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Letter from Adjutant Jobe.
HEADQUARTERS 12TH ILL. INFANTRY,
Camp near Corinth, Miss.,
June 24th, 1862.
DEAR COL.: — What is the matter? Has the Argus forsaken us? I have not seen a copy for a long time. I have not the least doubt in the world that it is mailed regularly, but for some cause or other I do not receive it.
As I stated in my last, we are pleasantly situated, in a healthy location, about two miles from the town of Corinth. I visited that famous place a few days ago, and found it to be a much more pleasantly located place than I had anticipated. It is the ruins of a once flourishing business place. It is now almost entirely deserted, there being but a few of the former inhabitants remaining, and these are the poor whites and a few negroes. The most influential and wealthy citizens have all "skedaddled," leaving their property at the mercy of the "Yankees," who, by the way, take very good care of it. The rebels made terrible havoc of almost everything which they thought would be of any use to us. — There are immense piles of half consumed wagons and commissary stores strewn all over the town, which gives one a good idea of the immense amount of property destroyed previous to the evacuation. We are making preparation for long stay in this region, and it is evident that we will remain in this neighborhood all summer.
The health of the regiment at the present time is very good, there being very few in our hospitals. I had no idea that our northern boys would stand this southern climate so well. We now have brigade drill three mornings in the week, at 4 o'clock in the morning. This morning we were in the field at 4 o'clock and remained until 7 o'clock, which is rather calculated to give a man an appetite for his breakfast.
Although I am now detached from my company, I have frequent communication with it, and my feelings for it are as warm as ever. I like my new position well, and I am getting along finely.
I should like much to visit my friends in Rock Island, but a man stands a poor show for a leave of absence "these troublesome times." The boys of Company D. tender you their sincere regards.
There is nothing transpiring of interest, and it is therefore useless for me to attempt to write an interesting or lengthy letter.
Remember me kindly to all my brother "typos" in the Argus office.
Yours respectfully,
WM. F. JOBE.
Act'g Adj't 12th Ill. Inf'ty.