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The following are extracts from Charles N. Hammond's Civil War letters. They were copied from originals in 1974 at Ripley, Tenn. The diary and letters were lent to the author by Mrs. Hervey Hammond of Jackson, Tenn. Text in italics are comments by the author of this book.
Charles was assigned to Company G. He worked with the Quartermaster Department.
I am sitting by my own little window at the north end of the Barracks just outside of the great city, Nashville. One year ago last night we, the 96th, were crowded in the cars and trundled to Franklin as reinforcements, the Rebs having boggled our lst Brigade and thirteen months ago tomorrow the fleet which bro't us from Louisville anchored here in town. Yes, thirteen mos. have passed and I am back again, alive and well, while my dearest comrade moudlers in his shallow grave. ``What shall I render unto God for His goodness toward me?'' I have been to church to day for the first time in just three months, was at S. S. too. We heard a good sermon from Luke XXII 61 & 2, As I tho't of home and of him who, two years ago used to attend church and S. S. with me, I could not suppress the ``rising tear''. ``He doeth all things well.''
The 96th is at Cleveland [Tenn.], have good quarters and are in the best of spirits. The change has been a pleasant one to us, from stinking, dirty, red-tape Chatt., to this rural town on Hiwassee [sic] River. On the opposite bank is the little town of Calhoun. The inhabitants as far as I have observed are slim, spindled shanked traitors, but they look woefully blue, and think that the confederacy is about wound up. We commenced getting out timber yesterday, for the block house, which is to be 18 x 30, covered with timber and dirt; bomb proof. [He names the men who represent Co. A. on this job] signs. C. P.5.4
I must go and help take up one of the bridges. Most noon. Our job is done. We had three bridges down. Now there's two and the trussel or trestle bridge is nearly complete. Then up will come the others. The R. R. bridge is finished & the cars have been running out where the army is for several days. The front is about 18 ms. from here & the army, as far as we can learn, is engaged more in maneuvering than in fighting. We are camped near where the R. R. crosses the Etowah river, 50 ms. from Atlanta and 88 from Chattanooga. Don't expect to stay much longer. Ed. [Edwin O. Hammond] is camped on the opposite bank where I can see him every day. Wendell is at Charleston, Tennessee, and I have not seen him for nearly four months.
Shortly after I wrote we took our train to the extreme front, left it in other hands and came here out of hearing the big noise. We camped one night near Pine Mt. where the rebel Polk5.5 was mortally wounded. It is a very rugged country between there and here but with all this in their favor the rebs are being driven slowly & surely toward the great deep. I have abundant reason to be thankful for a comparatively easy time since the campaign commenced -- in fact I have been favored all the time.
Well Fronie, I have not reenlisted yet but rather expected to when I last wrote. Am now transferred into the lst U.S. Engineers to serve the remainder of my time. Can reenlist after I have been in service two years if I choose but have almost concluded that I am too old. Ought to go home and marry before I lose all my teeth -- unless I should do as most vets have done -- leave a war widow.
The letter includes comments on the idleness around the camp while the organization of the new unit is in process -- card playing and idleness.
Have not heard from the boys in front for some time. Ed is at Marietta (Ga.) & Roll if alive and well is before Atlanta5.6.
He was living in a tent with ``Teho'', and quite solitary after Company G moved out. Millie, to whom he wrote occasionally, had gone to Hanover, Ill. and ``Ortie''5.7 wrote that she had played the piano for them at a missionary concert. In his letters, ``Ed.'' refers to Edwin O. Hammond and ``Roll'' to Royal C. Hammond, both brothers of Charles and also soldiers.
A letter from Mert yesterday5.8. She is afraid her old man will be drafted & says she is getting to be a Copperhead & thot the war will end just where it commenced but I can't see it in that light. I don't want it to end until it end right, if takes every drop of Hammond blood to consummate the triumph of our arms. God will make the wrath of man to praise Him.
Ed. & Roll were well the last I heard from them (August 21). Ed. was at Marietta & Roll with the ``Gallant Hosts'' in front. He may have fallen in the last battle. I wait anxiously to hear.
Wendell5.9 has the scurvy & his gooms are rotting away. Looks very bad & smells worse. If in his fix I'd try hard for a furlo.
Old Forrest5.10 has been regulating transportation again and we had no mail for about two weeks, but it came at last & the first was a letter from Millie...
After commenting on the unusual amount of rain lately:
Several bridges between here & the ``Key City'' have been washed away & a part of the 1st U.S. V.V. Engr. have gone out to rebuild. Some have gone to the Etowah River where we were when a letter came from [you]. My Co. is up at the mouth of the Chickamauga getting out lumber. Things is workin. All on a square...
Two years ago to-day we left Rockford, Ill., for the scene of strife. How eventful have been those two years, yet they have passed rapidly by, & it seems scarcely six months since I left home.
Charles must have enlisted in August 1862, spent about two months in
basic camp and getting outfitted at Rockford, leaving there with his
unit on the 8th of October, 1862. He expected to get out by August
1865.
How is Christmas, Chubby? Well enough for another year? It was a busy day here. Two Co's (Companies) of our regiment were getting ready to start for Decatur with Pontoons to make a bridge across the river there. They started yesterday with eighty-four boats and we have been lonesome to-day.
Bob has been off on a Christmas bum and has just got back. He has been telling about the Tenn. girls who were at the dance. Nearly all of them chewed tobacco and could spit ``like a man'', but did not keep their lips free from the precious juice.
...but I could not get away from Chattanooga, & instead of voting for Old Abe on that day I had to draw some Pup tents for the new recruits of the regt. It was a rainy day and was awful muddy. I am satisfied now that Abe is reelected & will be content to stay eight months longer & then take a long furlo--that will last at least three years.
Hood5.11 has been between us & America for nearly a month & regulated the crackers & Mail line so that we have been on half rations & no mail: but old Pap has lifted him & we don't know where he is now. Ain't things workin thro & ain't it as good as hard tack to hear how we'uns make them git.
The road between here & Nashville will be repaired in a few days so we can get our regular tack & back mail. Ed. is with Sherman5.12 & Roll is on Lookout Mountain. Must go up & see him, New Year's Day if nothing happens to prevent.
Charles makes reference to the making of sugar in Ohio at this time of the year and to the fact that he hasn't had a sleigh ride in nearly three years. His cousin Millie is still in Hanover where she is teaching school. She was contracted to teach 1864-65 at the ``Hanover School''. Royal C. may have been assigned to light duty with his Batallion or Hospital on Lookout Mountain.
Recd. a paper from home yesterday & learned from it that Ed. was wounded at Pocataligo, S. C. in the arm. This is the first I have heard from him since Sept.
Had I not been ordered back to Chattanooga while in front I should have been along with Sherman or left on the road. Yesterday news came that the Yanks are in Charleston & the big Dogs barked all around us, seeming to feel rejoiced as well as we. How I wish all the rebs trembled with fear as our shantie trembled when the 100 pounders spoke just above us. Don't the old flag look nice waving over Sumpter whence it had been driven for nearly three years? I can't help feeling, ``Hail Flag!'' Roll is on Lookout Mountain whence his Brigade is stationed.
P.M. just got back from church & ate a cold dinner of dessicated potatos, Beans & bread & now I'll write another line. We had a good sermon from the text, ''If God be for us, Who can be against us?'' We were very much refreshed by the sight of five northern ladies and two or three of the small fry. They looked so much better than the stock here that I had to gaze upon them as a matter of course. Who could help it when the dear creatures are so scarce here. There are several good looking girls just over the hill as we go to town, & I feel sorry for them every time I pass. They might be ornaments in society but ``their steps take hold on death.'' Excuse me for wandering. I did not intend to. After the sermon came the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. There were quite a number of communicants. As I came back I saw some soldiers with ten mules drawing a 100 lb. gun carriage up on Cameron hill & I wonder why the necessity of doing it today. I worked on Sunday helping to mount such a gun, but they haven't killed any rebs with it yet.
Roll called upon me ten days ago -- just from Atlanta. Was wounded at Jonesboro on the first of Sept. -- A flesh wound in the arm. I went with him to Lookout Mountain where he stayed in a Hospital. Ed. is down near the Chattahoochee5.13.
Have never been a Hospital patient and hope I shall not be...
He had just returned from a furlough to visit his family in Hanover
and speaks of the cousins and girl friends. He expected another
furlough in five more months. He evidently had little idea that the
War was drawing to an end, though he mentions his dreams of that.
Appomattox was only five days away as he wrote. He does mention that
at Indianapolis, on his return, he heard good news about the war,
probably the taking of Petersburg and Richmond.