Yesterday a foraging party brought in 140 bales of cotton, a lot of corn, fodder, meal,
and sweet potatoes, and today about 40 teams are gone off for more cotton. The teams
average hauling about 4 1/2 bales to the wagon, so you see we are getting some of the
Rebel's stuff, while they are further south guarding other people's property. Nearly all
the Rebels we take say, after we take possession of a county, a Reg or Co, that nearly all of them want to leave the army and go home, and try to take care of
their property. They do not like the idea of going south of their homes. So I have
not the least doubt but what the Missourians, Kentuckians, and Tennesseeans are
wanting to go home. That is a majority of them, but they are there, and can't get
away, and they will fight, would just as soon fight, volunteers as conscripts, if
they are old soldiers. Sile Baltzell is at home. I am glad to hear he went home, and
if he does not stay to the very last minute, he is a fool. Still we are anxious to see
him. I suppose he is enjoying himself hugely. Jack Bostwick says he is the best
looking man of the whole lot belonging to the 11th Ill. He comes to the Reg. I
wish you would send me two good check suits, a blue (not night blue) pair of
pants, something likely by James, but I guess that is more than he can carry.
And the [undecipherable] if possible. I have but one shirt, bought it in Paducah. Some fellow
stole the one you made me and the other is wore out. I have been wearing this
one two weeks. How I am to get it washed, is more than I know.
