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

Post image for “Broke her arm and bruised her shamefully.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“Broke her arm and bruised her shamefully.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

December 5, 2014

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

Thirty-six miles from Savannah,

December 5, 1864.

Corse had the road to-day, but Wood side-tracked, took “catch roads” and got into camp, making 16 miles as soon as Corse. Rather poor country, farms small, and much pine. Negroes swarmed to us to-day. I saw one squad of 30 or 40 turned back. Sherman’s order is not to let anymore go with us than we can use and feed. A nice yellow girl came to our regiment about an hour after dark. She is the property of Milly Drake, who lives 30 miles back. The girl showed our men where Milly hid her horses and mules, in return for which, after the column passed, gentle Milly took half a rail and like to wore the wench out. Broke her arm and bruised her shamefully. That was all the reason that the girl had for running away.

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