hout seeking the
officers. She drew a large crowd around her soon. Her glowing, welcoming
face, filled with cordiality, had a magnetic influence upon the hearts
of all, such a contrast to the haughty, disdainful looks we are
accustomed to receive from women in general. May God bless her noble,
self-sacrificing spirit, is the soldier's prayer.

Had a most hearty old-fashioned supper of potatoes and onions with
gravy, which was better for our grease-laden systems than loads of
cathartics. We had about twelve pounds of dried apples for our mess of
four. Suddenly this afternoon at 4 P. M. the left Section was ordered to
prepare to move. At 5 P. M., the two pieces left under Lieutenant Hood
with five days' rations. One of my horses sick so I did not have to go.
The other one was taken as extra horse. Lieutenant Clark assumed command
of the Battery and took us out to parade--considerably scarred.

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 30. A fine day, warm, the vegetable
kingdom springing fast. Turned my sick horse out to die this morning.
Obtained a pass of Lieutenant Jenawein to go to the city. Called at
shoemaker's shop, fixed my boots, and took a ramble through the town to
the cemetery, and spent half an hour in meditation among the sacred
dead. There lay, side by side, the rich and the poor. Here are coward,
patriot and traitor. Truly all earthly passes away and leaves but faint
traces behind. Visited an artist's gallery where I saw the most
beautiful works of art I ever saw, representing the human form so
lifelike that it needed but the speech to appear with life. The room was
filled with different scenes, and the cold white marble statuary by them
looked cold and expressionless. Returned to camp weary, but well pleased
with my morning's work. Dinner was over, but they left a rarity of
potatoes, etc.

At dress parade we were looked upon by four Northern ladies, one of whom
was Mother Bickerdyke, having ridden up from town in an ambulance. The
ranks, which before they came under the soft glances of women, were
irregular, steps broken, heads drooping, all carelessness, now closed up
and all moved with true military precision. A natural impulse to please
took hold of them, I guess. After parade they were conducted through
camp examining our quarters, with a pleasant smile and a kind word for
all, spreading sunshine as they went and filling the heart with fond
recollections and pleasing hopes. All were Northern women upon mission