rts and leads them
to welcome us with extravagant manifestations of joy. They keep time to
the music with feet and hands, and hurrah "fur de ole flag and de
Union," sometimes following us for miles. Parson Strong attempts to do a
little missionary work. A dozen or more negroes stand in a group by the
roadside. Said the Parson to an old man: "My friend, are you
religious?"

"No, massa, I is not; seben of my folks is, an dey is all prayen fur
your side."

Hailing a little knot, I said: "Boys where do you live?"

"Lib wid Massa ----, sah."

"All Union people, I suppose?"

"Dey say dey is, but dey isn't."

One old woman--evidently a great-grandmother in Israel--climbed on the
fence, clapped her hands, shouted for joy, and "bressed de Lord dat dar
was de ole flag agin."

To a colored boy who stole into our lines last night, with his little
bundle under his arm, the Major said: "Doesn't it make you feel bad to
run away from your masters?"

"Oh, no, massa; dey is gone, too."

Reached Murfreesboro in the afternoon.

22. Men at work rebuilding the railroad bridge. General Dumont returns
to Nashville. Colonel Lytle, of the Tenth Ohio, will assume command of
our brigade.

My servant has imposed upon me for about a month. He arises in the
morning when he pleases; prepares my meals when it suits his pleasure,
and is disposed in every thing to make me adapt my business to his own
notions. This morning I became so provoked over his insolence and
laziness that, in a moment of passion, I knocked him down. Since then
there has been a decided improvement in his bearing. The blow seems to
have awakened him to a sense of his duty.

25. So soon as the railroad is repaired, an immense amount of cotton
will be sent East from this section. The crops of two seasons are in the
hands of the producer. We are encamped in a cotton field. Peach trees
are now in bloom, and many early flowers are to be seen.

26. The boys are having a grand cotillion party on the green in front of
my tent, and appear to have entirely forgotten the privations,
hardships, and dangers of soldiering.

The army for a temperate, cleanly, cheerful man, is, I have no doubt,
the healthiest place in the world. The coarse fare provided by the
Government is the most wholesome that can be furnished. The boys
oftenest on the sick list are those who are constantly running to the
sutler's for gingerbread, sweetmeats, raisins, and nuts. They eat
enormous quantities o