Clark, George W. (fl. 1863-1865) to his mother

[draft]

29 January 1865, In Winter Quarters
Near Grovelly Springs, AL
My Dear Mother
You will see by the heading above that we are in Alabama and not in Mississippi. When within fourteen miles of Eastport we received orders to proceed to the above named place, which is on the Tenn. River and seven miles from Eastport and also fourteen miles from Florence. There is no place here, but two or three houses and a levee when the boats land. We are in the extreme northwest corner of Ala. Miss. Is just across the river and is full view. Our march from Nashville to this place was one of the most disagreeable & have ever experienced during my military career. Some days it would rain and before might the weather would change and freeze our clothes to our backs. In the morning there would be four or six inches of snow and the ground frozen rendering the roads almost impossible. We were fourteen days making this march and all were glad when it was ended. We arrived here on the 24 inst and have since been busy erecting quarters for men and horses. I was fortunate enough to find my well ? and stove which was sent round from by boat from Louisville and with them our quite comfortable situated. The weather for the last few days has been pleasant but chilly and raw. There is some fifteen thousand cavalry here under Gen. Wilson chief of cav. And are all in Winter Quarters with some prospect of our remaining here for sometime. I forgot to tell you before that which coming thru KY. I froze all of my toes and have suffered considerable with them.
For the last five days we have been without rations and have been obliged to subsist on parched corn, which is a wholesome diet but not much desired by us. The reasons of this is the more arrival of the fleet and at present there is no prospect of its early arrival. Today one pound to a man of corn meal was issued and we had mush and corn coffee for supper. Today as Gen. Wilson was riding by the 4th Ohio of our brigade, the men cried "hard tack" and "sour belly" at him, when he caused the regt to be put under arms and ordered Col. Minly to place his whole brigade under arms and to remain so until further orders. He called it a display of insubordination. The men are almost starved and I for one did not blame them. The officers of our Regt. are much incensed over it and will tender their ? tomorrow in a body. His ? there Greenland and men and officers of our Regt. have to remain under arms and up all night for offenses perpetrated by other Regiments. I have not been released from arrest yet, but expect to be in a few days. Write soon with much love and kisses to baby and all. I remain your aff son, George.