ys, in Cowan's Battery; and Ed.
Hoops, in Tenth Mississippi. They were all apparently well when I
saw them last, and inquired particularly of you.

"Respectfully Yours,

"----"

I enclose a letter that we received from General Clayton on a copy of
the letter to the captain, with an extract from the general's report
of the battle of New Hope Church:

"HEADQUARTERS, CLAYTON'S BRIGADE,

"June 7, 1864.

"CAPTAIN,--I take pleasure in making for you the following extract
from my report of the battle of New Hope Church. With renewed
expression of the profoundest acknowledgments for the signal
service you did the country, and particularly my brigade, of which
every officer and man speak in the highest terms,

"Believe me, dear captain,

"Yours always,

"A.D. CLAYTON,

"Brigadier-General."

("_Extract._")

"For its conduct in the engagement too much praise cannot be
awarded to Fenner's Louisiana Battery, which occupied a position
along my line. Although the enemy came within fifty or sixty yards
of the guns, every officer and man stood bravely to his post."

The following letter describing a Christmas dinner in 1864 presents
so true a picture of the situation, and at the same time so well
illustrates the soldierly spirit of the battery, that I publish it in
full:

"RIENZA, MISSISSIPPI, January 4, 1865.

"MY DEAR MOTHER,--An opportunity of writing now offers,--the first
since our leaving Florence, before going on our Tennessee campaign,
which has finally terminated so disastrously for us. Had orders
been obeyed and carried out at Spring Hill, there never would have
been a fight at Nashville. By some misunderstanding, the Yankee
army was allowed to cross at the above-named place without being
attacked. We followed on their tracks to Franklin, picking up
stragglers and prisoners all along the way, to the amount of
several hundred.

"We left Columbia at daylight, marched twenty-three miles, and
fought the battle of Franklin before dark. Our battery did not take
part in the battle: we were in position, but, owing to the close
proximity of the two armies, could not fire,--we were under fire,
but no one was hurt. Stewart's and Cheatam's Corps with one
division from our corps, fought the battle. I passed over the field
next morning and saw _enough_ for never wanting to see another such
field. The men were actually lying in some portions o