o march in morning, but did not move. Cleared off very
pleasantly. Wrote a letter to Albion. Had beefsteak for dinner, having
paid 10 cents per pound. The water we got from a pearly spring but
heavily tainted with mineral so as to be very unpalatable. Much talk
about the disgraceful affair of last night. Happened to be done by
members of the 2nd Division mostly, and it is supposed that General
Smith will assess the damage from the pay of all absentees at last
night's roll call. It will be no more than just. I think that our
Division is getting to be the worst in the Department. Everything is
left unmolested by other troops, but when we come along, jayhawking and
pillaging is the order of the day. It is done by unscrupulous young men
or boys rather, having been removed from all restraint of society and
parents, led into extravagant use of money by the spendthrift, finding
$13 per month too short, they resort to this means to make "a raise". It
is certainly too bad to think that one would so far forget his home and
family as to shock them with their deportment, did they but know.
Lieutenant Simpson returned on 2 P. M. train with supply of nose bags,
halters, ammunition, etc. but no horses, which are the most needed.

Camp on Bear Creek, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 21. Rainy morning. Ready to
move at 10 A. M., but as large wagon train was to go ahead of us and the
roads were slippery, we did not start till noon, all this time being in
a turmoil. I sat in my saddle with my head protruding through the
rubber, moodily wondering if we would ever start. Marched in the center
of the Division about four miles from Iuka. Struck a range of hills, and
our road lay through narrow and crooked valleys, much of the way being
gravelly. Passed very pretty spring brooks, crossed the R. R. about the
state line. A squad of engineers stationed there. Struck Bear Creek 4 P.
M., which is a beautiful stream four rods wide and fordable where
crossed; runs swift over a pebbly bed. Came into camp on the east side
in a valley two miles wide, high ridges on either side, the Battery in a
cultivated field, the tents in a belt of timber. Cooked our supper,
which was of flour and fresh beef and pancakes. Heavy cannonading heard
in front, supposed to be ten miles distant. Cogswell's 1st Chicago
Independent Battery attached to our Division, four guns, James new
pattern, good looking lot of men and horses. Lay down in a damp bed to
take our first night's sleep i