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

Post image for Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

May 7, 2015

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

Petersburg, Va., May 7, 1865.

Twenty miles to-day, and the longest kind of miles. Had some bad road in the morning. We struck the Weldon railroad two or three miles below Ream’s Station, where the 6th Corps was whipped last June, and came right up to the city. Saw hardly any signs of fighting the whole way. Ours and the Rebel works where we came through are fully two and one half miles apart, and the skirmish line further from each other than we ever had ours when we pretended to be near the enemy. I think the whole army is up. Part of it got here last night. We lie here tomorrow. The 17th A. C. goes on to Richmond.

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