Reply #107: "The tears on my pillow have frozen because it is so cold here, Ma. No one said it would be easy." [View All]

[Major Hogwash]

"But, as we entered Iowa, we crossed the frozen cornfields to start the winter campaign. The fighting quickly became intense. Some volunteers fled from the harshness of battle and many reinforcements simply never showed up. After scoring a few early victories, we went for weeks and weeks without a single victory. It was a drought that nearly caused all of us to give in.

But then, early last month, we beat them back and scored a huge victory. Spring was a'coming, and we found our newfound strength as the blossoms were on the apple trees. Those bitter cold days were over and we felt the sun on our faces and on our backs for the first time in many months. We went into battle with a new refreshed outlook, but still there were no reinforcements. Then, as we suffered some deserters, important men to be sure, but ones who would no longer be there in the fight beside us.

The Spring campaign was well underway, yet we were only scoring battles that barely kept us even with our losses. Oh, we gave them hell, to be sure, but it seemed that every time we had a victory, we suffered a loss as well. Our morale was low when we found out how just far into debt we had sunk by the first of April, the Fools Day. Nevertheless, we trudged onward never looking back. It didn't matter how far we had to go now, we had nowhere left to return to.

Maybe I can get leave to visit you later this summer Ma.

Lovingly your son,
Corporal Thomas O'Gillicutty
1st regiment, 1st Division, 1st Army

May 20th, 1864"

*as read by Morgan Freeman*