is morning.
Returning, we were joined by Colonel Nicholas, Second Kentucky; Colonel
Hobart, Twenty-first Wisconsin, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bingham, First
Wisconsin, all of whom took dinner with me. We had a right pleasant
party, but rather boisterous, possibly, for the Sabbath day.

There is at this moment a lively discussion in progress in the cook's
tent, between two African gentlemen, in regard to military affairs. Old
Hason says: "Oh, hush, darkey!" Buckner replies: "Yer done no what'r
talkin' about, nigger." "I'll bet yer a thousand dollars." "Hush! yer
ain't got five cents." "Gor way, yer don't no nuffin'." And so the
debate continues; but, like many others, leads simply to confusion and
bitterness.

20. This evening an order came transferring my brigade to Negley's
division. It will be known hereafter as the Second Brigade, Second
Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.

28. Late last Monday night an officer from Stokes' battery reported to
me for duty. I told him I had received no orders, and knew of no reason
why he should report to me, and that in all probability General Samuel
Beatty, of Van Cleve's division, was the person to whom he should
report. I regarded the matter as simply one of the many blunders which
were occurring because there were two men of the same name and rank
commanding brigades in this army; and so, soon after the officer left, I
went to bed. Before I had gotten fairly to sleep, some one knocked again
at my tent-door. While rising to strike a light the person entered, and
said that he had been ordered to report to me. Supposing it to be the
officer of the battery persisting in his mistake, I replied as before,
and then turned over and went to sleep. I thought no more of the matter
until 11:30 A. M. next day, when an order came which should have been
delivered twenty-four hours before, requiring me to get my brigade in
readiness, and with one regiment of Colonel Harker's command and the
Chicago Board of Trade Battery, move toward Nashville at two o'clock
Tuesday morning. Then, of course, I knew why the two officers had
reported to me on the night previous, and saw that there had been an
inexcusable delay in the transmission of the order to me. Giving the
necessary directions to the regimental commanders, and sending notice to
Harker and the battery, I proceeded with all dispatch direct to
Department head-quarters, whence the order had issued, to explain the
delay. When I entered General Rosecra