Camp 7^th Ill. Inf. V.V.

Savannah, Ga. Jan 18^th/65.

 

My Darling Etta,

                        As we are going to leave shortly I thought I would embrace the present opportunity of writing a few hasty lines for fear that I would not be permitted to enjoy that priviliege again very soon. We have orders to be ready to move at a moments notice. I supose we will get off either tomorrow or next day. The rest of our Corp has gone by watter, but we are to go by land. Where? is the question. I think though to Beaufort. But not to remain there. perhaps I shall get a chance to write from their, but of course I cannot tell. We will probably go from there to Branchville take that place and cut the communication from Charleston and Wilmington, then either of these places will be left at our mercy. The whole Army is going. Troops have been sent from the East to garrison this place, and if we dont make our mark in old South Carolina then I am mistaken. The march I think will be a pleasant one, through good country and with pleanty of grubb. I do not anticipate any opposition, unless Lee evacuates Richmond / which I think is not at all probable. They have no force to oppose Shermans large army, not even behind the strong defences of Charleston or Wilmington, and we can march where we please. It may take some time to get them out of Charleston for their defences I understand are very strong, and being surrounded by swamps, it is allmost inaproachable. But we will not attempt to storm it Sherman is too cautious, and thinks too much of the men for that. We will lay siege to them and invite them to surrender when they get hungry. That will be the quickest method of taking the place, for judging from their own papers The Charleston Courier and Mercury, they are almost destitute of provisions and are in no condition for standing a siege. The Mercury says in plain terms that Chareston is at the mercy of Sherman. It speaks very despondingly of maintaining the Confederacy, complains of Jeff Davis and their Generals, says they lack the nerve to do anything, and speaks of Shermans Army as the most formidable and best diciplined Army the world ever saw, and of Sherman as a man of nerve who will accomplish any thing he undertakes. I was surprised when I read it. Why two years ago an editor would have been hung for expressing such sentiments in the Confederacy but now it seems to be the sentiment of the whole south. / Almost evry paper is comming down on Jeff and the leading Generals. The Gov of Allabamma disputes his athority in deciding who is exempt from conscription, the legislature of North Carolina is inclined to be contrary and disrespectful toward him, and the legislature of Ga has been discusing the question wheather it is treasonable to secede from the Confederacy. Seven counties of the state of Ga have voted to come back in the Union, prefering Yanky vandalism to Southern despotism. This looks like a United South. We have had the chance to see some of their papers quite frequently, finding them at houses while scouting through the country, and have kept better posted in rebel news affairs than whe we have in our own of late. I supose our communication will be open most of the time and when ever I get the chance I shall write, but it will not be as often as when we are laying in camp. I hope to receive frequent letters from my Darling, to keep up my spirits and make the urksome duties we will have to perform pleasant and agreeable, and they will, you have no idea what affect they have. After receiving a loving letter from you Dear Etta I can go on with my duties with a light heart and that which before was irksome becomes pleasant. on the receipt of evry letter I feal that I have renewed proof of your love and fidelity. But as I have said before I hope we will not have to content ourselves much longer / with communicating through the slow and tedious process of letter writing. Evry day we receive aditional news of renewed victories for our arms, which is encourageing to us. Even while I have been writing some one comes in with an extray of the Savannah Republican with the news of the fall of fort Fisher off Wilmington. if that is true Wilmington will soon be ours. I shall have to close my uninteresting letter and bid you an affectionate farewell. We have just rec^d orders to march tomorrow morning at eight oclock. Write to me dear Etta as often as you can and remember me always as your own true and loving Soldier who is waiting anxiously for the time to arrive when he can prove his devotion. follow me with your prayers and I shall be happy,

                                                                                   

I Remain your own loving

Henry.

                                                                                               

Good Night

SOURCES