[Sidenote: 1865 Tracts Versus Literature]

Chattanooga, Tuesday, Feb. 21. Threatening clouds to be found this
morning instead of the beautiful sunshine, and the day promised to be a
long and lonesome one as we had nothing to read at all. So I obtained a
pass to go and see if the Christian and Sanitary Commissions could do
something toward relieving us from this really pressing need, and as my
mission was made known and I started, I was greeted with a dozen
different voices with "Jenk, bring me something interesting to read." I
first visited the Christian Commission rooms. Here I made my errand
known and the clerk immediately threw piles of papers down from the
well-loaded shelves with "make your selection", but my heart failed me.
Here was nothing but the _American Messenger_, _M. E. Advocate_, Sunday
School papers, etc. in abundance. It was with an effort that I choked
down my indignation, for I knew they were furnished by men who hoped
they would do good, but really, I could not admire their judgment. We
are not a lot of little children with minds too narrow to contemplate
anything deeper than these small "stories with a moral." I would not
take any of them to camp for I knew too well how my comrades were in the
habit of using such. Most of them have no particular religious
convictions, but all have an intellectual turn and are hungering for
something to satisfy it.

With some hopes I again sought the Sanitary [Commission] rooms. I stated
how we were situated and asked the gentlemanly agent for magazines.
"Certainly"--and he brought down from the shelves a pile of dusty
magazines which consisted by count of twelve _Genius of Christianity_,
three or four years old, one _Christian Luminary_ of '58, quite a
variety. Made my selection and started home with one Pittsburg
_Advocate_, one _Genius of Christianity_, one _Christian Luminary_, and
two tracts, disappointed in being obliged to disappoint others. But we
cannot expect much here.

Found on my return a _Christian Enquirer_, and a Madison _State Journal_
from T. L., which I devoured with avidity. No letters yet. The 6th
Badger boys have been playing ball with our next neighbors, Buckeyes,
this afternoon. We beat them three games out of four.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, Feb. 22. The rain has not yet come but it still
threatens, cloudy. A detail is put at clearing off a new camp ground,
where Hospital No. 2 is now. Axes sharpened, etc. To-morrow they say we
begin to p