p, and then
it went a-whirring. Started out about 10 A. M., dinner in haversack,
crossed the ridge, turned out in a delightful nook among the hills,
shady and cool, ate our hard-tack by the cooling spring, and returned to
camp by 2 P. M. Drew clothing. Hope it is the last time for me. Wrote
two long letters. Am tired.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, June 6. A short foot drill in the morning. On
guard at night. Has been an awful hot day. A good deal of "muster-out
talk." Lieutenant Simpson received a captain's commission this morning.
No one dissatisfied.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 7. Rained a very little last night but not
enough to settle the dust. Battery went out to drill, I was on post at
the time. Johnny Evans called to bid good-bye, they started for
Nashville to-day. Very sultry in midday. I was allowed to sit in the
shade and watch the guns, an accommodation seldom granted by officers.

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 8. A very hot day. Health very good. Nothing
new, one way or another. Received a letter from Thomas which he called
"last." Expects me home in a few days. All those whose terms of service
expire prior to October 1, are being mustered out at this post except
artillery reserve. We are treated with silent contempt or provoking
indifference, at least no orders touching us appear.

[Sidenote: 1865 An Explosion]

Chattanooga, Friday, June 9. This afternoon a terrible explosion and
fire broke out in town about 1 P. M. The large building on the levee,
filled with artillery ammunition, took fire from an engine standing by.
The reports of bursting shell were heard continuously, and flames and
smoke rolled up with great fearfulness. I went down in time to see giant
flames envelop 400 feet of warehouses, filled with forage and rations,
while the explosions of ammunition, with the fact that a still larger
arsenal laid adjacent, liable to blow up at any moment, caused great
consternation among the citizens, women and children fleeing in dismay.
But the military were cool and on the ground. Guards spread all over
town taking in all within their reach to work on the fire engines.
Assembly sounded in all the camp, and the reserve artillery, as indeed
all others needed, marched down en masse. I followed the 6th. We reached
the river bank, one engine playing on one end of the military bridge,
which was in imminent danger of taking fire, another working on the roof
of the brick arsenal containing 750,000 tons of sma