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

“If Hood’s army was to-day, twice as strong as it is, we would be too many for him.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Gaylesville, Ala., October 21, 1864. Marched about 18 miles yesterday down a very fine valley, between Lookout Mountain and Taylor’s Ridge, crossed the latter after dark through a pass that beat all for blackness and stones, to tumble over, that I ever saw. Got a very large mail yesterday, but only one letter from you. [...]

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

“An officer and 20 men are detailed daily for foragers.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Alpine, Chatuga Valley, October 20, 1864. Got here at dark last night, eight miles from Summerville. We seemed to be headed southwest. I have the sorest feet I have enjoyed for two years. Do you notice how accurately I miss it in every prediction I venture? I am a fair sample of the ignorance “Pap” [...]

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

“The Rebels only take corn and meat, and we fatten on what they are not allowed to touch.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Near Summerville, October 19, 1864. Reached this place yesterday. The cavalry advance had some sharp skirmishing, and brought back some two or three prisoners. We are drawing full rations, besides preying off the country, all kinds of meat, apples, potatoes, and I believe the men find a little of everything known to be eatable. Entering [...]

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

“We are now bound for Rome.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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La Fayette, October 18, 1864. Our brigade was marching through Cane Creek Valley yesterday until 4 p.m., when we struck out for this place five miles, which we made in one and one-half hours. Nice little town almost surrounded with half-mountains. There has been a pair of cavalry fights here, the fruits whereof can be [...]

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

“We have been having a gay time this morning.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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October 17, 1864. I incline to think that the raid and pursuit are both over, though we wish that Sherman would follow them until they get the punishment they deserve for their impudence. They tore up some 20 miles of railroad, killed and wounded not over 750 for us, and captured about 1,100. Their loss [...]

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

“We got 35 prisoners and killed and wounded a dozen or so.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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North end Snake Creek Gap, October 16, 1864. After a tedious march got here at 11 p.m. The Rebels about six hours ahead of us had blockaded the road in good style. They did some half a day’s work, with hundreds of men, and delayed us about–ten minutes. On summit of Taylor’s Ridge, Shipp’s Gap, [...]

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

“The Rebel army was, or part of it, at Resaca yesterday, about nine miles from here.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Three miles southwest of Adairsville, October 14th. We marched at sunset last evening and halted not until 3 this a.m. Marched miserably slow the first five miles through a deep gorge, but about 1 o’clock got straightened out on the Rome and Calhoun road, a good one, and then got along nicely. In the fighting [...]

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

“Vare ish your colonel?”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Three miles from Rome, Ga., October 13, 1864. Started at 8 this morning and landed here at dark. Heard 40 or 50 cannon shots in vicinity of Rome during the day’s march. The country to-day is fair for Georgia, but not equal to that between Cartersville and Kingston. While we were resting to-day, Osterhaus (at [...]

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

“We are very scare of forage..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Three miles south of Kingston, October 12, 1864. Started at daylight this morning. The Rebels were then at Rome. Stopped here at 5 p.m. It is understood that the Rebel Army has moved southwest into Alabama. Passed through the best country to-day that we have seen in Georgia. We are camped on what has been [...]

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

“They were saving the yells for the confirmation.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Allatoona Pass, October 11, 1864. Our corps moved at the setting of the sun, and continued moving until we were all confoundedly tired. I never saw the men so noisy, funny, or in any way or every way feeling half so good. After we had marched about eight miles, one of Howard’s staff came back [...]

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

“That charge was the maddest folly of the campaign.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Near Kenesaw Mountain, October 10, 1864. Was on the ground we charged on the 27th of June, and also on top of Kenesaw to-day. Very fine view, but nothing like equal to that from Lookout. The signal station here communicates direct with Atlanta, Allatoona and Roswell. I picked up some black oak acorns to-day from [...]

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

“Their present position menances the whole line of road from Rome to the Chattahoochie crossing.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Two miles north of Kenesaw Mountain, October 9, 1864. About 5 o’clock last night, just when we should have been relieved, we heard the “General” sounded through the camp, and in half an hour more the “Assembly.” The corps started toward Marietta, and in another half hour we assembled, and in charge of the division [...]

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

“…almost every battlefield in the West has been seen by some of the brigade.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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On picket four miles south of Marietta, October 8th. We occupy the old Johnny skirmish pits. It was outrageously cold last night. I elected myself fireman and did not neglect my duties. I have men from every regiment in the brigade (seven). There are an abundance of chestnuts here, and at every post the boys [...]

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

“Old soldiers are just a lot of men with school-boy spirits.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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October 7, 1864. The Rebels have left the railroad after being whipped by General Corse at Allatoona Pass. The 14th Corps drove them out to Lost Mountain yesterday. No hard fighting. They tore up not more than eight miles of railroad, which will be rebuilt in a very few days. Deserters report the whole Rebel [...]

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

“Mud is not over a foot deep and everything else is lovely in proportion.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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October 6, 1864, 12 m. Rained all last night, and has just suspended for a few minutes, I expect. Kept dry, thanks to our rubber blankets. Drew five days’ rations this morning, full of everything except beans; plenty of beef, though. We only drew one-quarter of a pound per man for the whole five days. [...]

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

“The Johnnies have left Big Shanty, moving north on the railroad, tearing it up as they travel.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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Six miles south of Marietta, October 5, 1864. Had an awful day’s march yesterday, full 20 miles and the road very muddy and slippery. County peculiarly Georgian, the like of which, I hope, is to be found nowhere else in Uncle Sam’s domain. When we started the “spring or grapevine” dispatch said that Hardee’s headquarters [...]

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

“It is with pride, gratification..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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The following complimentary orders were issued, as dated immediately after our going into camp at Eastpoint: __________ Headquarters Dept. and Army of the Tennessee, Eastpoint, Ga., September 9, 1864. General Field Orders, No. 16 It is with pride, gratification, and a sense of Divine favor that I congratulate this noble army upon the successful termination [...]

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

“The Rebels had fortified to this place, and I don’t know how much farther south.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

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September 7, 1864. At 7 a.m. moved out on our return, and camped for the night on the left bank of Flint river, six miles south of Eastpoint. The Rebels had fortified to this place, and I don’t know how much farther south. As soon as Hood found out that Sherman was attempting to turn [...]

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