles we just pitch our headquarters in the quietest spot we can find independent of the command. There are only two companies now out of the 24 within 8 miles of [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“’Tis an outrage to post troops in this manner, and if they all get cut off it won’t surprise me.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Rienzi, Tishomingo Co., Miss., June 14, ’62. We have located for a somewhat permanent stay, as the clumsy order said, in the most beautiful little town I have yet found in Mississippi. We have pitched our tents in a little grove in the edge of the burgh and are preparing to live. We have been [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“He sent six men with us as guard, and the cuss gave orders to shoot us if we tried to run.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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The following material contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the work is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Camp near Boonville, Miss., June 13, 1862. This is the fourth camp that we have had to call as above. We have lived all around the burg, but [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“I wish for one day that you could hear all the camp rumors. They would make a remarkable book.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Headquarters 1st Brigade Cavalry Division, Camp near Boonville, Miss., June 6, 1862. I am leading an inglorious life now, nothing to do but the brigade writing and ride with the colonel when he goes out on business. The only time I am on the fighting list is when the brigade goes out, and that is [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“Our regiment had the first skirmish with the Rebels after they left Corinth.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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June 4, 1862. No. 10. We’ve been living out here a week without any tents until to-night, and General Pope is ripping and swearing because we dared to move them up here without orders. He says we shall not move a thing back. The colonel I am with is a regular army officer and he [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“Confederate scrip goes among the people here freely. If a man refuses to take it they lynch him.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Near Corinth, Miss., May 24, 1862. I returned last night from a two day’s scout. Our orders were to scour the country along the Tennessee river to near Eastport and return through Iuka, Burnsville and Glendale. A Michigan colonel commanded the party and skipped Iuka three miles. There were little bands of Rebels in sight [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“The Rebels are suffering for rations, not more than half rations having been served for the last ten days. Hundreds are deserting from them.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Near Corinth, Miss., May 19 ,1862. Our regiment now is acting as a kind of rear guard for Pope’s division. The enemy’s cavalry in bodies of from 1,000 down have been running around our left flank and threatening to interfere with our trains. Every day we send out six companies to patrol between here and [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“My confounded horse fell down with me in a creek the other day…”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Still in Camp near Corinth, Miss., May 15, 1862. It seems to me that we are a long time in bringing this “muss a la probable” to a focus. What under the sun our Halleck is waiting for we can’t guess. One hour’s march will commence the struggle now and you don’t know how anxious [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“The charge, if we hear correctly, was one of the most gallant things of the war.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Corinth and Hamburg Road, Miss., May 11, 1862. You remember that in my last I spoke of a reconnoisance our people made on the 8th inst. On the 9th Beauregard returned it with interest, driving our advance back some two miles and almost scaring this wing of the Eagle. He appeared on our left flank, [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“It’s all right, I suppose, but damn the general that sent us on a fool’s errand.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Near Farmington, Miss., May 8, 1862. I’ve been within one and a half miles of Corinth to-day. Didn’t see anything especially worthy of mention, but had full rations in the way of leaden bullets whistle. Yea, and larger missiles also. For four days past our battalion has been the advanced picket of Pope’s army, full [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

“The artillery firing was mostly from Rebel guns at Farmington…”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Headquarters 7th Illinois Cavalry Camp, on Hamburg and Corinth Road, May 3, 1862. I arrived here yesterday in safety. Stayed in Peoria the Monday night that I started, and was in Cairo at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Woke up Thursday morning on a boat at Paducah and devoted the day to admiring the Tennessee river. Stopped [...]

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)