ield. The former checked up, shook hands, and said: "How d'ye do?"
Garfield gave us a grip which suggested "vote right, vote early."
Negley smiled affably, and the cavalcade moved on. We crossed the
Tennessee on the bridge of boats, and rode a few miles into the country
beyond. Not a gun was fired as the bridge was being laid. Davis'
division is on the south side of the river.

The Tennessee at this place is beautiful. The bridge looks like a ribbon
stretched across it. The island below, the heavily-wooded banks, the
bluffs and mountain, present a scene which would delight the soul of the
artist. A hundred boys were frollicking in the water near the pontoons,
tumbling into the stream in all sorts of ways, kicking up their heels,
ducking and splashing each other, and having a glorious time generally.

30. (Sunday.) The brigade moved into Stevenson.

31. It crossed the Tennessee.

In one of the classes for examination to-day was a sergeant, fifty years
old at least, but still sprightly and active; not very well posted in
the infantry tactics now in use, but of more than ordinary intelligence.
The class had not impressed the Board favorably. This Sergeant we
thought rather too old, and the others entirely too ignorant. When the
class was told to retire, this old Sergeant, who, by the way, belongs to
a Michigan regiment, came up to me and asked: "Was John Beatty, of
Sandusky, a relative of yours?" "He was my grandfather." "Yes, you
resemble your mother. You are the son of James Beatty. I have carried
you in my arms many a time. My mother saved your life more than once.
Thirty years ago your father and mine were neighbors. I recollect the
cabin where you were born as well as if I had seen it but yesterday." "I
am heartily glad to see you, my old friend," said I, taking his hand.
"You must stay with me to-night, and we will talk over the old times
together."

When the Sergeant retired, Hobart, with a twinkle in his eye, said he
did not think much of that fellow; his early associations had evidently
been bad; he was entirely too old, anyway. What the army needed, above
all things, were young, vigorous, dashing officers; but he supposed,
notwithstanding all this, that we should have to do something for the
Sergeant. He had rendered important service to the country by carrying
the honored President of our Board in his arms, and but for the timely
doses of catnip tea, administered by the Sergeant's mother, the gallant
knight