the tea-pot with consummate skill, and attacks the
punch with exceeding vigor.

27. No orders to advance. Armies travel slowly indeed. Within fifteen
miles of the enemy and idly rotting in the mud.

Acting Brigadier-General Marrow when informed that Dumont would assume
command of the brigade, became suddenly and violently ill, asked for and
obtained a thirty-day leave.

I would give much to be home with the children during this holiday time;
but unfortunately my health is too good, and will continue so in spite
of me. The Major, poor man, is troubled in the same way.

28. Lieutenant St. John goes to Louisville with a man who was arrested
as a spy; and strange to say the arrest was made at the instance of the
prisoner's uncle, who is a captain in the Union army.

Captain Mitchell assumes command of company C to-morrow. The Colonel is
incensed at the Major and me, because of the Adjutant's promotion. He
intended to make a place in the company for a non-commissioned officer,
who begged money from the boys to buy him a sword. We astonished him,
however, by showing three commissions--one for the Adjutant, and one
each for a first and second lieutenant, all of the company's own
choosing.

30. Called on General Dumont this morning; he is a small man, with a
thin piping voice, but an educated and affable gentleman. Did not make
his acquaintance in West Virginia, he being unwell while there and
confined to his quarters.

This is a peculiar country; there are innumerable caverns, and every few
rods places are found where the crust of the earth appears to have
broken and sunk down hundreds of feet. One mile from camp there is a
large and interesting cave, which has been explored probably by every
soldier of the regiment.

31. General Buell is here, and a grand review took place to-day.

Since we left Elkwater there has been a steadily increasing element of
insubordination manifested in many ways, but notably in an unwillingness
to drill, in stealing from camp and remaining away for days. This, if
tolerated much longer, will demoralize even the best of men and render
the regiment worthless.

JANUARY, 1862.

1. Albert, the cook, was swindled in the purchase of a fowl for our New
Year's dinner; he supposed he was getting a young and tender turkey, but
we find it to be an ancient Shanghai rooster, with flesh as tough as
whitleather. This discovery has cast a shade of melancholy over the
Major.

The boys, out of