d shingles
per day, is now one watery waste, a turbid torrent rolling with
relentless fury to form with the mighty Father of Waters. Work is
plenty in camp. Policed ground for stables this afternoon, etc.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 8. Another dark day with considerable rain
but not enough to keep us within doors. Have been shoveling hard all day
leveling off stable grounds, and am tired. Will say "no mail" and then
good-night.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 9. Weather unsettled. On guard, second
relief. Health very good, but there are no trains from the North yet to
cheer the drooping spirits. After guard-mounting, the camp assembly
sounded and the whole Company put to work. Kept at it all day, some
putting up houses, others setting posts for stables.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 10. Last night, 8 P. M., I was relieved in
heavy rain. At midnight I entered my tent white with snow, and this
morning 6 A. M. pinched through with cold, everything frozen hard and
very cold, but the sun soon warmed us up a little. Griffith gone off on
guard to Major's headquarters, the others on duty. I alone had nothing
to do all day, and I had some trouble to amuse myself without mail.

[Sidenote: 1865 Thoughts of the Future]

The forenoon I passed reading an excellent volume entitled _The Hills of
the Shatmuck_ a story in which the characters were noted for high
purposes and aims and pure moral interest, a rare exception among
novels, but the book was finished and all the afternoon was given to
thinking and day dreaming. I too once, like "Winthrop," longed to pluck
the precious fruits of knowledge and prepare myself for something high
and ennobling. But the time that I once wished to be spent in the school
room and among books, I have freely devoted to my country. But he, in
spite of obstacles, kept his aim towards the desired point, and
accomplished it nobly. Cannot I too learn much that is to be learned,
and is there not a niche somewhere in this free country that I may
occupy yet with profit to myself and others? "I'll not give up! No grim
despair shall ever forge a chain for me." And I'll try to do my best
though humble it may be.

Chattanooga, Saturday, March 11. 8 A. M. Assembly sounded and our work
apportioned out, I among the digging squad. Worked all day quite hard,
but I was not tired at night for the line was opened, and our mail came
10 A. M. with seven big letters for me, so many that I could hardly find
time t