id.
Skirmish in vicinity of Decatur continues.

Huntsville, Friday, April 22. Health very good. Papers bring us very bad
news from sea, which had quite a depressing effect upon my spirits.
Every reverse retards that anxiously longed for moment when "peace
reigneth". The hottest day of the season by several degrees, an
impressive forerunner of the fire that will soon be upon us. Signed
receipt rolls, would rather it were pay rolls. Sanitary gave us a meal
of kraut and onions. Blessed be the donors.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 23. Worked hard all the forenoon hauling the
refuse from picket rope, but not to enrich the corn field as of old.
Drew twenty-five good new horses direct from Nashville, nearly enough
now. The weather was most disagreeable. Warm and sultry wind all day,
driving the dust in blinding clouds, finding its way through the many
cracks of my bachelor's hall, settling in thick layers of clean dust
upon bed, desk and everything, the dust filling my eyes, etc. Awful!

[Sidenote: 1864 Southern Sermon]

Huntsville, Sunday, April 24. Awoke to hear the rain pattering thick and
fast on the pine boards overhead. At first I was dissatisfied with the
anticipation of a wet day with mud--very blue, but at the thought of
yesterday's dusty ordeal I could but say, "blessed be the rain that
clears the atmosphere and makes all nature look more pleasing when it
ceases." Cleared off into a most delightful day by 9 A. M., and I
listened to a thorough scientific sermon from Dr. Ross upon technical
points, existence of evil. His arguments were very concise and binding.
Although differing in opinion I received many new ideas. He is one of
the leading Southern clergy and formerly a rabid secessionist, and
to-day he touched upon the war, but so nicely that it could not
displease any of his audience which was composed of the two extremes,
viz: Yankee soldiers and secesh women. He sat way up, he said, upon his
faith in God, "looking down upon the struggle with as much composure as
though they were but the convulsions of so many pigmies--God would do it
right". Just found it out I suppose. Two regiments of Osterhaus's
Division marched by toward Decatur this morning with no wagons or
ambulances. Go to the front.

Huntsville, Monday, April 25. A pleasant growing day. Health very good
and "nary" bit discouraged. One year ago to-day we started on the ever
memorable campaign from Millikens Bend which resulted in the glorious