Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Huntsville, Ala., Sun., Feb. 5, 1865.—I have not been more pleasantly situated since I have been in the army. I have just enough to do to prevent time from passing heavily, without being at all crowded. Then I have good quarters, a pleasant command, and business which suits me. The same doubt and uncertainty hang over our future movements that have kept me from sending for you. Colonel Doolittle, of the 18th Michigan, is making a strong effort to get his regiment in the 4th Army Corps. If he succeeds it may throw me in command of this post again, a position that is an unmitigated nuisance to any one, and which I am anxious to keep out of.
Sunday, 5th—The atmosphere is clear and it is getting quite warm. We remained in our rifle pits all day, but had to put up our shelter tents, for we actually suffered from the heat. All is quiet in front. We had company inspection this morning and dress parade in the evening. We drew two days’ rations to last ten days, but we have an abundance of forage. The boys brought in smoked bacon by the wagon load, also great quantities of corn meal, sweet potatoes, honey and other good things.
5th. Sunday. Spent the day in quarters reading Independent, Testament and a story. Windy.
Twelve miles south of Johnston’s Summit,
Augusta and Branchville Railroad,
February 5, 1865.
They call the stations on this road “turnouts.” Negroes are swarming into our camps. I never heard a negro use the word “buckra” until last night. One of the 97th Indiana was killed this morning while foraging close to camp. Our men killed two and captured four Johnnies, all dressed in our clothing. Only moved four miles to-day, and will probably lay here a few days as Sherman told Wood we were four days ahead of time, he having counted it would take that long to effect a crossing at Buford’s bridge.
February 5th.—Clear and cold. Our commissioners are back again! It is said Lincoln and Seward met them at Fortress Monroe, and they proceeded no further. No basis of negotiation but reconstruction could be listened to by the Federal authorities. How could it be otherwise, when their armies are marching without resistance from one triumph to another—while the government “allows” as many emissaries as choose to pass into the enemy’s country, with the most solemn assurances that the Union cause is spreading throughout the South with great rapidity—while the President is incapacitated both mentally and physically by disease, disaster, and an inflexible defiance of his opponents—and while Congress wastes its time in discussions on the adoption of a flag for future generations!
This fruitless mission, I apprehend, will be fraught with evil, unless the career of Sherman be checked; and in that event the Battle for Richmond, and Virginia, and the Confederacy, will occur within a few months—perhaps weeks. The sooner the better for us, as delay will only serve to organize the Union party sure to spring up; for many of the people are not only weary of the war, but they have no longer any faith in the President, his cabinet, Congress, the commissaries, quartermasters, enrolling officers, and most of the generals.
Judge Campbell was closeted for hours last night with Mr. Secretary Seddon at the department. I have not recently seen Mr. Hunter.
We have news from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. My wife’s aunt, Miss Sally Parsons, is dead—over 90 years of age. The slaves are free, but remain with their owners—on wages. The people are prosperous, getting fine prices for abundant crops. Only a few hundred Federal troops are in the two counties; but these, under the despotic orders of Butler, levy heavy “war contributions” from the unoffending farmers.
February 5th.—Arrived at home very unexpectedly to all, about 9 P. M. after having marched nine days and over a distance of about two hundred miles.
The weather was freezing cold during our two-hundred mile homeward march. The shoes I had drawn from Confederate States Government were so short I could not bear my feet in them, and so pressed down the vamps and tying the quarters over the instep, my feet, with very thin socks, were exposed on top of the shoe vamps. Result, my big toes were so frozen that soon the nails came off.
Remained at home until the 7th. Reported at Tunnel Hill; was sent to Chattanooga. Brother J. H. Magill came and got us set at liberty, Brother Tom and myself, by our taking the Amnesty Oath. Brother J. H. bought us a nice suit of clothes each and gave us government contract to put cord wood on Eastern Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad at Chickamauga Junction. So we went to work for the Government, and continued until 1st of July, when the job played out, and we returned home. During this time all the Rebel armies had surrendered, and all was quiet. In July I made a visit to relatives in East Tennessee. Since that time I have been at home. While in the army I marched 3,320 miles; and travelled on railroad trains, 2,280 miles; total, 5,600 miles.
R. M. Magill
