14 



Joe Benson is still on the land of the living & enjoying 

 his cavalry life in Arkansas & that the rebels were badly 

 whipped out I suppose Joe was not in that. I also see 

 that Genrl Pemberton is going to form a junction mth 

 Genrl Bragg in Tennesee & T also suppose that he is 

 going to make an attack on this place but if he does he 

 will have a hard time getting Nashville Avith the Army 

 we have here and the breastworks and forts we have 

 built here. Col Black of the 37th Ills that was killed 

 in the late fight in Arkansas was an army acquaintance 

 of mine we were all in the same Brigade last winter & 

 I have often seen him & he was a splendid officer he was 

 first Maj of the Regt and w^as wounded at Pea Ridge. 



As for speculation in confiscated property I know of no 

 such speculations at least I have never seensuch sales 

 whlie we were in Mississippi but since then I have seen 

 no such speculation here but there may be such specula- 

 tions and we know nothing of it as I stay very close to 

 my company and do not medle myself about any such 

 business but I think all such speculations are only lottery. 

 As for out sutlers making a fortune I cannot exactly say 

 but I think they are making a very good thing of it al- 

 though they have lost some considerable by crediting the 

 boys and also the rebels captured two wagons loaded & 

 eight mules and horses in Miss ippi No man thou is 

 allowed to sell anything here except he is regularly com- 

 missioned as a sutler then he is not allowed to station 

 his shops in no place but in their o^^m Regts. As for Field 

 Officers names I Avill give you a list Col P Sidney Post 

 of Knoxville Ills is our Col now commanding 30th Bri- 

 gade. I think he expects to be commissioned as a Brigadier 

 soon and I thinl he is very deserving of a star he is a 

 very intelligent man. 



Our Lt Col is C H Frederic who now commands the Regt 

 w^e all think a great deal more of him now than ever & 

 if Col Post gets to be a Brigadier Lt Col will get to 

 be Col of our Regt our Maj J C AVinters is at present 

 at home on a short furlough he is a very good man but 

 not a very good Military man, though I think he will 

 be our Lt Col should a vacancy occur then there would be 

 a vacancy for a Maj and one of the old Capts will get 



