Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

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“I think the division has been lost nearly all day.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

November 28, 2014

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

Old Indian Battle Ground, near Drummond,

November 28, 1864.

Made a dozen miles to-day through the thickest pine woods I ever saw. There is no white or yellow pine here; it is all pitch. I think the division has been lost nearly all day. We have followed old Indian trails four-fifths of the time.

The foragers have found a large number of horses and mules in the swamps to-day. Plenty of forage. Sergeant Penney, of my company, died in the ambulance to-day. He was taken sick in the ranks at 8 p.m., 26th, of lung fever. He has never been right healthy, but when well was always an excellent soldier. Lieutenant Dorrance swallowed his false teeth a few nights ago, and complains that they don’t agree with him.

I hear that Wheeler jumped the 20th Corps yesterday and that they salivated him considerably. We caught a couple of his men to-day, on our road, stragglers. We pick up a good many stray Rebels along the road, but they are not half guarded and I think get away nearly as fast as captured.

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