ated. The melon had a cross (+) on the rind.
I enquired of the negro who brought it in, what the mark meant, and he
replied, "de patch war owned principally by a good many niggars, sah,
an' dey dewided dem afore day got ripe, an' put de mark on de rine, to
show dat de p'tic'lar melon belonged to a p'tic'lar niggar, sah."

Governor Tod is damaging the old regiments by injudicious promotions. He
does in some instances, it is true, reward faithful soldiers; but often
complaining, unwilling, incompetent fellows are promoted, who get upon
the sick list to avoid duty; lay upon their backs when they should be on
their feet, and are carousing when they should be asleep. On the march,
instead of pushing along resolutely at the head of their command, they
fall back and get into an ambulance. The troops have no confidence in
them; their presence renders a whole company worthless, and this company
contributes greatly to the demoralization of a regiment.

22. A little vine has crept into my tent and put out a handsome flower.

General Buell and staff, with bag and baggage, left this morning.

25. Ordered to move.

29. We are at Decherd, Tennessee. I am weak, discouraged, and worn out
with idleness.

The negroes are busily engaged throwing up earth works and building
stockades. To-night, as they were in line, I stopped a moment to hear
the sergeant call the roll, "Scipio McDonald." "Here I is, sah."
"Caesar--Caesar McDonald." "Caesar was 'sleep las' I saw ob him, sah."
These negroes take the family name of their masters.

The whole army is concentrated here, or near here; but nobody knows
anything, except that the water is bad, whisky scarce, dust abundant,
and the air loaded with the scent and melody of a thousand mules. These
long-eared creatures give us every variety of sound of which they are
capable, from the deep bass bray to the most attenuated whinny.

The Thirty-third Ohio was shelled out of its fortifications at Battle
creek yesterday. Colonel Moore is in the adjoining tent, giving an
account of his trials and tribulations to Shanks of the New York Herald.

Fifty of the Third, under Lieutenant Carpenter, went to Stevenson
yesterday; on their return they were fired upon by guerrillas. Jack
Boston shot a man and captured a horse.

SEPTEMBER, 1862.

4. Army has fallen back to Murfreesboro.

5. At Nashville.

6. To-night we cross the Cumberland.

7. Bivouacked in Edgefield, at the north end of the railro