d as every one's pockets were well filled, the morning was spent
feeding at saloons, restaurants, etc., too many indulging too freely in
the debasing cup. As we expected to unload soon, I did not leave till
after dinner, when I with Griff strolled through town, seeing sights.
Nashville is a busy business mart. Mounted the dome of the state
capitol. The scene from it is most picturesque, nearly three hundred
feet above the silverlike Cumberland, which winds nearly around the
city. This is spread over a large tract of ground, five miles long from
north to south.

4 P. M. We were drawn up to a platform and by night we were unloaded.
Made our beds down as best we could, and retired neath a frowning sky
which I fear will drench us before morning.

[Sidenote: 1864 Stringent Orders]

Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 15. It was not yet midnight when the rains
fell, and the winds blew. By 2 A. M. I was thoroughly soaked so I had to
get up and the police admitted us into the depot. Read from Scott's
_Ivanhoe_ till morning by gaslight, rain still falling in torrents.
After breakfast six post teams came to take us to camp, Cogswell's
horses to take our battery. About noon we were left in an open field on
a pretty knoll two miles west of town, with instructions not to touch
board, rail or tree under penalty of court-martial. Here we were this
cold morning in a muddy field with nothing to strike a light or hardly
stake a tent. This was decidedly tough for "old sogers" who had been
used to draw comfort from blazing rail heaps in times like this. But
they say it is loyal Tennessee, and property must be respected. Very
well. But they should provide something for our comfort, if we are
privates. We stretched our tents, got a cold grub, no fire to cook
coffee. Late in the evening Sergeant Malish came with two loads of cord
wood. We drew it at the rate of 1/6 cord to a man per month.

Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 16. Slept warm in our wedge tents. One of the
batteries that camped here, gone up the Cumberland River with two weeks'
rations to get out lumber for quarters. We would have gone had we had a
commissioned officer to take charge of us. On detail this morning.
Carried a load of halters to town to draw mules but the "something"
failed as usual, and I had to carry back my load. Found mail in camp, a
goodly share for me which added greatly to my comfort. Tried to write a
hastily written letter home, but my fingers were cold and stiff. Drew