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

Post image for “I hear that the 17th A. C. lost a number of men yesterday by a bridge falling.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“I hear that the 17th A. C. lost a number of men yesterday by a bridge falling.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

May 6, 2015

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

Left bank of Stony Creek, Va., 20 miles from
Pittsburg,

May 6, 1865.

About 20 good miles to-day. No sign of war yet. Have not had a very good road to-day. Crossed the Nottaway river this morning. Small affair. During Kautz and Wilson’s disastrous raid last summer they threw their last piece of artillery into the Nottaway from the bridge on which we crossed. One of the officers says he noticed bullet marks on trees that indicated a pretty sharp skirmish having taken place where we stopped for dinner. We are fairly on classic ground. I hear that the 17th A. C. lost a number of men yesterday by a bridge falling.

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