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

Post image for Rumor of planned attempt to release prisoners at Florence.–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

Rumor of planned attempt to release prisoners at Florence.–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

March 4, 2015

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

Cheraw, S. C., March 4, 1865.

We were from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on this little five miles. The 17th have their pontoons down and have a division across. Hear that the enemy is fortified a short distance back from the river. Can hear no firing. Our foragers took Society Hill last night.

This is a very pretty place, about the size of Canton.

The river, Great Peedee, is navigable for boats drawing five feet. The left wing is at Chesterfield 12 miles above. There is an immense amount of cotton here. Noticed guards on it, and some think it is to be sent down the river. A thousand mounted men are to start from here to-morrow (from our corps, and it is said the same number from each corps) for —somewhere—rumor says, to release 8,000 of our prisoners at Florence. Our wounded men are all doing splendidly.

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