able
degree of rapidity. The men appear to be in good health and excellent
spirits.

12. We are encamped on Stringer's ridge, on the north side of the
Tennessee, immediately opposite Chattanooga. This morning Colonel
Mitchell and I rode to the picket line of the brigade. The line runs
along the river, opposite and to the north of the point of Lookout
mountain. At the time, a heavy fog rising from the water veiled somewhat
the gigantic proportions of Lookout point, or the nose of Lookout, as it
is sometimes designated. While standing on the bank, at the water's
edge, peering through the mist, to get a better view of two Confederate
soldiers, on the opposite shore, a heavy sound broke from the summit of
Lookout mountain, and a shell went whizzing over into Hooker's camps.
Pretty soon a battery opened on what is called Moccasin point, on the
north side of the river, and replied to Lookout. Later in the day
Moccasin and Lookout got into an angry discussion which lasted two
hours. These two batteries have a special spite at each other, and
almost every day thunder away in the most terrible manner. Lookout
throws his missiles too high and Moccasin too low, so that usually the
only loss sustained by either is in ammunition. Moccasin, however, makes
the biggest noise. The sound of his guns goes crashing and echoing along
the sides of Lookout in a way that must be particularly gratifying to
Moccasin's soul. I fear, however, that both these gigantic gentlemen are
deaf as adders, or they would not so delight in kicking up such a
hellebaloo.

This afternoon I rode over to Chattanooga. Called at the quarters of my
division commander, General Jeff. C. Davis, but found him absent;
stopped at Department Head-quarters and saw General Reynolds, chief of
staff; caught sight of Generals Hooker, Howard, and Gordon Granger. Soon
General Thomas entered the room and shook hands with me. On my way back
to camp I called on General Rousseau; had a long and pleasant
conversation with him. He goes to Nashville to-morrow to assume command
of the District of Tennessee. He does not like the way in which he has
been treated; thinks there is a disposition on the part of those in
authority to shelve him, and that his assignment to Nashville is for the
purpose of letting him down easily. Palmer, who has been assigned to the
command of the Fourteenth Corps, is Rousseau's junior in rank, and this
grinds him. He referred very kindly to the old Third Divisi