on, and said
it won him his stars. I told him I was exceedingly anxious to get home;
that it seemed almost impossible for me to remain longer. He said that
I must continue until they made me a major-general. I replied that I
neither expected nor desired promotion.

At the river I met Father Stanley, of the Eighteenth Ohio. He presides
over the swing ferry, in which he takes especial delight. A long rope,
fastened to a stake in the middle of the river, is attached to the boat,
and the current is made to swing it from one shore to the other.

14. My fleet-footed black horse is dead. Did the new moon, which I saw
so squarely over my left shoulder when riding him over Waldron's ridge,
augur this?

The rebel journals are expressing great dissatisfaction at Bragg's
failure to take Chattanooga, and insist upon his doing so without
further delay. On the other hand, the authorities at Washington are
probably urging Grant to move, fearing if he does not that Burnside will
be overwhelmed. Thus both generals must do something soon in order to
satisfy their respective masters. There will be a battle or a foot-race
within a week or two.

15. Have read Whitelaw Reid's statement of the causes of Rosecrans'
removal. He is, I presume, in the main correct. Investigation will show
that the army could have gotten into Chattanooga without a battle on the
Chickamauga. There would have been a battle here, doubtless, and defeat
would have resulted probably in our destruction; yet it seems reasonable
to suppose that, if able to hold Chattanooga after defeat, we would have
been able to do so before.

MISSION RIDGE.

20. Orders have been issued, and to-morrow a great battle will be
fought. May God be with our army and favor us with a substantial
victory! My brigade will move at daylight. It is now getting ready.

Order to move countermanded at midnight.

22. The day is delightful. Lookout and Moccasin are furious. The
Eleventh Corps (Howard's) is now crossing the pontoon bridge, just below
and before us, to take position for to-morrow's engagement. Sherman is
also moving up the river on the north side, with a view to getting at
the enemy's right flank. My brigade will be under arms at daylight, and
ready to move. Our division will operate with Sherman on the left.
Hitherto I have gone into battle almost without knowing it; now we are
about to bring on a terrible conflict, and have abundant time for
reflection. I can not affirm that the