write:Hardin wrote his sister that he felt as thoughhe had landed in “the most out of the way place in theworld. ”1There the Illinois volunteers waited along withregiments from Kent

and tired of drills. It had been only a month since hehad assumed command of the First Illinois Volunteers.Since then
Brigadier General John Ellis Wool
thecommanding ocer of the Central Division
or the Armyof Chihuahua
had taken note of Hardin’s ability to lead
and immediately after his arrival in August had givenhim the command of the Second Illinois as well as theFirst. After a 160-mile march from the coast
Hardin’sIllinois regiments reached Camp Crockett
outside SanAntonio. The once-lively city was decaying and nearlydeserted. Hardin wrote his sister that he felt as thoughhe had landed in “the most out of the way place in theworld.”1There the Illinois volunteers waited
along withregiments from Kentucky and Arkansas
for orders tomove to the front. “There is much monotony in camplife
” Hardin admitted in a letter home to Sarah. Thefood was bad
the weather worse
and his men weregrowing antsy. The nearby ruins of the Alamo beckoned
but pilgrimages to the most holy site of the TexasRevolution only stoked the men’s desire to meet theirenemy.2San Antonio was a desolate place
but it oered everytemptation for a young man to get into trouble. Hardin