Life and Letters of General W. H. L. Wallace

XVII. General Wallace's Command Moves to Pittsburg Landing. Mrs. Wallace's Journey to Pittsburg Landing.

CHAPTER XVII. GENERAL WALLACE'S COMMAND MOVES TO PITTSBURG LANDING . MRS. WALLACE'S JOURNEY TO PITTSBURG LANDING. O N March twenty-fourth, General Wallace with his command left Savannah for Pittsburg Landing, ten miles above on the Tennessee river. From there he writes his wife of his new camp surroundings. "IN CAMP NEAR PITTSBURG, TENN., March 25, 1862. "* * * * There is a large force here and the camp covers several miles in extent. General Sherman's division is the most advanced, ours next." * * * * On March twenty-seventh he writes: "This has been a most lovely day, like Mayor June, except that there are no leaves. The early wild-flowers are in bloom, but otherwise all is yet dead in the woods. I spent all the fore part of the day in my tent writing and attending to the thousand details that constantly require attention. I have my headquarters in tents in rear of my brigade. The brigade is encamped on a gentle ridge in front-that is, the four infantry regiments. Just in rear of them is a depression in which there is a stream of water in wet weather, and there is water enough now in it for the men. This side of the quarters is another gentle ridge on which is my headquarters in four tentstwo Sibley tents, one for myself and one for the Adjutant's office. A Fremont tent to eat in and a common tent for the orderlies. My military family consists of Captain Hotchkiss , Assistant Adjutant-General, Lieutenant Davis; Quartermaster , Lieutenant Rumsey; Aide-de-camp, Beckwith; Secretary, Church; Brigade Postmaster and Chief of Orderlies , a. sergeant and five men from the Fourth cavalry for orderlies; Jim, the cook; Hartley (body servant), and Ned, the Irishman who takes care of my horses. "To the left of headquarters and nearby is Taylor's bat-. tery, and immediately in the rear is Colonel McCullough's [1791 LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE camp with five companies of the Fourth cavalry. My brigade is in the center of the division, Colonel Oglesby's being on my right and Colonel Ross' on my left. It is the prettiest camping ground we have had since we have been in the service and we are improving this fine weather in drilling and fitting the men for service." General Wallace writes his wife on April third of his being placed in command of a division. "PITTSBURG, TENN., April 3, 1862. "* * * * I have just been ordered to assume command of General Smith's division, he being sick-I suppose this is merely temporary, but it may be otherwise. The division consists of fourteen regiments of infantry, four batteries and two battalions of cavalry. It is a compliment to be placed in such a command, though I feel a good deal of embarrassment in attempting to fill the place of such a man as General Smith. * * * * I have not sought the place and am disinclined to take it, but I suppose there is no help for it. I assume my new command to-morrow. I take with me my staff, Captains Hotchkiss and Davis and Lieutenant Rumsey. Cyrus is going on my staff as soon as he can be spared from the Eleventh. No sight on earth would afford me more pleasure than that of your face, but I feel that I must not now expect that pleasure and if you were here I should feel that every moment devoted to you was stolen from my duty. * * * * You must not think of coming here. Weare in camp, very busy with preparations to leave and liable to be ordered off at any hour." Mrs. Wallace's young brother, Charlie, writes from Pittsburg Landing; he was in his father's (Colonel Dickey 's) Fourth cavalry regiment: "PITTSBURG LANDING, TENN., April 4, 1862. "I have been here just about a week and am now with Major Bowman's battalion bugling for him. It keeps me pretty busy, as there is no bugler to relieve me, and I have [180] LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE to be on the lookout all the time for fear of playing a call out of time. The weather is rather uncomfortable warm in the daytime, but the nights are delicious, just cool enough to sleep well. * * * * It must be very healthy here, for the sick boys are all getting well and the doctors have...