endid spirits. Went out on brigade drill this morning 8 A.
M. Four horse batteries drilled under Major Mendenhall, our chief.
Maneuvered on the nice green flat south of Fort Phelps. The loud voices
of command and the clamor of the bugles, attracted many spectators. The
drill passed off pleasantly and instructive. The 6th Battery under
Lieutenant Sweet did as well as the best. Reached camp by dinner time.

[Sidenote: 1865 Getting Relics]

Never was our camp fuller of grape-vine rumors than now, and I never
knew soldiers under greater excitement. The vague orders of the War
Department in relation to reducing expenses and mustering out the army,
gives all the ground of believing in a speedy discharge, consequently a
hundred different speculations exist. I don't feel any peculiar
exhilaration, but like the rest, I cannot stay long in a place but go
about to hear and talk. Ed Hayes and I procured a section of the mine
laid in bottom of the Tennessee River to Bridgeport during Bragg's
siege, this afternoon. Quite a curiosity.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 2. The sun arose in all its majesty, promising
a splendid day. After breakfast Landen and George Spencer were going on
top of Lookout. They had a pass for three, and invited me to go along.
Having a great desire to visit, I was soon before the officer of the
day, thence to Captain Hood, and the request granted. With a loaf of
bread and tin cup in my haversack, we started.

Delayed till 8 A. M. waiting for pass to go through picket lines. Two
miles brisk walking brought us to the base of the mountain which looked
much more formidable there than from camp. We made the ascent on the
military road which has been blasted and macadamized by Uncle Sam. It
ran zigzag along the east slope of the hill, and not too steep to drive
a team quite readily. Patiently we trudged along around massive piles
of eternal rocks and past beautiful rustic springs of pure cold water,
gushing from solid rocks, partly fixed by the hand of man for the
accommodation of man and beast. The road was lined on both sides with
heavy foliage of living green, with an occasional opening, through which
we could look back on the map-like plat of Chattanooga, with its
well-laid camps, and cool our heated brows with the cool refreshing
breezes.

Up and up we go, ever and anon we pass a notice by the engineer, giving
the elevation above the Tennessee and the distance up to the top. For
over two hours we tugged upwa