de, sah, and I done jes as
you tole me, sah." "Why you are a fool, John; did you suppose I wanted
you to make me tea out of tobacco?" "Don know, sah; dat's what you tole
me, sah; done jes as you tole me, sah."

25. Marched to Hoover's Gap. Heavy skirmishing in front during the day.
Reynolds lost fifteen killed, and quite a number wounded. A stubborn
fight was expected, and our division moved up to take part in it; but
the enemy fell back. Rain has been falling most of the day. A pain in my
side admonishes me that I should have worn heavier boots.

26. Moved to Beech Grove. Cannonading in front during the whole day; but
we have now become so accustomed to the noise of the guns that it hardly
excites remark. The sky is still cloudy, and I fear we shall have more
rain to-night. The boys are busy gathering leaves and twigs to keep them
from the damp ground. General Negley's quarters are a few rods to my
left, and General Thomas' just below us, at the bottom of the hill.
Reynolds is four miles in advance.

27. We left Beech Grove, or Jacob's Store, this morning, at five
o'clock, and conducted the wagon train of our division through to
Manchester. Rosecrans and Reynolds are here. The latter took possession
of the place two or three hours before my brigade reached it, and the
former came up three hours after we had gone into camp. We are now
twelve miles from Tullahoma. The guns are thundering off in the
direction of Wartrace. Hardee's corps was driven from Fairfield this
morning. My baggage has not come, and I am compelled to sleep on the
wet ground in a still wetter overcoat.

28. My baggage arrived during the night, and this morning I changed my
clothes and expected to spend the Sabbath quietly; but about 10 A. M. I
was ordered to proceed to Hillsboro, a place eight miles from
Manchester, on the old stage road to Chattanooga. When we were moving
out I met Durbin Ward, who asked me where I was going. I told him.
"Why," said he, "I thought, from the rose in your button-hole, that you
were going to a wedding." "No," I replied; "but I hope we are going to
nothing more serious."

29. My position is one of great danger, being so far from support and so
near the enemy. Last night my pickets on the Tullahoma road were driven
in, after a sharp fight, and my command was put in line of battle, and
so remained for an hour or more; but we were not again disturbed. No
fires were built, and the darkness was impenetrable.

At noon I