medical director of the 15th Corps, seeing after the sanitary condition
of the troops. A short drill at parade and got through without incurring
the displeasure of the commanding officer. Broke ranks to receive an
unusually large mail, which was soon dealt out to the eager soldier
boys. Some went away light-hearted, others sorely disappointed.

Huntsville, Friday, Feb. 5. Rainy day, consequently no drill. Laid in
quarters all day reading papers received from home. No mail, no news.
Poor fare makes such days as these hang heavily and moodily, and I found
it uncommon hard to keep a cheerful face upon it. All the disagreeable
things seemed to be heaped up for my particular benefit. But I did not
allow my feelings much sway and amused myself in reading, which always
has a charm for me, and went to bed at night with a satisfied but a
homesick heart.

[Sidenote: 1864 Novel Reading]

Huntsville, Saturday, Feb. 6. A wet night and muddy morning. On
guard--to appear on guard mounting with polished boots, all things
accordingly. Spent the hours not on duty reading Ned Buntline's
thrilling tale of the times _Ella Adams_. One hundred horses distributed
to the three Batteries by chief of artillery, having received them from
Nashville. We had thirty-two beautiful animals, large and fat. ---- and
J. Keller returned, the former after five months' confinement in
military prison at Vicksburg, the other from hospital, wounded at
Champion Hills. They were gladly welcomed.

Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 7. Rough night for the guard. Rainy and cold.
The countersign "Vicksburg" which gave rise to musings which aided in
forgetting time. Relieved at 9 A. M. Attended church in company with
Griff, E. W. and D. J. D. Service was held in the Methodist,
Presbyterian and Episcopal churches at the same hour (10 A. M.)
Curiosity prompted to attend the latter, an elegant furnished church of
unique construction, Gothic style, poorly arranged for sound. The
civilians were apparently of the aristocratic class, mostly women,
equalling the military in numbers. The white-robed minister was a young
intelligent Irishman, I should judge. A good choir with the deep-toned
organ opened the service with fitting music, after which prayers were
read and ceremonies performed for nearly an hour and a half, which to me
was mere mockery of religion, reading their desires to God from an
established formula, but careful always to omit the prayer for the
President of t