Thayer Civil War Letter - Bolivar, TN

I have not heard from you in a long while. Thinking the best way to set you talking is to write you. We have been stationed at Humboldt for three months. Had easy times with some guard duty to perform but not any more than enough to keep us in military time. We were called out by the long roll and expected a fight several times but the enemy were afraid to come near enough to meet us so we passed along very well, were generally healthy, had plenty of fruit and sweet potatoes and fared first-rate—but the fight at Corinth that you have heard about called us away October 5^th at midnight. We took the cars and rode to this place (50 miles) lay down in the dirt—took a nap and the next night at 6 o’clock P.M. we started from this place on a forced march of 25 miles to reinforce Hurlburt on the Hatchie river who was engaging Price and Van Dorn with a force of 18,000 men. The afternoon we left we could distinctly hear the incessant booming of cannon and knew by courier that they were having a hard fight. After marching all night at a quick pace we arrived on the battlefield the next morning at 8 o’clock just in time to witness the burying of the dead and the gathering of the wounded. [Oct 28] The heads, legs, arms and shattered fragments of the dead and living lay scattered “profusely on the ground” in all directions. Ambulances and nurses, Surgeons and Hospital stewards were busy attending to the wants of the sufferers yet the groans of the dying and the shrieks of the wounded could not wholly be suppressed by the kindest care. Yet many a patriot’s sufferings were ended on that eventful day which was plainly evidenced by the newly raised mounds in every direction. The battle of the Hatchie although not so murderous and extensive as others should not pass unnoticed in the historical records of this rebellion. Although we did not get there in time to render much aid yet I saw enough to turn with displeasure, horror and disgust from the battle field and unless it is necessary I never wish to engage in a murderous battle. Yet our Nations honor must be vindicated if it costs millions of lives and tens of millions of treasures.

The fight at Corinth and the battles at Hatchie have been a sorry time for Price. We took 400 prisoners, 121guns and 4,000 small arms from a position with the surroundings. I should thought when backed by 18,000 men would have been impossible, Price had chosen his position, selected his ground and with a force of three to one stood awaiting the advance of our troops. They charged and were victorious but the loss in dead and wounded was shocking numbering from 500 to 600. I had plenty of leisure to converse with the prisoners. Some are sick of fighting; others are as bitter and as unyielding as ever and openly declare that at the first opportunity they will shoulder their arms in defense of the much wronged Confederacy.

These prisoners were marched to Bolivar and have since been exchanged. While they were passing through the streets, the ladies showered them with bouquets and the wounded were feasted with the luxuries and delicacies from the well-supplied larders of the inhabitants and by them taken to their homes to receive the kindest care and the most attentive nursing while our soldiers were left to the care of Hospital nurses and surgeons. Such is the feeling of the inhabitants of this place; such is the sympathy shown southern soldiers and such is the “disgust and abhorrence” for Northern Yankees.

We may conquer them, we may whip them, we may exterminate them but we never can make them love us; they are a desperate and determined race like ourselves. Their ancestors are our ancestors; their fathers are our fathers. Our grandfathers fought side by side in the revolution and gained the glorious Independence and established the unsurpassed and unparalleled Government that party, prejudice and party influence has been trying for the last 30 years to break down and destroy. The crisis is upon us—we cannot even the storm that darkens in the South and is bursting forth in volcanic appeals from the deadly mouthed cannon of the determined foe.

We soldiers are getting tired of the manner in which the armies are managed. I fear political policies has too much the control of our troops (or the leaders I should have said). We would like to transport Buell to the island of the Hottentot’s, set the young Napolean Neal in the shade and appeal for an armistice long enough to go north and silence the orders, abettors, and Southern sympathizers that daily walk your streets and are complacently taking their seats in your council chambers and legislation halls. Vermont does nobly. She crushes and holds the viper in check and never lets her enemies get the advantage of her. Hurrah for the old Green mountain state. Other states are not so vigilant. Today’s paper tells us that Buell is removed. The officers rejoice and the men are jubilant over the change. If little “Mac” could thus be decapitated, I think it would be a good thing for the Nation for it takes him so long to get ready that the enemy always eludes his grasp. Perhaps it is not policy to whip them too hard. Well I suppose that it will make but little difference what I say about it. I have only to await orders and then obey and execute them.

It is reported that the notorious Price has recuperated and advancing upon us with 15,000 additional Texian recruits. If so we shall expect a fight before this reaches you. Yesterday the pickets had a skirmish and brought in 6 prisoners so we feel assured that an enemy is near us and we are very vigilant. Scouts are out in all directions and a strong picket guard on every avenue. We are throwing up breastworks and fortifying as fast as possible to be ready for them. But we shall need some advantage unless we get reinforcements as we have only 20,000 or 25,000 troops here. Bolivar is very pretty place with many fine residences. All South, of course, but have taken the oath and we are bound to protect them. But if Price comes in I guess there will be some hustling and perhaps we shall be of that party but hope not. Our company with 4 others of our Regiment, one Regiment of Cavalry and another of Infantry went with them. We expect they will meet the enemy before they get back. I had previously taken a tramp of 25 miles rising from a sick bed at that and so I thought I would not go – not having fully recovered. I think I shall soon be able to resume my duties. I have been very healthy since I have been in the service. Not been sick but a very few days till within 6 weeks past. Our first Lieutenant has been sick for 8 weeks. The Captain was home on a furlough sick so I had considerable on my shoulders and kept me at work too hard out. As long as I was in good health, I did not mind it but finally I was unable to perform the work of 3 officers and was obliged to give up when our Captain hearing of it, immediately returned to the Company and I have been resting for a few days. Our first Lieutenant has been trying to get a furlough for 20 days but cannot as our Generals are very particular at this place unless a person was on a death bed he cannot get leave of absence. But he is getting better now and will soon recover and we shall be running along in regular order again. We are all expecting that the grand army of the Potomac will soon be going into Winter quarters again. Then we shall be obliged to lay in camp another winter, dig trenches, build fortifications and perhaps one year from now be as far ahead as at the present time. The last year has shown but little gain. We have driven them and they have driven us. Our forces have marched and counter-marched and marched again but all to but little purpose. We have gained comparatively nothing.

The rebels rest on the Potomac in the face of Washington. They menace Kentucky and hold the border free state inhabitants in check and keep them in a continual state of fear and excitement. They threaten Tennessee and throw wild consternation over her territory. Corinth expects to meet them again and is in doubt as to the result. So we all stand amazed at the horrid sacrifice of America’s noblest sons and are shocked at the torrent tide of crimson gore that has so freely flown from the veins of our fellow beings. Yet with all these millions upon millions and billions upon billions of dollars have been spent and it will take like figures to enumerate the destruction of property and yet where are we? I will arrive just where we were 8 months ago. Is the fault in the men – NO they are ready to go and to fight when they can have an opportunity but the Generals say we must not fight for we would surely annihilate them and that will never do. We want to compromise; we want to counsel and consult with them…prolong the war till everybody gets disgusted with it and party favorites are worked into office enough to carry the day--then and not till then will our Generals have accomplished what they have set about.

But here I am on war and politics again censuring many a noble-hearted officer perhaps. The health of our Regiment is good; we have but one sick in our Company; we have very good Doctors of the old mercurial style which you know our family discarded long, long ago. Our head Surgeon is said to be excellent for amputating limbs of which he looks the part and had a good deal of practice after the last battle. He worked as cool as if he had been cutting up beef. I hope he never may get hold of me although I would as soon have him as any one. Our Chaplain renders us very efficient aid in attending to our mail. I presume he is a good man; he ought to be to hold the position that he does with a large salary. We have a fine band with silver instruments which looks much better if it does not sound any better. Well Uncle Sam can pay all these things--he is rich you know making millions of paper currency everyday which is discounted in New York at 33 per cents by Wall Street brokers. Perhaps they are Democratic and entered into a league or conspiracy to send the Government of the present administration and bring the old Democratic party into rule again.

I turn to the last page to scribble but a few lines more of nonsense. Everything is very high here. It costs us money to live here. Tea $2.00 per lb; Butter 40 cents; cheese 25 cents; pork 20 flour 8 pr bbl, potato $1.00 pr bushel and (King Cotton 50 cents per lb) dried apples 25 cents and other things in proportion. Our men draw plenty of rations in flour and hard bread, bacon (delicious morsel) coffee and tea, sugar, rice, hominy, salt, vinegar, soap, candles with occasionally a day’s ration of fresh beef. In the last three months, our Company have sold nearly $100 extra rations but we account for that in blackberries, peaches, apples and potatoes that they have managed to get in some Secesh's orchard or garden or perhaps have ventured near a henhouse or sheep pasture or perhaps an ugly hog has crossed their path and causes them to commit deeds of violence. Such luxuries are getting scarce and they will now have to subsist what they get from U.S. (Uncle Sam). We have not been paid since July 1^st. We are mustered every two months. I made out our pay rolls on the first of Sept and shall have to make them out again in two or three days with four (4) months pay. We are beginning to want change. Our forces here are to receive new clothing in a few days; this will be our winter suit. Also new tents…our old ones are beginning to leak having been used one year. When we get fixed up, we shall be prepared to follow the enemy or camp here all winter just as our leaders say. We have had very warm weather this summer or at least it has seemed so to me but we have cool nights. On the 27^th we had snow to whiten the ground and it has been very cold nights since blankets being eagerly sought for by all. We have 4 darky cooks in our Company paid by Government…great – stout – fellows would be good for you on your farm. But hold on paper is getting scarce. Let me hear from you.

Love to all,

Hervey

I will finish this letter by adding another slip and giving you a brief account of a rich planter. He owned 150 negroes and had 700 acres of cotton, 25 or 30 mules besides several horses. Our Government (strange to say) sent officers with men to visit him. Took several hundred bushels of corn, his mules and horses, marched his negroes into camp and left him to pick his large field of cotton alone. He came into camp to get his slaves to go back and help him, he making very fair promises but nary one chose to go, and his crop of cotton which would yield him at least 350 bales and worth $250.00 per bale, was left to waste. This is the way lots of them are feeling this war in this country. If they were not so desperate and reckless they would give up and call themselves all beat out. Houses are torn down to make bunks for soldiers, fences are burned up to cook and keep the soldiers warm; cornfields are cleared to keep the horses; forests are felled to prevent and obstruct the advance of the enemy; handsome lawns are dug up to build entrenchments; streets are blockaded; homes are ordered vacated for Hospitals, Commissaries and Quartermaster stores. Business stores and shops are shut up except for suiters and army traders. Schoolhouses are vacant or occupied for hospitals. Churches and Church bells are silent but the graveyard is a busy place especially for a few days after the fight. But most of the wounded have been sent to St Louis or home on furlough where some of them will walk on stumps the remainder of their lives. The country will be full of cripples after this war is over.

Give my respects to all that enquire for me and tell my old friends, acquaintances and associates that I should like to drop in and spend an hour with them.

We are in the first Brigade of the fourth Division. Our Brig. General Pugh of Ill –our Major General Leauman of _____ fighting men both of them were at the battle of the Hatchie and distinguished themselves. We like our field officers much. Our Lieutenant Col is in Wisconsin sick. You now have the track of the 12th now and if you get the daily papers you will be able to follow with the minds eye our every move.

On the envelope Hervey Thayer writes "from the 12 Reg. Wis. Vol.

now camped at Bolivar, Tenn."