Reached this place at 4 P. M. wet, footsore, and quite hungry, and had
to wait until after night for rations. 3rd Brigade to go in winter
quarters. Plenty of cedar rails.

Larkinsville, Sunday, Dec. 27. Rain, rain, all last night, and to-day I
was on guard. Stood with toothache and swollen right side of face in no
pleasant mood. Felt cross and lonesome. Foragers sent after corn.
Returned with plenty of fresh meat, etc. Larkinsville is situated in a
very fertile valley, and citizens well disposed and loyal. Forty miles
east of Huntsville, twenty-two west of Stevenson and two hundred
twenty-six east of Memphis. 3rd Brigade and 12th Battery busy at work
hauling stones, timber, etc. for winter quarters.

Larkinsville, Monday, Dec. 28. Rain ceased and sky cleared off. Sun
shone down on mud six inches deep on level. Camping ground staked out
and tents ordered to be moved into position. Blake gone out after fresh
meat. Dixon and Evie started after cedar timber to wall the tent. I
snaked them down with horse team. By night we had tent up, four feet red
cedar logs with bed of cedar boughs. Rather cold bed. Blake and Snyder
[Seiders?] returned with half a porker. Snyder [Seiders?] changed with
Schmidt and came into our mess and tent.

Larkinsville, Tuesday, Dec. 29. Warm and pleasant. Long train sent
foraging under escort. Snyder sent on detail. Hauled stone from bluff
and put up fireplace and chimney, mudded up, etc. Streets of the Battery
presenting a lively appearance, men's sleeves rolled up, coats off,
rolling stones, chopping, making mud buildings of every fancy and
description to suit the proprietors. Soldiers are not lazy when they
work for their own immediate interest.

4 P. M. Snyder's [Seiders?] horses led into camp by infantry men loaded
with five hogs, twenty-six chickens. Guards took him to headquarters,
but he outgeneraled them by sending off the game which they wanted,
therefore he was returned.

Larkinsville, Wednesday, Dec. 30. Cold and cloudy day. I suffered much
from neuralgia and toothache, from which I could get no rest. Dressed
the two hogs brought yesterday, and salted them. The chickens hung up
for New Year's. We drew rations for the tent and cooked at the
fireplace, a family of our own. Camp still busy improving. Women and
boys in camp trading cornbread off for coffee and salt, etc. with the
soldiers. Eight hundred rounds of powder ammunition received by
Lieutenant Clark for new battery. Un