"I write you this note to say I will write you a long letter to-morrow,
to assure you of my increasing health and strength, and to let you know
we are still out of a battle. Since Captain Rheinlander has been made
major, I can be relieved of a portion of the outside heavy work, and
have the responsibility of the command divided. If Colonel Morgan was
back again, I could take things comparatively easy."
In the letter of the 23d it is stated that the St. Louis, Chicago, and
Cincinnati papers are now regularly on sale by newsboys, showing that
the communication with the rear was well maintained, but I still want
the Evansville papers, the magazines and the "Evangelist." I go more
into detail in the method of our advances:--
"We are slowly and safely approaching Corinth, making our way secure as
we go. We have a heavy skirmish with the enemy's pickets; if they are
obstinate we get out the artillery, throw a few shells into the woods,
drive them back over a ridge into a hollow a half mile or so, then
leave our camp equipage behind, and march out with guns, knapsacks,
haversacks, spades, axes, and picks in hand and throw up breastworks on
the ridge. When that is done we move up our camp equipage and remain
in camp here for a day or more. Then we shove up the enemy's pickets
again, and make another camp; and thus we are approaching the enemy's
works. Our generals, I believe, are going to consult the lives of the
soldiers in winning the next battle. The most of the people in the
States seem anxious that the fight should come off _in a hurry_. If
they had to do the fighting it might be different.
"If Beauregard will really stand, he will surely be defeated, though it
may cost the lives of many brave soldiers; but the life of any of us
is nothing in comparison with the life and safety of the Nation. If it
were not so I would not risk my life in the contest."
Under date of May 29, I allude to a forward movement of the
Twenty-fifth Indiana, similar to others previously made, but which,
unknown to us at the time, was a general advance of Sherman and
Hurlbut's divisions, and proved to be the last military demonstration
against Corinth, as the enemy was then engaged in the evacuation of the
place:--
"We went forward yesterday with our brigade and drove the enemy back
a mile, thus getting room for a new camp. To-morrow we all move up
another mile, getting close neighbors with Corinth.
"We were all glad to welcome Colonel Morgan back to-day, and I have
been busy talking regimental matters with him.
"The paymaster has been with us to-day, and I am sending you six
hundred dollars. I want you to be at perfect liberty in using the
money. Make your house and family comfortable, live well and enjoy
yourself. Consult father about the rent of the house, respecting which
you wrote me. Don't let these business affairs worry you. Take the
world easy."
At last the grand march on the rebel stronghold of Corinth was over. My
letter of June 1 says:--
"I suppose there was at least one anxious heart relieved by the
news which ought to have reached home yesterday that the rebels had
evacuated Corinth, and concluded not to give us battle. So you, and
the thousands of wives and relatives of our soldiers, can rest quiet
for some time. After the long preparations and constant and watchful
readiness we had maintained for battle, it was and is now a great
relief for us to relax and take some comfort. For weeks men have been
sleeping with all their accouterments on and their arms by their sides,
and were ordered out in line of battle sometimes at midnight, or any
other hour; but always at early daylight. It is a great relief to us
all to lie down quietly now and sleep without being disturbed by the
'long roll' or hasty orders from the generals. I have enjoyed the
luxury of the good morning naps, waiting for the rays of the sun to
waken me. Until last night I have slept with all my clothes on and in
utmost readiness for a prompt turnout. I am thankful for good sleep
now, and you are thankful that we had no battle.
"None of our regiment has been killed, but several were wounded on
picket and in the recent skirmishes. I have passed through several
narrow escapes, but then 'a miss is as good as a mile.' In the last
skirmish three days ago, Dr. Walker and I were talking together, on
horseback, discussing the close range the enemy had upon us with their
cannon, while the shot would occasionally rattle through the trees,
when an unwelcome visitor in the shape of a shell came whizzing along,
and went into the ground right between our horses, tearing up the dirt
at a fearful rate. The boys dug it out, and it was found that the
rebels in their hurry had forgot to gouge the fuse, and fortunately it
did not explode.
"I rode into Corinth yesterday. The fearful ravages of war are visible
on all sides, in the charred walls, solitary chimneys, smoking ruins,
and waste all around. The rebels burned all their storehouses full of
supplies, their magazines, armories, etc. In peaceful times the town
was a very attractive place.
"General Hurlbut is said to be anxious to get the position of
commandant of Memphis, and to march our division over immediately and
occupy. It is uncertain whether he will succeed. My health, also Zan's,
is good now."
The escape of the Confederate army from Corinth, and the subsequent
breaking up of Halleck's great army was a disappointment to the people
of the North. Halleck's generalship has been severely criticized by
both Grant and Sherman in their "Memoirs." Grant describes the movement
upon Corinth as "a siege from the start to the close" and says, "I am
satisfied that Corinth could have been captured in a two days' campaign
commenced promptly on the arrival of reinforcements after the battle
of Shiloh." Sherman laments that "the advance on Corinth had occupied
all of the month of May, the most beautiful and valuable month of the
year for campaigning in this latitude"; and he adds that "by the time
we had reached Corinth I believe that army was the best then on this
continent, and could have gone where it pleased."
While Buell's army was sent toward the east, Sherman and Hurlbut were
sent west toward Memphis. Our regiment was destined to have no rest, as
the day after we entered Corinth, June 1:--
"We received orders to support Sherman's division which had gone
forward on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad toward Memphis. In half
an hour we were in line of march, with two days' rations and no tents.
We had a heavy rain that evening. The men marched two hours into the
night, and then lay right down by the roadside on the wet ground and
slept till morning. In the morning we went to work cleaning out and
chopping the fallen timber from the railroad, and then went into camp,
and here we are now, five miles out west from Corinth. Our camp baggage
was not all up for five days.
"We have a very pleasant camp in a shady forest, everything to make
us comfortable in camp but the _wood-ticks_, which are multitudinous,
pestiferous, and unescapable; they have almost worried the life out of
me by their biting. This country abounds in snakes, lizards, and all
kinds of troublesome insects.
"I have taken a few rides out into the neighboring country, and find
it tolerably well settled, but the soil is very poor, the people
likewise and very ignorant. Since we have been in this camp we have
managed to get for our mess fresh milk, young chicken, eggs, green
peas, onions, and lettuce, which are great luxuries with us, who had
had nothing but Government supplies and what we could get from the
settlers.
"We find very little bitter feeling or hostility exhibited toward us
by the country people, and all willing and longing for peace. But the
men are almost all gone, either in the army or afraid to trust us.
They who did not volunteer have been forced into the rebel service by
the conscription system, until there are hardly enough left to gather
the wheat, which is now ready for harvesting. The farmhouses were full
of women and children. They have no money but Confederate scrip and
'shin-plasters.' How it makes their eyes sparkle to see our soldiers'
silver and gold. But what is more desired by them than silver and gold
is _coffee_. It very often happens that we are utterly unable to get
their consent to sell one of the few remaining chickens on the farm
with silver at high prices, but a pound of coffee will get the last old
hen on the place.
"We don't certainly know what is to be our future destination, but it
is semi-officially stated in camp that W. T. Sherman's and Hurlbut's
divisions are to constitute the branch of the army which is to move on
Memphis. We are anxious to go to that place, but our wish has nothing
to do with it, as we are Government soldiers to be disposed of as our
generals think best. There you see I have filled up the sheet with a
matter-of-fact business-like letter, without assuring you how much I
long to be with you and at home. But I don't allow myself to think too
much of these things or I would get homesick. I long with you for the
war to end, that I may lay aside my emblems of the army, and return to
my dear wife and child, and the comforts and enjoyments of civil life,
but I must be patient."