Journey to the Wilderness by Frye Gaillard

Author:Frye Gaillard [Gaillard, Frye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Civil War, letters, Confederate, Civil War narratives, Civil War letters, Frye Gaillard, the South, slavery, War Between the States
ISBN: 9781603063616
Publisher: NewSouth Inc.
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Franklin Gaillard, December 31, 1861

As 1861 drew to a close, Franklin Gaillard was still optimistic about the war, even as he was beginning to feel its rigors.

Dear Maria

. . . We have been suffering a great deal out here from sickness. During the past week there were seventeen deaths in this Brigade. The winter has been mild so far, I suppose for this latitude. We have not had much rain, but some of our spells have been pretty sharp. We had weather about three weeks ago that freezed pickles, pepper vinegar, etc. A piece of beef tongue was iced all through. Eggs were like a lump of ice. They could be cut through and neither the white nor yellow would run. We wash every morning now in iced water. The other night in riding from Centreville I had my moustache icicled. But still as we have had no snow and the roads are in good condition we are still agreeably surprised at weather so far. Before it sets in, in all its accustomed severity, I hope I may be able to go back to South Carolina and escape it.

You probably have seen the Act of the Confederate Congress granting furloughs to those soldiers who reenlist for the war or for two years. I am making efforts to reorganize a company and get a furlough for fifty days beginning about the latter part of January or first of February. The men are very much dissatisfied with Capt. Casson, through duplicity and insincerity and other qualities, equally uncommendable, he has become very unpopular. I have such a contempt for his character that I would not take the 1st Lieutenancy much less a privates position under him. I never was more disappointed in any man. The consequence is that they have signified to me that they will not serve again under him—but seem disposed to volunteer under me. As I am determined to continue in service as long as the war lasts I should of course rather come back as a Captain than a private, and will use my efforts to reorganize it. Failing in this then I shall get a furlough on my own account. This will allow me to avoid the worst part of the winter, to go back and attend to business affairs and then to come back again—by the time the government will need my services. The Generals have refused to grant any more furloughs except to those who reenlist. This I think is right—for those who reenlist ought not to be refused, while those who will not reenlist expect to go home at the expiration of their time of service and should be held here as a reserve until we return . . . We are into the war fighting for all we hold dear and if we do not come up to our duty with a self-sacrificing spirit, we may lose all we fight for or at any rate allow the enemy to gain important advantages over us.

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