. T. Mendenhall, Assistant Surgeon of Hospital No. 5, of
lawful age, who, being duly sworn, on oath says that he is
acquainted with Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean;
that said parties are of legal age to marry, without the
consent of their parents or guardians, and that he knows of
no lawful reason why said parties should not marry.

[Signed] W. T. MENDENHALL.
Subscribed and sworn to this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863.

WILLIAM M. WILES,
Major and Provost-Marshal-General,
Department of the Cumberland.

[Illustration: Seal]

Now, therefore, I, William M. Wiles, Major of 44th Indiana Volunteers,
and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, in
consideration of the fact that this county has been placed under
military law, and civil courts and laws, with their officers, are not
in existence, do empower John Hogarth Lozier, a regularly ordained
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Chaplain of the 37th
Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to join in _Holy Matrimony_ the
above-named parties, and this shall be his full and proper authority
for so doing.

Given this 12th day of May, A. D., 1863. Witness my hand and seal, the
day and year above mentioned,

W. M. WILES,
Major and Provost-Marshal-General,
Department of the Cumberland.

[Illustration: Seal L. S.]

Accordingly the happy pair, together with a large concourse of
officers and soldiers, and a delightful sprinkling of pretty Northern
belles, met on the battle-field, in a grove on the banks of Stone
River, on the precise spot where the bridegroom, with his regiment,
the noble 15th Indiana, fought on the memorable 31st of December. A
large, flat rock stood up prominently, and upon this the bride and
groom, with their attendants, and the chaplain, took their position,
while an eager throng gathered around to witness the interesting
ceremony. After announcing the "license," as above given, the chaplain
asked the usual questions as to "objections." There was a moment's
silence, in which, if any man had dared to object, he would have done
so at the peril of an immediate "plunging bath" in Stone River, for
the boys were determined to see the ceremony c