History of Buchanan County, Iowa 1842 to 1881
Transcribed by Tommy Joe Fulton and Peggy Hoehne
page 175
LETTER NO. LXXXVIII. **
CAMP AT CHULUHOMA, MISSISSIPPI, December 1, 1862.
FRIEND RICH: - we reached this place last evening and have been resting to-day. We are now fifty miles from Memphis, fifteen from Holly Springs, and thirty-five from Hernando. Our position is southwest of Holly Springs, and southeast of Hernando, on the road between the two; and about seven miles from the main body of Grant's army. Our pickets are within four miles of his. The enemy are reported to be in full force at Abbeville, about eight miles from here, across the Tallahatchie river, a branch of the Yazoo. When we encamped here, we were drawn up in line of battle, with a color line extending over a mile, and a reserve of nearly equal length. The Thirty-third Wisconsin on the extreme left, Rogers' battery next, Twenty-seventh Iowa, with the Twelfth Indiana in reserve. Then came the Fifth brigade on our right, and to the right and front of them is General Duryea's division, consisting of the First and Second brigades.
Our sergeant major and C. H. Lewis have just come in from a scout, four miles out, and report that they were within half a mile of, and in sight of the rebel pickets. We may have a fight almost any day. We expect to attack them soon. Expect, I say, because movements look that way, but I have no other authority for saying so.
JED LAKE.