rrible suffering from ghastly wounds and bleeding limbs caused
by it. Oh I cannot forget that war is terrible, and I cannot keep my
mind from these saddening thoughts while these stern sounds fall upon my
ear. Of the result we know nothing, but all accept success as the
inevitable result. Before to-morrow morning we may be in the fight.

Fort Gillem, Friday, Dec. 16. Warm and wet night. Mud still increasing,
but the battle progressed. Firing commenced at early dawn, and has
continued with unabated fury till after dark. We lay quiet and
undisturbed. There are nearly enough troops to hold Nashville against
Hood's assault left unemployed around the reserve line. Twenty new
regiments. It is the common opinion of all the Battery, that it has
never listened to heavier and steadier artillery firing for so long a
time. Once in a while the crash of musketry would be louder even than
the artillery, and I could but shudder at the thought of how many must
be falling in the charge, for they undoubtedly are. Fighting continues
to recede. It seemed six miles off last night at sundown, but we have
not heard anything definite. In the midst of this noise of the conflict
I wrote to John. Detail of twenty men sent through the mud to Major's
headquarters this afternoon and marched back again.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 17. Rained terribly last night. The torrents
filled our ditches and swept through the tent, under--or rather
over--our bed, making it decidedly wet. Got up, ate hard-tack, and then
laid down and slept, and took "wet sheet pack" bath at once. Griff on
guard last night in the fort. Induced the infantry guard to let him
carry off lumber enough for bunk under cover of the night, so we need
not fear of wet bed any more. All is quiet this morning. The storm is
over and the papers tell us of the glorious whipping which Hood
received. Fifteen thousand prisoners and 30 cannon the work of
yesterday. To-day he is flying demoralized. No excitement manifested
over the news because it is only as everyone expected.

All the men that could be spared this morning marched under Captain Hood
near Camp Barry and set to work digging post-holes for stables. David
Evans and I were given axes and we "butted" poles all the forenoon.
Chopped hard, and I was tired by dinner time. Did not go back after
dinner. It is mud! muddier! muddiest!

WINTERING AT NASHVILLE

Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 18. Rained all night last night, very warm and