Stolen socks

[Blessmag]

Once again doing research for 106th Ill. Inf and found this letter home. Imagine having your socks stolen. Can't help but wonder if they had been mended multiple times and the thief's were worse.

"Sept. 10,Helena, to children:…doing well for a Soldier…the time seems long to be absent from home…if this war comes to an end soon, I will return home and stay with you. ….Yesterday, I had a pair of my socks washed and hung them up on my tent and some good kind fellows took them and I have not seen them since. The pair I left in my knapsack when I started home is also gone and now I have but one pair left, and them I have on...the health of the company is improving slowly."

Civil War Letters from Sergeant Joseph Ream of the 106th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Company D – Concerning His Experiences During the War, Including Photographs, Documents and Related Family Letters, before and after the Conflict. http://weissauctions.com/Files/a2027fa0-857b-4512-8301-5318de4c5b09/Ream Archive.pdf

 

[DixieRifles]

Interesting. The 106 Illinois Regiment spent a lot of time in Arkansas.

Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 9 - July 4. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4,1863.

Ordered to Helena, Ark., July 29; thence moved to Clarendon, Ark., August 13, and to Duvall's Bluff August 22.
Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., September 1-10.
Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Duty there till October 26.
Pursuit of Marmaduke's Forces October 26 - November 1.
Duty at Little Rock, Duvall's Bluff, Hot Springs, Lewisburg, St. Charles, Dardanelles and Brownsville, Ark., till July, 1865. Operations against Shelby north of the Arkansas River May 13-31, 1864.
Action at Clarendon June 25-26. Scouts from Pine Bluff toward Camden and Monticello January 26-31, 1865.
Expedition from Little Rock to Mt. Elba January 22 - February 4, 1865.

Mustered out July 12 and discharged at Springfield, Ill., July 24, 1865.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Unwary green troops were especially vulnerable to involuntary confiscations by certain crafty veterans. My favorite story in this connection concerns Ambrose R. Wright, who was to become a general. If I recall the story accurately, early in the war the men of his regiment (3rd Georgia) stood accused of absconding with items belonging to members of another regiment stationed in the vicinity. The major of that regiment came to Wright's tent, and politely initiated the conversation by saying, in essence, "Colonel Wright, I heard that your men were gentlemen." Wright quickly retorted, "I don't know who told that d----d lie. If there are any gentlemen in my regiment, I'll be d----d if I know who they are." At that point, the major simply said, "Good day, Colonel," and Wright replied, "Good day, Major."

 

[Blessmag]

Interesting. The 106 Illinois Regiment spent a lot of time in Arkansas.

Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 9 - July 4. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4,1863.

Ordered to Helena, Ark., July 29; thence moved to Clarendon, Ark., August 13, and to Duvall's Bluff August 22.
Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., September 1-10.
Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Duty there till October 26.
Pursuit of Marmaduke's Forces October 26 - November 1.
Duty at Little Rock, Duvall's Bluff, Hot Springs, Lewisburg, St. Charles, Dardanelles and Brownsville, Ark., till July, 1865. Operations against Shelby north of the Arkansas River May 13-31, 1864.
Action at Clarendon June 25-26. Scouts from Pine Bluff toward Camden and Monticello January 26-31, 1865.
Expedition from Little Rock to Mt. Elba January 22 - February 4, 1865.

Mustered out July 12 and discharged at Springfield, Ill., July 24, 1865.

also Benton and Rockport

 

[Northern Light]

Unwary green troops were especially vulnerable to involuntary confiscations by certain crafty veterans. My favorite story in this connection concerns Ambrose R. Wright, who was to become a general. If I recall the story accurately, early in the war the men of his regiment (3rd Georgia) stood accused of absconding with items belonging to members of another regiment stationed in the vicinity. The major of that regiment came to Wright's tent, and politely initiated the conversation by saying, in essence, "Colonel Wright, I heard that your men were gentlemen." Wright quickly retorted, "I don't know who told that d----d lie. If there are any gentlemen in my regiment, I'll be d----d if I know who they are." At that point, the major simply said, "Good day, Colonel," and Wright replied, "Good day, Major."

 

[scarter92]

Such good first hand accounts. Thanks for posting.