Our troops who 27. The command remained quiet at Ringgold. have been to the front at Dalton, are now returning. Colonel Warner takes command of the regiment. 28. Sunday. At 9:30 A. M. we took up our line of march toward Chattanooga. Halted three miles from Ringgold and spent the night in the woods. A fire broke out in the dry leaves in camp and a lively time ensued. 29. Marched at 2:10 P. M., reaching our old camp at Rossville late in the afternoon. Our quarters here, from which we moved on the 7th inst., are still standing. Men of the regiment, who did not march with us from Tyner, came here two days ago and had some things prepared for us upon our arrival. Corporal Baker, who is to take Seely's place in the mess, having recovered of the mumps, has the hall warm and cozy. He had a warm welcome and a good supper for us. It rains. TENTING ON THE OLD CAMP GROUND. We're tenting to-night on the old camp ground, Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts, a song of home And friends we love so dear! CHORUS. Many are the hearts that are weary to-night, Many are the hearts looking for the right, Tenting to-night, tenting to-night, Tenting on the old camp ground. We've been tenting, to-night, on the old camp ground, Thinking of the days gone by; Of the loved ones at home, that gave us the hand, And the tear that said, Good-bye!--Chorus. We are tired of war on the old camp ground; Many are dead and gone, Of the brave and true, who've left their homes; We've been fighting to-day on the old camp ground; Many are lying near Some are dead, and some are dying Many are in tears! CHORUS. Many are the hearts that are weary to-night, Many are the hearts looking for the right, To see the dawn of peace: Dying to-night, dying to-night, Dying on the old camp ground. MARCH, 1864. 1. The Paymaster paid us $26 each to-day. What to do with such a pile of money is a grave question. Recruits are coming in for the different companies. They have good clothes, large knapsacks and unsatiable appetites. This is a bad place for a man who has too much appetite. 5. A rumor prevails in camp that a force of the enemy is at Lee & Gordon's Mills, south of here. We have prepared two day's rations, and expect to go out to see them to-morrow. Green has been sick, but is at his meals again. 6. Sunday. We were in line before day; then stacked arms and ate breakfast. Instead of marching we had general inspection, occupying two hours or more. Later in the day a copy of Christian Banner fell into my hands. In it I find the following: The LEAVE ME AND SAVE THE FLAG. Captain J. M. Wells was slain in the battle of the 20th of September, in North Georgia, He was a Christian gentleman and a noble patriot, as well as a brave soldier. His funeral was preached in Wesley (M. E.) Church, Columbus, Ohio, by his pastor, Rev. Joseph M. Trimble. "In the sermon reference was made to his company bearing the flag of the regiment. When Captain Wells was shot, Sergeant W. P. Souder led him out of the ranks and seated him at the foot of a tree, giving him water once or twice. The Captain urged the Sergeant to leave him and protect the flag. On returning to look after his wounded captain, he found him looking at a daguerreotype picture of his wife and babes. This picture, with his watch and sword, he delivered to his friend, requesting him to send them with his body to his family, telling them he died as a Christian and a soldier. The narration prompted from an officer present the following lines: Protect the flag, our country's flag; Still float it to the weather. The glorious flag-the stars and stripes- 'Farewell, my wife and prattling babes; I feel my life-blood flowing fast; But leave me, boys, and raise the flag, Still floating to the weather. The glorious flag--the stars and stripes-- Columbus, O., Nov. 1, 1863. L. V. B. 8. Captain John Bowersock started home on a twenty-day furlough. The picket was re-enforced last night in anticipation of an attack. Peach trees are in bloom. Sam Bishop will start home to morrow. 13. Sunday. Major Sullivant inspected the regiment to-day. An agent of the Christian Commission preached a good sermon for us. Now and then we get a taste of Sunday. We now have five hundred and sixty-three enlisted men. 15. Bought fifty candles of a member of a Michigan battery, paying $3.25 for them. Had general inspection by Captain David E. Roatch, 98th O. V. I. The arrival of our regimental band this evening created a sensation in camp. The band is organized as follows: Leader, Edward Schellhorn; Second Leader, Clark W. Cottrell; First B Flat, Henry Pfoutch; Second B Flat, Thomas E. Shepherd; First E Flat Alto, Nicholas Shimmel; Second E Flat Alto, Jeremiah Bair; Third E Flat Alto, Raper Ellsworth; First Baritone, John Wolf; Second Baritone, Henry Sillbach; B Bass, John M. Hemphill; First Contra Bass, Daniel R. Taylor; Second Contra Bass, Martin Leonard; Bass Drum, Joseph H. Newcomb; Snare Drum, Joseph Low; Cymbals, Richard Schellhorn. 16. Captain A. L. Shepherd, First Lieutenant William H. Baxter, and Sergeant Monroe Elliott, Company K, arrived in camp and reported for duty. Each of these men has seen service in the 66th O. V. I. Sanitary supplies were distributed to us to-day by lot. Green held a winning ticket, and drew the articles named below: A gilt-edged Testament, two tracts, four sheets of paper, five envelopes, one pencil, skein of thread, paper of tea, piece of courtplaster, piece of soap, paper of pepper, paper of cloves, package of comb, pin cushion, a dozen pins, four These were accompanied by a letter, loaf sugar, ball of yarn, fine needles and a postage stamp. which is here appended: EAST HAMPTON, October 28, 1863. Dear Soldier.-Although you are a stranger to me, I thought I would write you a short letter to send with the comfort bag I have been making for you. I hope these things I have put in it will add a little to your comfort. If they do, I shall be very glad I made it. A gentleman who belongs to the Christian Commission came and spoke to us about the soldiers, and wanted our Sabbath School to make some comfort bags and send to them. So our class of eight little girls have made over thirty. We hope they will do some good. I have some dear friends in the army, and feel an interest in all the soldiers, and I often pray for them. Do you love Jesus, and do you love to pray to him? I hope you do, for I love him, and he is the best friend I have. I hope you love to read about his life, and that you will read my Testament which I send you, and that you will try to live as he wants you to. I hope God will spare your life and bring you to your home again; but if he sees best to have you die, far away from home and friends, I hope Jesus will be with you then, and hope we may meet in heaven. I wish you would answer my little letter, if you can find time to do so, and tell me something about yourself. I send an envelope, directed right. And now a kind good-bye. From your little friend, ANNA. 22. Snow has been falling during the night and is now ten inches deep. The following shows how it is done on picket: CIRCULAR- HEADQUARTERS 2d Brigade, 2d DIVISION, 14th ARMY CORPS. All guards will fall in at the approach of officers. Grand guards will present arms to general officers, to colonels commanding brigades, to the officer of the day and to their regimental commander, once a day, should he visit the pickets. Outposts will stand to arms and salute no person. At the approach of officers, sentinels will face to the front and stand at attention without saluting. They will not sit down, but will walk their beats constantly during their two hours of duty. Outposts will not sleep, but will be on the alert during their four hours off duty. Sergeants will examine passes at roads; passes recognized only at roads. This circular will be read to the men by the commanding officers of the grand guard every morning before posting the pickets. All disobedience of orders will be reported at once, and the offender promptly punished. The commanding officer of the grand guard, on being relieved, will transmit this circular to his successor. In case of a march, or pickets being permanently relieved, it will be handed to the inspector. By order of COLONEL JOHN G. MITCHELL. 23. To-day a spirited battle took place in camp; not a bloody affray with the roar of cannon and the clash of musketry as an accompaniment; not a struggle in mortal combat in which the shouts of the victor and the groans of the vanquished added interest to the scene; but one in which friend vied with friend in strategy and skill. The snow being in good packing condition probably suggested the idea to some of the men that a snowball battle would be a source of grand fun. The preliminaries were soon arranged. The 98th O. V. I. and 78th Illinois arrayed on one side, and on the other the 121st O. V. I. and the 113th O. V. I. Positions were taken, the strength of the opposing forces was carefully ascertained by reconnoitering parties, which played their several parts with tactical precision. At length the main body became engaged and the charging and retreating by turns went on at an interesting rate. The war was carried to Germany, for the 108th O. V. I. finally shared in the contest, and in the end each party proclaimed his side victorious. All ended well and the occasion will long be remembered because of the solid fun it furnished. If nations could only settle their difficulties by snowballing battles, or by pounding one another over the head with pillows, war would be stripped of most of its horrors. 27. The men make occasional trips to Lookout Mountain, climb its rugged sides to its summit, view the splendid scenery, talk poetry, drink from the gushing fountains on its sides, and then return to camp with an appetite which destroys the peace of the mess. These romantic rambles ought to be made when we are drawing full rations. 31. The Second Division, commanded by General Jeff. C. Davis, was reviewed by General Geo H. Thomas, accompanied by General Palmer. Each of the several commanders was accompanied by his respective staff officers, and there was parade and pomp in profusion. Those who were mounted enjoyed the review very much, but the footmen indulged in some profane expletives, which led me to think they would enjoy full rations much better than a review which kept them on the jump for four hours. Schellhorn's band came in for its share of the glory of the occasion. What a grand thing is music when you are short of milk! The bass drum is minus one head. APRIL, 1864. 1. The recruits are being initiated into the delights of picket duty. A number of deserters, belonging to our own command, are kept |