Six miles from Corinth, May 6th 1862My dear Sarah Ann,
Day before yesterday we struck tents and moved forward about five or six miles. We started early in the morning, and it commenced raining soon after we started. We was all day coming, sometimes stopping for one hour in mud knee deep, no place to rest. I can describe it in no better way than just say it was awful. After we got here, our wagons did not get here till ten o'clock at night. We just had to stand or sit in the rain. Very few of us had anything to eat. We lost our haversacks in the last fight, and have not drawn any since. After the wagons came, we hoisted our tents in the mud and water, cut poles and lay on them. It was rather a hard time. The roads are almost impassable, and everything to have from the river. I know we will be put on short rations and I guess horses will starve. This is our day to draw provisions and the teams just started this morning to the river for them, and I know they will not be back before tomorrow evening. There is three divisions of reserves. Our division was 1st division commanded by Maj Gen. McClernand. Now it is 3rd division of reserve force and commanded by Gen. Judith of the regular army, and the three divisions are commanded by Maj Gen McClernand. I suppose Mr. Keeney will be home when you get this. It was rather a hard job taking Jim up, but we did it willingly. We hauled the body down to the river and no boat was going out. We had to set the coffin on the bank of the river and leave him. Keeney appeared to be in great trouble, more than necessary. After we started, I told McKee, I believed he was out of money. Capt went back and asked him and sure enough that was the trouble. Capt and me gave him five dollars and it strapped us both nearly. I have been keeping Silas in money and he can spend fully as much as me, and I sent a dollar by our act. Quarter Master to the river to buy some potatoes. He spent the money and got no potatoes. So I am out that dollar. After having as much trouble to get a little money as
©2006 C.S. Parkinson