f an effort to fulfil their threats and burn it, by some nocturnal
dash. The most valuable buildings belonged to Union men, and the upper
part of the town, built chiefly of resinous pine, was combustible to the
last degree. In case of fire, if the wind blew towards the river, we
might lose steamers and all. I remember regulating my degree of
disrobing by the direction of the wind; if it blew from the river, it
was safe to make one's self quite comfortable; if otherwise, it was best
to conform to Suwarrow's idea of luxury, and take off one spur.

So passed our busy life for ten days. There were no tidings of
reinforcements, and I hardly knew whether I wished for them,--or rather,
I desired, them as a choice of evils; for our men were giving out from
overwork, and the recruiting excursions, for which we had mainly come,
were hardly possible. At the utmost, I had asked for the addition of
four companies and a light battery. Judge of my surprise, when two
infantry regiments successively arrived! I must resort to a scrap from
the diary. Perhaps diaries are apt to be thought tedious; but I would
rather read a page of one, whatever the events described, than any later
narrative,--it gives glimpses so much more real and vivid.

"_Head-Quarters, Jacksonville, March 20, 1863,
Midnight._--For the last twenty-four hours we have been
sending women and children out of town, in answer to a
demand by flag of truce, with a threat of bombardment. [N.
B. I advised them not to go, and the majority declined doing
so.] It was designed, no doubt, to intimidate; and in our
ignorance of the force actually outside, we have had to
recognize the possibility of danger, and work hard at our
defences. At any time, by going into the outskirts, we can
have a skirmish, which is nothing but fun; but when night
closes in over a small and weary garrison, there sometimes
steals into my mind, like a chill, that most sickening of
all sensations, the anxiety of a commander. This was the
night generally set for an attack, if any, though I am
pretty well satisfied that they have not strength to dare
it, and the worst they could probably do is to burn the
town. But to-night, instead of enemies, appear friends,--our
devoted civic ally, Judge S., and a whole Connecticut
regiment, the Sixth, under Major Meeker; and though the
latter are aground twelve miles below, y