r and sister. I am very sleepy
and tired. I hope we will not be disturbed to-night.

Fort Gillem, Monday, Dec. 5. This forenoon a repetition of yesterday.
Surrounded by dissatisfied employees who are working on our defenses.
They are completed, seven feet high and eight feet thick on top. When
settled will be proof against field artillery. The usual amount of
firing on our front, shelling working parties. They throw up works
within five hundred yards of our line, but never dare to reply to our
artillery.

2 P. M. a detachment of the 1st Missouri Artillery relieved us, and we
returned to our old camp. Guns are all in the fort. Very pleasant
weather. Health is good. The only trouble is we eat up our rations
faster than they come.

Fort Gillem, Tuesday, Dec. 6. A pleasant day. Nothing startling.
Artillery firing and skirmishing as usual. Some of our boys have been to
the post line, report the enemy still throwing up works for artillery
and infantry. Camp is full of wild rumors about Forrest's venture
against Nashville, but it is not reliable. Trains arrived from the North
as usual. Wrote to Hannah this afternoon. Captain Hood has received
orders to draw horses. This indicates work ahead of us.

Fort Gillem, Wednesday, Dec. 7. Gunboats fired very briskly last night
for a while. Washed my clothes this morning. 11 A. M. ordered to prepare
to go after horses, eleven men from each platoon to draw eighty-four
horses. But we could get only forty-five, being all there were, most of
them very good ones. I rode a young colt to camp. Others will take care
of them. Happily I am no driver now.

[Sidenote: 1864 A Moral Problem]

Having heard so much of the grand display of new scenery in the new
theatre, Griff obtained permission for us to attend. Arrived there
before the doors were open. The rush was very great, the street crowded
clear across. When the doors opened I was borne on other legs than my
own up two flights of stairs. Still the rush carried me on into the
gallery which was soon filled to overflowing. Many failed to get
admittance. Here we had to wait half an hour for the curtains to rise,
which were filled by the most boisterous and rude demonstrations. I did
not like it. But when the curtains arose all was silent. The play was
the _Naiad Queen_, or _Fairies under the Rhine_, a meaningless piece,
but the most brilliant and beautiful scenes I have ever seen. Dark
grottos with their rocks and caverns inhabited by