loaded and stored down town.

Larkinsville, Thursday, Dec. 31. Wet and disagreeable. Rained all night
and day. Water running into our houses so as to threaten drowning us
out. So we stole lumber enough from a deserted house to build us bunks,
E. W. and myself on the upper shelf four feet above, where I laid and
tossed from pain until late; the other bunk underneath. Could not sleep
and I thought of the closing year that we had commenced two hundred
miles west of here on a tedious march from Germantown to Lafayette, and
since then travelled many a hundred miles of rebel country, meeting the
enemy and winning.

[Sidenote: 1864 Reenlistment?]

Larkinsville, Friday, Jan. 1, 1864. The new year came in very cold with
a little snow, the first of the season. Ground frozen several inches in
depth. Veteran enlistments began this morning. John Eagion headed the
list and was followed by eighteen before breakfast, which continued
rapidly through the day accompanied with considerable excitement and
hesitation. Thus New Year's day was spent, a striking contrast to those
that our minds were continually turning to. A good supper for a soldier,
of "chicken fixin" which helped to make us very contented during the
long evening.

Larkinsville, Saturday, Jan. 2. Continued very cold and freezing. Good
fires and comfortable quarters, very essential to keep warm. Captain
Dillon arrived from Nashville, reports battery [of new guns] on the way.
Enlistment yet the talk. I have serious thoughts upon it. I am confident
that it is the best thing for us recruits. Griff, Dan and others in the
same way; if one goes, all go. A dance held down town by "Alabam" gals
and Yankee soldiers. Running rumor afloat that we are to leave our
quarters soon for Huntsville. Don't like it.

Larkinsville, Sunday, Jan. 3. Little warmer to-day. Stormed a little. It
is hoped by many that a sufficient number will enlist so as to return to
the state and reorganize. Forty-eight on the rolls now, ninety-eight
required. Y---- returned to the Battery, having been under guard at
headquarters ever since we left Gilbertsboro. Court-martialed and
punishment read at evening roll call, the loss of two months' pay for
offering violence to superior officers and slandering. Dillon received
orders, it is said, to allow Battery to stay where they are if they are
comfortably quartered.

Larkinsville, Monday, Jan. 4. Rained heavy all night. Cloudy and misty
all day. Many to-d