Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, La Grange, Tenn.,
November 21, 1862.
Every one seems to think that we will start about day-after to-morrow, Monday. We have drawn eight days’ rations, and 200 rounds of ammunition has also been drawn for our corps. I don’t think we have more than 14,000 in our corps, Logan’s and McKean’s Divisions, although there are some eight or ten new regiments here that I don’t know, where assigned. Report to-day says that Sherman has moved from Memphis on the Holly Springs Pike.
We are having delightful weather. No fires are necessary until dark, and we have had no frosts since our arrival. Hope we will keep ahead of cold weather if compatible with the interests of the service. I “borrowed” some citizens clothes and wrote myself a pass as suttler’s clerk, last night, and strolled around the town a couple of hours. There are many fine buildings here, among the rest two very large academies. Many of the Memphian nobility have country seats here, some of them most elegant. Holly Springs, though, is the most important summer rendezvous for the Memphis folk. Our people have left the Springs, and I don’t know that we have any troops in advance of this place. I am very comfortable in my quarters. Have plenty of blankets and a good stove. My colored boy, Dave, went into the country 20 miles last night and returned this p.m. with his wife, a delicate looking black woman, neat and much above the ordinary slave. She has been a sewing girl all her life, and I think would be worth something to a family that has much plain sewing to do. I think I will try to send her to Mrs. S. C. Thompson. “Dave” is a first rate cook and waiter, and I’ll keep him with me until the war closes (if he don’t spoil) and then take him to his woman. How’d you like a good colored woman for your kitchen? This woman mended my pants (I have two pairs) as neatly as any tailor could. Our regiment beats 19 out of 20 of the old ones for discipline, and averages with them for drill. Colonel Dickerman is a star, and Lieutenant Colonel Wright is proving himself much better than we expected. Colonel Oglesby has figured away ahead of anybody I’ve heard of yet in procuring wagons, tents, etc., for this regiment. Ours is the only regiment I’ve heard of yet that is allowed to retain the old complement of transportation, equipage and tents. I’m officer of the day and ’tis my duty to make the rounds of the sentinels to-night at 1 or 2 o’clock; but in consideration of—etc., think the formality will be dispensed with.