y blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy praise."

By his timely arrival General Mitchell cut a division of rebel troops in
two. Four thousand got by, and were thus enabled to join the rebel army
at Corinth, while about the same number were obliged to return to
Chattanooga.

20. At Decatur. The Memphis and Charleston Railroad crosses the
Tennessee river at this point. The town is a dilapidated old concern, as
ugly as Huntsville is handsome.

There is a canebrake near the camp, and every soldier in the regiment
has provided himself with a fishing-rod; very long, straight, beautiful
rods they are, too.

The white rebel, who has done his utmost to bring about the rebellion,
is lionized, called a plucky fellow, a great man, while the negro, who
welcomes us, who is ready to peril his life to aid us, is kicked,
cuffed, and driven back to his master, there to be scourged for his
kindness to us. Billy, my servant, tells me that a colored man was
whipped to death by a planter who lives near here, for giving
information to our men. I do not doubt it. We worm out of these poor
creatures a knowledge of the places where stores are secreted, or compel
them to serve as guides, and then turn them out to be scourged or
murdered. There must be a change in this regard before we shall be
worthy of success.

21. A detachment went to Somerville yesterday. While searching for
buried arms forty-two hundred dollars, in gold, silver, and bank-notes,
were found. The money is, undoubtedly, private property, and will, I
presume, be returned to the owner.

Fine, large fish are caught in the Tennessee. We have a buffalo for
supper--a good sort of fish--weighing six pounds.

General Mitchell has been made a Major-General. He is a deserving
officer. No other man with so few troops has ventured so far into the
enemy's country, and accomplished so much. Battles if they result
favorably are great helps to the cause, but the general who by a bold
dash accomplishes equally important results, without loss of life, is
entitled to as great praise certainly as he who fights and wins a
victory.

Colonel Keifer and I have been on horseback most of the afternoon,
examining all the roads leading from Decatur. On our way back to camp we
called at Mr. Rather's. He was a member of the Alabama Senate, favored
the secession movement, but claims now to be heartily sorry for it. He
received us cordially; introduced us to Mrs. Rather, brought in wine of