ago boxes, and flour at a neighboring
mill, which had furnished flour to secessionists through the war
until now. Great multitudes were fed from these rude kitchens.
Companies of hungry soldiers were refreshed before those open
fire-places, and from those ovens. On one occasion, a citizen came
and told the men to follow him, he would show them a reserve of
beef and sheep which had been provided for General Bragg's army,
and about thirty head of cattle and twenty sheep was the prize.
Large potash kettles were found, which were used over the huge log
fires, and various kitchen utensils for cooking were brought into
camp from time to time, almost every day adding to our
conveniences. After four weeks of toil and labor, all the soldiers
who were able to leave were furloughed home, and the rest brought
to the large hospital where I am now located. About nine hundred
men are here, most of them convalescents, and waiting anxiously to
have the men and mules supplied with food, so that they may have
the benefit of the cars, which have been promised to take them
home.

"There was great joy in the encampment last week, at the
announcement of the arrival of a train of cars from Bridgeport. You
at home can have little appreciation of the feelings of the men as
that sound greeted their ears. Our poor soldiers had been reduced
to half and quarter rations for weeks, and those of the poorest
quality. The mules had fallen by the wayside from very starvation.
You cannot go a mile in any direction without seeing these animals
lying dead from starvation--and this state of things had to
continue until the railroad was finished to Chattanooga, and the
cars could bring in sustenance for man and beast. You will not
wonder then at the huzzas of the men in the hospitals and camps, as
the whistle of the long looked for train was heard.

"The most harrowing scenes are daily witnessed here. A wife came on
yesterday only to learn that her dear husband had died the morning
previous. Her lamentations were heart-breaking. 'Why could he not
have lived until I came? Why?' In the evening came a sister, whose
aged parents had sent her to search for their only son. She also
came too late. The brother had gone to the soldier's grave two days
previous. One continued wail of sorrow g