success the utter defeat of his opponent
and fellow raider, Hood, is insignificant. "The good time's coming."
Eighteen teams out all the afternoon moving batteries.

[Illustration: Entry in Diary, December 20, 1864]

Fort Gillem, Wednesday, Dec. 21. More rain last night, cold this
morning. Griff attended to the domestic affairs, washed our dirty
clothes, etc. In the afternoon I wrote two letters. Snowed and blustered
considerable in the afternoon. Camp is very quiet. The ennui of a
soldier's life is very heavy these disagreeable days, but we amuse
ourselves by reading a great deal aloud. Two thousand five hundred more
prisoners brought in to-day and corralled in jail yard.

Fort Gillem, Thursday, Dec. 22. A cold night. This morning everything
frozen up hard and dry. Detailed to chop wood this forenoon, cold for my
ears and bare hands. All the rest of the day staid close indoors.

[Sidenote: 1864 Hoping To Join Sherman]

Fort Gillem, Friday, Dec. 23. Clear and cold this morning. On guard
again. The detail comes around quite often now. The privates' roll is
decreasing as the officers' increases. Issued clothing. The topic is,
are we included in the late order ordering all detachments belonging
with Sherman to report immediately via New York? Would much like to take
the trip, but would rather wait a couple of months.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 24. A pleasant night on guard though rather
cold. Thawed but little during the day. My health still continues very
good. Camp is all hilarity over the good news from all quarters. It
gives new hopes of the coming dawn. Father Abraham has called for
300,000 more troops. This is right, says the soldier. It shows no
faltering or weakness of resolution on our part, while the Confederacy's
brightest lights are wringing their hands in anguish and despondency.
But it makes me sad that it once more threatens to deprive my loved
parents of their solace and comfort. I pray God that my dear brothers be
spared to stay with them in their old age.

It is Christmas Eve, and I am all alone. Dan and Milt have gone to town.
Griff is on guard. Nobody to interrupt my quiet meditations, and I can
but think of the many happy hearts that now beat in my Northern home, of
those surrounded by friends and relatives and the influence of home. It
is in striking contrast with our situation here, where time glides by so
idly and it seems at times uselessly. I can hardly realize that it is
really C