[Sidenote: 1865 The National Cemetery]

After dinner Griff and I took a walk to the National Cemetery. Oh,
lovely but sacred spot to him who loves the cause of freedom. It is an
enclosure of about sixty acres, surrounded by a substantial stone fence
in a circular form, it being a sloping hill. The ground is divided off
into circular sections, walks macadamized, graves sodded over, and
flowers and trees, cultivated, graves systematically arranged in rows.
Here lie thousands of the brave defenders of their country's flag, a few
with neatly-carved marble slabs bearing name and regiment, but most of
them were only identified by a rough, pine board fast decaying, and in a
few more months nothing will be left to mark the place where the honored
ashes lie. Could the people North who have friends lying here but know
that the government is doing all in its power to make this beautiful and
permanent would they not at once see that a marble slab would be placed
over the earthly remains of those dear ones that are gone before? I
believe so. Here were many of the Chickamauga heroes, and those who fell
in the memorable battles of Mission Ridge and Chattanooga. Amongst them
I noticed a large number of our brave comrades of the 3rd Division, 15th
Army Corps, who fell in the fearful vortex of the battle on Tunnel Hill.
Here also we found a neatly-printed board, marking the resting place of
Robert Banks, who a few weeks ago was full of hilarity amongst us; and
lately, I suppose, the last of poor Uncle Marden has been consigned to
rest in the lovely spot, the most attractive cemetery I have seen under
government [control.] But we could not find his name. Long we searched
for the grave of my old schoolmate, Amandus Silsby, who died from wounds
received at Kenesaw, but could not find it.

Chattanooga, Monday, May 22. Heavy rains last night. Fair day. Reveille
sounded before four. Were on the drill ground before 6 A. M. for brigade
drill, but the ground being so wet, we were sent back without drilling
any. Three of us with two hatchets reported at Captain Nicklin's
headquarters for duty; he sent us on top of his house to fix the roof
where it was leaking very badly on wife's carpets. We were no mechanics
and I fear did the job very poorly. This is the way they find work for
us to do, now that there is nobody to fight. Very convenient, I suppose
they think.

After noon went out to the hills grazing. The cherries in the orchard
were in fi