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

Post image for “A full 1,000 axes are ringing within hearing.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“A full 1,000 axes are ringing within hearing.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

May 11, 2014

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

Six miles from Resaca, May 11, 1864.

We had a real hurricane last night, and a tremendous rain-storm. We lay right in the woods, and of course thought of the Point Pleasant storm and falling trees, but were too lazy to move, and thanks to a bed of pine boughs, slept good and sound. There is a scare up this morning. We have moved a mile toward the front, and building breast-works is going on with the greatest life. A full 1,000 axes are ringing within hearing. Our division is drawn up in column by brigade and at least another division is in rear of us. The latest rumor is that “the railroad has surrendered with 40,000 depots,”

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