ns shook hands with me cordially,
and seemed pleased to see me; but I had no sooner announced my business,
and informed him that the order had been delivered to me not ten minutes
before, than he flew into a violent passion, and asked if a battery and
regiment had not reported to me the night before. I replied yes, and
was proceeding to give my reasons for supposing that the officers
reporting them were in error, when he shouted: "Why, in hell and
damnation, did you not mount your horse and come to head-quarters to
inquire what it meant?" I undertook again to tell him I had received no
order, and as my brigade had been detailed to work on fortifications I
was expecting none; that I had taken it for granted that it was another
of the many mistakes occurring constantly because there were two
officers of the same name and rank in the army, and had so told the
parties reporting; but he would not listen to me. His face was inflamed
with anger, his rage uncontrollable, his language most ungentlemanly,
abusive, and insulting. Garfield and many officers, commissioned and
non-commissioned, and possibly not a few civilians, were present to
witness my humiliation. For an instant I was tempted to strike him; but
my better sense checked me. I turned on my heel and left the room. Death
would have had few terrors for me just then. I had never felt such
bitter mortification before, and it seemed to me that I was utterly and
irreparably disgraced. However, I had a duty to perform, and while in
the execution of that I would have time to think.

My brigade, one regiment of Colonel Harker's brigade, and the Chicago
Board of Trade Battery, were already on the road. We marched rapidly,
and that night (Tuesday) encamped in the woods north of Lavergne. Rain
fell most of the night; but the men had shelter tents, and I passed the
time comfortably in a wagon. The next morning at daylight we started
again, and a little after sunrise arrived at Scrougeville. Here my
orders directed me to halt and watch the movements of the enemy. The
rebel cavalry, in pretty strong force, had been in the vicinity during
the day and evening before; but on learning of our approach had galloped
away. We were exceedingly active, and scoured the country for miles
around, but did not succeed in getting sight of even one of these
dashing cavaliers.

The sky cleared, the weather became delightful, and the five days spent
in the neighborhood of Scrougeville were very agree