"Do they miss me at home; do they miss me?"

I venture to say they do, and with much gratification if, when there,
you favored them often with this infernal noise.

14. The weather is remarkably fine to-day. I saw Mrs. and Major-General
McCook and Mrs. and Major-General Wood going out to the battle-field, on
horseback, this morning. Mrs. General Rosecrans arrived last night on a
special train.

16. The roads are becoming good, and every body is on horseback. Many
officers have their wives here. On the way to Murfreesboro this morning,
I met two ladies with an escort going to the battle-field. Returning I
met General Rosecrans and wife. The General hallooed after me, "How d'ye
do?" to which I shouted back, at the top of my voice, the very original
reply, "Very well, thank you." From the number of ladies gathering in,
one might very reasonably conclude that no advance was contemplated
soon. Still all signs fail in war times, as they do in dry weather. As a
rule, perhaps, when a movement appears most improbable, we should be on
the lookout for orders to start.

The army, under Rosecrans' administration, looks better than it ever did
before. He certainly enters into his work with his whole soul, and
unless some unlucky mishap knocks his feet from under him, he will soon
be recognized as the first general of the Union. I account for his
success thus far, in part at least, by the fact that he has been long
enough away from West Point, mixing with the people, to get a little
common sense rubbed into him.

While writing the last word above, the string band of the Third struck
up at the door of my tent. Going out, I found all the commissioned
officers of that regiment standing in line. Adjutant Wilson nudged me,
and said they expected a speech. I asked if beer would not suit them
better. He thought not. I have not attempted to make a speech for two
years, and never made a successful attempt in my life; but I knocked the
ashes out of my pipe and began:

"GENTLEMEN: I am informed that all the officers of the Third are here. I
am certainly very glad to see you, and extremely sorry that I am not
better prepared to receive and entertain you. The press informs us that
I have been very highly honored. If the report that I have been promoted
is true, I am indebted to your gallantry, and that of the brave men of
the Third, for the honor. You gave me my first position, and then were
kind enough to deem me worthy of a second;