Accession Number: XX3953d
June 15th 1864
Camp near Memphis--Tenn.
Dear Lizzie
I received your kind letter, just when we was entering the cars, that where to take us to Cairo, our lieutenant Mr. Beech done us boy's the favor to go to the Post Office before leaving Davenport, and come back with a very large mail for our Camp; with what eagerness we boy's watch those letters from home, I cant describe to you, and when I received that first letter of yours I felt as much pleased as if it had been from my own folks. Now Lizzie I sent off 2 long letters one for Mother & the other for sister Wilhelmine in those letters I gave them full particulars of what I passed through & all the latest news from here at Memphis; I requested mother again to read them to you, for I know it will please your Mother, Lizz your folks do seem to me like a second home and so I think you are entitled as much as my own folks to hear all the news that Charly can give. But I am emptied out after those 2 letters, theres but little remains, Night before last about 2 O clock when we all where fast asleep, we where suddenly aroused with the words get up get up boys, put on all your equippments and fall in line of battle, the enemy is driving in our pickets & theres constant firing going on; this first war news came to some of our boy's like a thunderbolt from heaven, there was some setting in a sitting posture, rubbing their eye's while others where hastening on there britches, I button it faster than they were acustomed to. After the whole Regiment had fallen in, just as at a dress parade and gone through the manuals of Arms, we where told to remain on the same ground till clear daylight, which we did. to this day we boys don't know wether it was true or not, they often play such games with new troops in order to make them get used to it, to fall in and get ready in a few moments warning. It is true though that those guerrillas around our Camp fire on our pickets during the night as I myself can, and will now prove to you; it takes 1/3d of the whole Regt. every day to standguard & Picket duty yesterday, (that was Thursday morning) a squad of 10 men with me for their Corporal, was detailed from our Camp to stand picket duty during the day and night (I butt you'll think, didn't his heart pucker when when had to go) no indeed it did not, I was eager to get on once'd; well then, we where marched, after preparing ourselves with all the nessesaries of Live, to a post where there had some firing been going on during the preceding night, this post was the very last of the whole picket line (2 miles from Camp) 3 roads met at the points where we, together with the Officer of the Guards where staitioned; the day past quite, only that we had to search all Waggons & Carriages wether thy didn't carry out with them such Arms as would come handy to the Rebels. (This was a hard job to perform for we had to search even the young ladies pockets & under the Carriage seats whitch was very painful for us.) Night came, and with it the firing of fire Arms in all directions, we walked our regular beat in succession each man standing 2 hours, while some laid down to sleep the night passed undisturbed for us, but not so with the 3 next post's, each one consisting only of 3 or 4 men, they were fired at 5 or 6 times the balls flying past there ears like thunder there was no one killed as yet out of our regiments 1/4 mile below us some Kansas Cavalry boys killed 3 & wounded one guerrilla that same night.---
but my papers at an end, won't you please tell mother this news? hoping that this letter will reach you & yours in the same state of health as it now leaves me I remain your True friend Charles Hullweber
my address
C. Hullweber.
Camp near Memphis Tens.
Co A 44 Io. Inft.
care of Capt.
Markell
To follow the Regiment
be sure to put all this on.
How's my flowers now? Was very glad about the yellow rose you sent me.
P.S. Lizzie tell my folks my kinets regards & to send me some postage stamps in there next letter.
P.S. You must excuse my very good writing Charlie.
Give my best respects to brother Charley & also to E. Klingenberg.--do write soon--
I spose we shall stay here, the talk is that we shall do picket duty all our time.
Lizzie give my kind regards to all the girls; & especially to your parents. Claus sends his to you.
The rumors are to night that we are going on a skouting party, after Forrest.