Soldier's Letter, Civil War, 161st NY Regiment, May 1863

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 27, 1863

Letter from the 161st NY Regiment

Messers. Editors:  The monotony of our camp life was suddenly broken on Saturday last by the announcement that a heavy cavalry force had cut their way through from Tennessee, and were now waiting for orders to enter our outside picket lines.  The news soon spread through the different camps like wild fire and men and officers thronged the highway leading into town along which the expected cavalry were to advance.  A long line of dust stretching for a mile or two towards the country marked the approach.  Soon their leading squadrons emerged from the cloud of dust and as they came in sight they were welcomed with cheer upon cheer by the 5,000 soldiers gathered to witness their triumphant entrance into town.  They proved to be the 6th and 7th Illinois cavalry under Col. Grierman, about 800 men.  they started from La Grange, Tennessee, upon an expedition to destroy all the railroads and Confederate property they could find, with orders to report back to La Grange or any other place in the federal line they could in safety reach.  They were sixteen days in the saddle, marched a distance of 800 miles, averaging fifty miles a day, destroying over $2,000,000 worth of Confederate property,  took and paroled 780 prisoners, fought several successful battles, lost but five or six men, all told brought into Baton Rouge an immense quantity of Rebel property besides 300 or 400 horses, 200 or 300 contrabands and 150 prisoners.  A more daring exploit was never performed by an equal number of men in any age.  Compared with it the raids of Stuart or Morgan sink into insignificance.  It shows what daring courage and activity can do when directed by a bold and fearless leader.  the expedition travelled nearly the entire length of the State of Mississippi between the lines of the Rebel armies, passing through the most populous portion of the State seeing and avoiding the largest and most populous towns, their arrival expected and announced beforehand in many instances by the public press, and large bodies of troops  were used to cut off their escape, and yet, though it seems miraculous, they passed through, by and over all the traps laid for their destruction in safety. When we contemplate their daring deeds we are carried back in imagination to the days of Chivalry, and think of the gallant illinoisians in connection with Richard The Lion Hearted and his Knight Templars charging through the countless hoards of Saladin, and that beautiful description of the charge of the Light Horse Cavalry at Redskins by Tennyson, slightly changed in words is brought to others mind.

"Armies on the right of them, / Armies on the left, / Armies in the front of them / Right into the jaws of death / Rode the gallant 800"

The advance guard of Col. Grierson's command were dressed in Rebel uniform, and often rode into the enemy's lines unsuspected.  Many an interesting story is told by these cavalry men of relieving Rebel pickets and ordering them to fall in, which they cheerfully obeyed, thinking they were really relieved by their own pickets and never ascertaining their mistake until they formed themselves in the midst of the blue uniforms of the Federals.  My informant stated to me that one morning he formed part of the advance guard and just as day was breaking they met two rebel officers and commanded them to halt, a command which they unwillingly obeyed.

"By what authority do you stop us!" demanded one of the Rebels.  "I, sir, am a Chaplain to the 37th Mississippi Regiment and my friend here is a Captain in the same Regiment.  We are on our way home with a leave of absence from Vicksburg and we both hold commissions signed by Jeff Davis, and don't like to be interfered with in this manner."

"And I," replied the officer in command, "am a Lieutenant in the 5th Illinois Cavalry and hold a commission from Old Dick Yates and you are both my prisoners."

Captain Forbes, of the 7th was dispatched eastward after the destruction of the Railroad at Newton with a force of about 100 cavalrymen.  He proceeded as far as Enterprise where he suddenly came upon a large Rebel force consisting of between three and four thousand men, a large proportion cavalry.  Nothing daunted at the unexpected discovery, he boldly sent into the town a flag of truce demanding its surrender, stating that his force consisted of 10,000 men and resistance would be useless.  The Rebel commander requested two hours to consider upon the proposition, which was granted, but before the expiration of the time, Capt. Forbes had placed a score of miles between him and his enemies. About five miles from this place the advance guard came suddenly upon the encampment of Stuart's Cavalry while they were at breakfast.  Suddenly charging upon them they captured the whole party, consisting of two officers and seventy-five men. This company was composed of citizens from this place, and it was pleasing to witness the chagrin and mortification of their friends when they saw them prisoners in the hands of the Yankees.  Many a dame who had passed herself off for a widow had -?- pointed out to her by her unsophisticated offspring to the great amusement of the soldiers.  Several of the soldiers are said to have passes in their packets signed by Gen. Augur, the commandant here.

The Illinoisians were completely encased in mud and dust and one could not distinguish the Captain or Col. from the subaltern or private.  They started with three days rations of cooked provision, and when that was exhausted lived off from the enemy.  They exchanged horses with which they left La Grange.  The Contrabands brought in by them have nearly all enlisted into Ullmann's Native Brigade.  I was informed by them that they could have brought in 5,000 of them had they dared so to do, but they found they would embarrass and hinder their movements, as they doubtless would.

You have no doubt long before this received the news of the successful advance of General Banks up from Berwick's Bay a movement predicted by me in my last. They are now about fifty miles west of us as I learn by New Orleans papers. The country between us is completely inundated and no communication can now be had with them except by the way of New Orleans and Berwick's Bay, a distance of 300 or 400 miles.  The river is falling fast and in a week or so communication can be opened with Gen. Banks directly west from here.  There is an old railroad running from the west bank of the river opposite here to Opelousas which as soon as the river falls sufficiently it is contemplated to repair.  This will put us in direct communication with the richest portion of the State. The recent movement of Gen. Banks has placed the greater portion of the State under the Federal rule. and if as we are now led to believe, the Ironclad fleet is to reinforce us, the south west will be speedily cleared of rebels.

Sickness prevails to a considerable extent among the troops here.  We have lost three of our company by death since I wrote you last.  Reynold M. Harvey of McDonough, died April 11th, Charles Fisk of Guilford, died April 27th, and Francis R. Slack of Norwich, died May 1st; all of them at the Regimental hospital.  The last two died very suddenly and unexpectedly.  They were about camp in the forenoon of the day of their decease, apparently gaining in health, and before the next morning were sleeping in death.  In marked contrast with the health of the army here is the sanitary inspection of the recent arrived Cavalry Sergeant from the north. An inspection by the Medical Director of the privates found all but 8 out of 800 unfit for duty, which seems conclusive evidence that there is much more danger from disease in a life of inactivity in camp and garrison, than there is in one of activity in the field.  Hoping we may soon change our condition from the former to the latter.

I am yours, &c.  S.E.W.