hich has been allowed to balk at every hill, one portion will make
strenuous efforts to advance, whilst the other will refuse to move,
and thus paralyze the exertions of the first. Moreover, it will
work faultlessly one day and stall the next. No reliance can be
placed upon it at any stated time. Thus it was with the army when
ordered into a general engagement, one corps struggled nobly,
whilst the neighboring corps frustrated its efforts by simple
inactivity; and whilst the entire Army might fight desperately one
day, it would fail in action the following day. Stewart's gallant
attack on the 20th was neutralized by Hardee's inertness on the
right; and the failure in the battle of the 22d is to be attributed
also to the effect of the 'timid defensive' policy of this officer,
who, although a brave and gallant soldier, neglected to obey
orders, and swung away, totally independent of the main body of the
Army."

Time softens and alleviates all troubles, and this was no exception.
But the winter was a very gloomy one: my heart was constantly
oppressed by witnessing suffering I could not relieve, needs which
could not be met. The efforts of the foragers, combined with my own
purchases from country wagons (although Dr. Beatty was liberal in his
orders, and I spent every cent I could get), were utterly
insufficient, although the officers of this camp-hospital were
self-denying, and all luxuries were reserved for the sick. I hit upon
an expedient to vary the rations a little, which found favor with the
whole camp. The beef was simply atrocious. I had it cut into slices,
let it lie in salt with a sprinkling of vinegar for a day, then hung
the pieces up the chimneys until it was smoked. I first tried it in my
own cabin, found it an improvement, and so had a quantity prepared for
the hungry wounded. And so these dark days sped on, bringing, in due
time,

THE LAST CONFEDERATE CHRISTMAS.

I will here subjoin an article originally written for the _Southern
Bivouac_, which will give my readers an idea of how the Christmas-tide
was spent.

For some time previous I had been revolving in my mind various plans
for the celebration of Christmas by making some addition to the diet
of the sick and wounded soldiers then under my charge. But, plan as I
would, the stubborn facts in the case rose up to confront me, and I
failed to see just how to accomplish my wishes. We were then located
at Lauderdale Springs,