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

“I don’t remember at any time of being despondent over the war or being doubtful of the issue. Was I?”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Raleigh, April 15, 1865. To-day makes four years soldiering for me. It is a terrible waste of time for me who have to make a start in life yet, and I expect unfits me for civil life. I have almost a dread of being a citizen, of trying to be sharp, and trying to make [...]

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

“Our headquarter’s foragers brought in five Rebel deserters to-night, and five dozen eggs which I think were the most valuable.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Raleigh, N. C., April 14, 1865, 1 p.m. We passed through town and were reviewed by Sherman, who stood at the south gate of the State Capitol grounds. Just as Colonel Wright saluted, his horse turned his heels towards Sherman and did some of the finest kicking that ever was seen. It was most amusing. [...]

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

“They found an ice house and to-night we have ice water.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Four miles from Raleigh, April 13, 1865, 4 p.m. The fourth anniversary of the fall of Fort Sumter. How are you, chivalry? Made a nice little march of 16 miles and could go on to town as well as not before dark if it was necessary. Our left wing occupied Raleigh this morning with Kilpatrick [...]

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

“Got me a new servant (a free boy) to-day.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Beulah, N. C., April 11, 1865, 12 m. Our division is alone on this road I find, and the extreme right of the army. Our brigade ahead to-day. Dibbrell’s division of Wheeler’s men is ahead of us. We pushed them so closely that we saved all the bridges to this place. They destroyed the bridge [...]

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

“The whole army, mules, wagons, bummers and generals have come out new from Goldsboro.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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On picket, Raleigh road, three miles from Nahanta Station, on Weldon and Goldsboro railroad, April 10, 1865. Our division moved north to-day along the Weldon railroad to Nahanta, where we crossed and took a main Raleigh road. Our 1st brigade had the advance and had light skirmishing all day. Wheeler’s cavalry is opposing us. Our [...]

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

“The woods have all been burned over here.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Bentonville, N. C., March 22, 1865. The enemy left about 2 a.m. Our brigade was ordered to follow them to Mill creek, about three miles, which we did almost on the double quick, the 26th Illinois in advance pushing their rear guard. The brigade went to Mill creek, but our skirmishers went a mile further, [...]

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

“I think this has been as exciting and lively a p.m. as ever I saw.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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March 21, 1865. We moved out this morning just before daylight and got within 50 yards of the Rebel skirmish line, but nothing going forward on our right or left, we returned to our original position. Had one man in Company H slightly wounded. We could have held our advanced line just as well as [...]

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

“Their loss was far greater than ours.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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One and one-half miles from Neuse River, March 20, 1865. We moved about a mile north and then west for five miles. Pushed some Rebel cavalry before us all the time. Our brigade was in advance and lost about 25 men. We are about two miles east of where the battle was fought yesterday by [...]

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

“Five foragers from our regiment who had been out five days and whom we had about given up, returned to-night.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Twelve miles from Goldsboro, and six from railroad, March 19, 1865. Made 15 miles. Only two bad swamps. Very heavy artillery and musketry on our left (14th and 20th Corps) all day. Hear this evening that our men suffered heavily. General Lee is said to be here. Opinion is divided as to our having a [...]

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

“We are much amused over the Rebel papers we get.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Four miles north from Smithfield’s, N. C., March 18, 1865. Fifteen miles, good roads, men only waded in swamps. Whole corps in camp before dark. Well settled country and oceans of forage. Our foragers and the 7th Illinois “mounted thieves” had a nice little fight to-day. Came near scaring Wade Hampton’s chivalry out of their [...]

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

“I believe I have not heard a hostile shot for 27 days.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Beaman’s Cross Roads, March 17, 1865. About 12 miles, more than half of which had to be corduroyed. Roads awful. If a wagon pulls off the corduroy, it drops to the hub. There are two or three inches of black sand on the surface covering quicksand unfathomable. No one need tell me that bad roads [...]

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

“Sherman and Hampton are having a spicy correspondence on murdering foragers.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Two miles from left bank of Black River, N. C., March 16, 1865. About 14 miles to-day. About a dozen swamps, as many showers, three hard rains, and an awfully rough march. The men waded, I should think altogether, one-half mile of water from ankle to waist deep. They went through every swamp yelling like [...]

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

“At Goldsboro, we are promised a short rest.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Left bank, Cape Fear River, Opposite Fayetteville, March 15, 1865. Everything valuable to the Rebels has been destroyed, and we are about ready to push on to Goldsboro. Fayetteville is about a 3,000 town, nearly all on one street. There was a very fine United States Arsenal burned here, some 20 good buildings, all of [...]

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

“There were about 1,000 Rebel cavalry herein who fell back before our boys skirmishing lively..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Fayetteville, N. C., March 12, 1865. We are camped a couple of miles from town. Marched about 13 miles to-day. Had to put down pontoons at both branches of Rockfish creek. At the town of Rockfish, the 17th A. C. burned a factory, throwing about 150 women out of employment. One of our gunboats came [...]

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

“The worst road I ever saw.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Davis Bridge, Rockfish Creek, March 11, 1865. Ten miles to-day, full seven of which had to be corduroyed. The worst road I ever saw. The 17th corps occupied Fayetteville to-day. The foragers took the place. It is as large as Columbia and has a large arsenal. Heard of two or three men being captured by [...]

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

“Hear to-night that Grant has taken Petersburg, and believe it to be—bosh.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Randallsville, N. C., March 10, 1865, 12 p.m. Ten miles to-day, most of which we had to corduroy. Our regiment in rear of the division and corps. Crossed the Lumber river about 4 p.m. Fine country. We had reveille at 3 this morning, and the rear of train with our 1st brigade did not get [...]

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

“I never saw such a country. There seems to be a thin crust over a vast bed of quicksand.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Four miles south of Montpelier, N. C., March 9, 1865. Rained nearly all last night and poured down all day. Our regiment had the advance of the division, but we followed J. E. Smith. He is the poorest traveler in the army. We had to corduroy all the road after him. Only made four miles. [...]

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

“I dreamed last night of being at home on leave and seeing you all, and starting back to the army again.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Five miles north of Laurenburg, N. C., Laurel Hill, March 8, 1865. One hundred and twelve miles of steady rain, and the best country since we left Central Georgia. Looks real Northern like. Small farms and nice white, tidy dwellings. Wheat fields look very well. In the cornfields rows are five feet apart, and one [...]

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

“We are about on the State line now, and will leave S. C. to-morrow.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Goodwin’s Mills, 16 miles northwest of Cheraw, March 7, 1865. About 11 miles to-day and in camp at noon. The 14th and 20th had come down and cross at Cheraw. We are waiting on them. That expedition to Florence was a failure. Our men got the town but were driven out before they destroyed a [...]

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

“Good country here, foragers get plenty, and also pick up many Rebel deserters and stragglers.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Five miles northeast of Cheraw, S. C., March 6, 1865. Crossed the Peedee this morning. Just after we passed through the town a 12th Indiana boy seeing some powder scattered on the ground threw a coal on it. It communicated with a concealed ammunition magazine and made a fine explosion, killed and wounded 20 or [...]

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

“We will get out of S. C. to-morrow.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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March 5, 1865. The 17th and all our corps, except our division, have crossed the river. We follow in the morning. The enemy did not attempt to oppose us. The boys say that an intercepted dispatch from Hampton to General Butler reads: “Do not attempt to delay Sherman’s march by destroying bridges, or any other [...]

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

Rumor of planned attempt to release prisoners at Florence.–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Cheraw, S. C., March 4, 1865. We were from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on this little five miles. The 17th have their pontoons down and have a division across. Hear that the enemy is fortified a short distance back from the river. Can hear no firing. Our foragers took Society Hill last night. This [...]

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