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

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“I dreamed last night of being at home on leave and seeing you all, and starting back to the army again.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

March 8, 2015

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

Five miles north of Laurenburg, N. C., Laurel Hill,

March 8, 1865.

One hundred and twelve miles of steady rain, and the best country since we left Central Georgia. Looks real Northern like. Small farms and nice white, tidy dwellings. Wheat fields look very well. In the cornfields rows are five feet apart, and one stalk the size of a candle, in a hill. But at every house there were from 200 to 1,000 bushels of corn and an abundance of fodder. Sherman said yesterday that our campaign is over, and to-day Howard issued an order that all foraging for provisions shall cease, there being enough rations in the wagons to last us through. I dreamed last night of being at home on leave and seeing you all, and starting back to the army again. Only 90 miles yet to mail.

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