1863 January 2, J. Edward James to Lizzie James

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Description

Letter written by J. Edward James, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Camp Baird, Danville, Kentucky, to his sister Lizzie James, Galena, Illinois, on January 2, 1863.

The letter reads in part: [page 1] “The mails of late have been very much disturbed and we can not get letters through or receive any. I told you in my last letter that the Reg’mt were on the march for Ten. and that the two companys [sic] then at Harrodsburg would join them at Nashvill [sic], but the next day instead of marching in that direction [page 2] we received orders to march to Danville where the rest of the reg. had been in camp, and on arriving on the ground found that the whole division would return that night they did so after marching twenty three miles in a heavy rain, and that afternoon by sunset were once more all together on there [sic] old camping ground. we were all glad to join the Reg once more, as being on detached duty is not as pleasant as being with the regiment. The Regimental camp ground is the soldiers home and when he is away from it he feels about the same as when away from his own home and friends. How long we will remain here I do not know. we shall probably be paid two months wages tomorrow this will not come amiss I assure you. we should have been paid before but [Confederate General John Hunt] Morgan is reported as being forty miles from here and we have been expecting an attack every day three days ago at one o’clock AM our pickets were eather [sic] scared in or driven in and gave the alarm. we were wake up and ordered to out on our cartridge boxes and be ready for amaments [sic] warning. we did so knowing full well that the moment would not come around untill roll call in the morning until which time we slept as soundly as we ever did. There are here or close at hand [page 3] about thirty thousand troops suported [sic] by twenty four pieces of artilery [sic] twelve within speaking distance of our camp. Scouts are bringing in prisoners every day, troops are constantly coming and going what with drill, reports and rumors of expected battles camp talk, and keeping clear of the guard house or of extra duty, keeps the soldiers mind prety buisy [sic] and when the weathr [sic] is fine time passes away very quick and pleasently [sic], but for all that a little of this soldiering goes a long way, especially when he gets nothing for weeks but hard crackers made out of shorts salt fat pork, coffee thick as mudy [sic] water, and some times very little of that. Christmas and New Year passes of with but very slight change of to wahat [sic] we have any other day. “Home sweet Home”)” Reports he has not received the box with turkey and peaches yet. In answer to Lizzie’s question about the chaplain, says he is young, inexperienced, lazy, and has little to say, and thus many of the soldiers do not know he is there.

Identifier

sc.0069.001_002.002

Date

1863 January 2

Keywords

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondents.

Recommended Citation

"1863 January 2, J. Edward James to Lizzie James" (2023). Documents. 13.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-jamesje1/13