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6 “Poor Rebels!—Poor Rebeldom!!”
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6 “PoorRebels!—PoorRebeldom!!” JANUARY— MARCH 1864 T he new year finds Bennitt still in McMinnville, reporting that the winter is colder than normal. Smallpox has begun to appear, and he is vaccinating both the regiment and the town’s citizens. The 19th Michigan is reassigned to the 11th Army Corps, and there are rumors that the regiment will be sent elsewhere, perhaps Chattanooga , in the spring. Bennitt is appointed Surgeon in Charge of the General Hospital and complains about the amount of paperwork that attends such responsibility. In February the 23rd Missouri departs McMinnville and there is finally railroad service to the town. Smallpox has not become a problem, but there is an outbreak of measles among new recruits arriving. Bennittcommentsharshlyontwoofficers.HecriticizesColonelGilbert,theregimental commander, not only for his overbearing manner but also for his apparent shortcomings as a Christian, and he reproaches a lieutenant for his drunkenness and moral laxity. Bennitt mentions that Confederate deserters come into town to take the loyalty oath, but there are still bushwhackers who will assault anyone regardless of allegiance. Bennitt’s thoughts about blacks, slavery, and emancipation undergo some changes. Lottie and the daughters are again staying at Three Rivers, where the youngest becomes quite ill; they later return to Centreville. Bennitt has not been paid since October, and he advises Lottie on which of his surgical instruments to sell. Bennitt applies for a leave of absence to come home but expresses pessimism about its being granted. Although the family lawyer advises him to remain in Centreville after the war, Bennitt again asks Lottie if they should go to a larger town like Kalamazoo or Ann Arbor. 221 122 McMinnvilleTenn Jan. 3rd 1864 My Dear Wife: Last night’s mail brought me yours of the 25th ult. Very glad to hear from home and the loved ones again, and of the continued good health of all. What a blessing indeed is this good health that we are permitted to enjoy in these troublous times.We cannot be too grateful that we are thus favored. My health seems to be nearly perfect again. My trouble was nothing but a severe cold, and yielded to treatment as soon as I gave it any attention. I hope you will not trouble yourself about my health, for I do not feel that there is now any necessity or propriety for a sacrifice of myself in the loss of healthaslongasitcanbeavoidedaseasilyasitcannowbedone.Ourcircumstances are comfortable, and there is but little to do in the care of the sick, and it is not necessaryformetodoanythingunlessfromchoice .Afterhousingmyself fortwoorthree days and giving proper attention to medication, I am now quite well again, the cough almost entirely gone. My weight has increased three pounds in the past week, so that I now weigh 198 lbs again. Thus you will see that your anxiety about my health may come to an end at once; and it is to be hoped that you will trust to me to inform you concerning my health and not to hearsay or the reports of others. I have thus far told youthewholetruthinthematter,andmadeoutmycasefullasbadtoyouasthetruth would allow. I received also last night a letter from Judge Smith,1 in which he expresses much goodwillandwarmfriendship,andalludestoourformerrelations,andyourunpleasant feelings toward him but said it is all right now. He still argues that the best thing that I can do is to return to Centreville at the end of my military service: & says that it would be reckless to throw away the capital that I have invested in the hearts of the people. But I will send you the letter after I have written to him again, that you may see just what he says. It may be that his reasons are very good and that that is the best place for us. Centreville will grow some & its growth will be of a permanent character . The chief objection that I have is in the want of a good school. The daughters must be educated, and the probability of being able to do it there is not very great, at present. But changes in this matter can soon be brought about, I think hope at least. Clara will have finished her course in the Union School at Three Rivers in two years more; then she can go to Kalamazoo if things get into good working order again. Jennie ’s future for school will depend altogether upon her health. I hope she will be able to begin now and follow up pretty steadily a course of study that will...