s in
town, paying from six to ten dollars. We must get one to-morrow if
possible. Strict orders issued to us from Major * * * headed Camp Barry.
None allowed to go to town without his pass. Four roll calls a day.

Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 23. Some warmer to-day and groups could be
seen about noon sunning themselves outside. Dan and Griff went to town
early, and returned with a small sheet iron stove, about the size of an
inverted camp kettle, $5.00 worth. But it is a prodigy of comfort. In
ten minutes we had it blazing and the tent so warm as to be
uncomfortable. About dusk a cedar rail mysteriously found its way into
our tent, and was speedily converted into wood, nobody knows how, of
course.

[Sidenote: 1864 Feeding an Army]

Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 24. A still cold night, froze very hard this
morning. I think it is ten degrees below zero. Boys skating on ponds,
like old times. Detailed early to go after beef. Had to go and obtain
post team, then to the slaughter yard located on the Cumberland River.
When we reached it we found there was a string of wagons twenty rods
long ahead of us, and we had to wait our turn, which did not come before
3 P. M. and we had a good chance to see the magnitude of the work
carried on here daily. About one hundred eighty two butchers at work all
the time, fifty-four beeves killed before 12 M. An animal would be
knocked down and nearly skinned before he was dead, it being weighed out
as fast as killed. One hundred thousand rations issued by the government
daily. Reached camp in time to eat a good supper and to find no mail for
me.

An opportunity offered Griff and me to attend the theatre where the
celebrated Alice Kingsbury (Maggie Mitchell) played the part of
"Cricket" in the drama called _Fanchon_. To me it was highly interesting
to observe how near art could approach nature. Stage scenery was almost
life-like, the grassy woods, shady woodland and bubbling brook, all
seemed more real than I could believe possible. As for Alice, she was
the principal actress for three hours, and well did she play her part as
a poor befriended orphan and an accomplished lady. Anger, sorrow and
love depicted with great truthfulness.

Nashville, Friday, Nov. 25. A very nice day. On guard once more. Battery
C, 1st Missouri, struck their tents right in front of ours this
afternoon. We cannot move camp to its proper place, because there are
other batteries in the way. Was happy to meet Knapp a