ey disregard and trample upon that
law which gave all protection, and plunge the country into war, why
should we be perpetually hindered and thwarted in our efforts to secure
peace by our care for those whom they have abandoned? If we make the
country through which we pass furnish supplies to our army, the
inhabitants will have less to furnish our enemies. The surplus products
of the country should be gathered into the Federal granaries, so that
they could not, by possibility, go to feed the rebels. The loyal and
innocent might occasionally and for the present suffer, but peace when
once established would afford ample opportunity to investigate and repay
these sufferers. Shall we continue to protect the property of our
enemies, and lose the lives of our friends? It is said that it is hard
to deprive men of their horses, cattle, grain, simply because they
differ from us in opinion; but is it not harder still to deprive men of
their lives for the same reason? The opinions from which we differ in
this instance are treasonable. The man who, of his own free will,
supplies the wood is no whit better than he who kindles the fire; and
the man who supplies the ammunition neither better nor worse than he who
does the killing. The severest punishment should be inflicted upon the
soldier who appropriates either private or public property to his own
use; but the Government should lay its mailed hand upon treasonable
communities, and teach them that war is no holiday pastime.

19. Returned to Huntsville this afternoon; General Garfield with me. He
will visit our quarters to-morrow and dine with us.

General Rousseau has been assigned to the command of our division. I am
glad to hear that he discards the rose-water policy of General Buell
under his nose, and is a great deal more thorough and severe in his
treatment of rebels than General Mitchell. He sent the Rev. Mr. Ross to
jail to-day for preaching a secession sermon last Sunday. He damns the
rebel sympathizers, and says if the negro stands in the way of the Union
he must get out. Rousseau is a Kentuckian, and it is very encouraging to
learn that he talks as he does.

Turchin has been made a brigadier.

21. An order issued late last evening transferring our court from Athens
to Huntsville.

Colonel Turchin's case is still before us. No official notice of his
promotion has been communicated to the court.

23. Garfield and Ammen are our guests. They are sitting with Colonel
Ke