an hour, foot drill, in the
morning.

12 M. Another salute of two hundred guns fired in commemoration of
raising aloft the stars and stripes on the ruined walls of Sumter, where
four years ago to-day the heroic Anderson was obliged to pull it down by
the traitorous crew. To him is the glory of replacing the good old
ensign over that work that now lies in ruins, the fate of all treason.
The soldier heart swells with the same emotion as now stirs the bosom of
our noble President and great Beecher. God bless them and our Country.

[Sidenote: 1865 Stern Thoughts]

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 15. 'Tis night, a beautiful day has just
closed. But alas! a dark pall hangs over our camp. The soldier mourns
the loss of the noblest American of the day. President Abraham Lincoln
has fallen by the hands of a traitorous assassin. 2 P. M. we started out
to graze, each and all light-hearted and merry. But lo! while out near
the foot of Mission Ridge, the stars and stripes over Fort Creighton
were seen to descend to half-mast, and the news reached us as if by
magic of the fall of our noble president. A gloom was cast upon every
one, and silently we returned to camp, still hoping for a contradiction.
But it was too true. The scene that followed was one very seldom seen in
the tented field. But a soldier is not, as many think, wholly void of
feeling. All regarded the loss of him as of a near and dear relative.
Terrible were the oaths and imprecations uttered through clenched teeth
against the vile perpetrators. The black flag of extermination would be
hailed with joy by the soldiers this moment as a just retaliation. Never
before did I feel in favor of such measures, but now I think they
deserve no other. The "extra" containing the short account of the
occurrence has gone the rounds, read in each shanty. Traitors everywhere
will rejoice over this, the crowned heads of Europe will greet it with
joy, but their joy will come to grief. Republican principles will
vindicate their superiority, and pass through this trial wiser and
better for the tribulations they undergo.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 16. A very pleasant day. As we rode to water
this morning, Chattanooga wore a very solemn aspect. The whole town was
draped in mourning, flags tied with black, and white crepe exhibited in
all parts of the town, while the 100-pounder Parrotts high up on Cameron
Hill fired half-hour guns from 5 A. M. till 6 P. M. The gloom of
yesterday still h