boat is crossed by the strength of the
current acting against gates let into the water, it being fastened to a
tow-head above by forty rods of rope. After some delay we parked the old
battery that we had hauled through the mud of Mississippi, across the
bayous of Louisiana and the mountains of Tennessee, and had belched our
terror to traitors from Corinth, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills,
Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Although once wrested from our hands for an
instant, success always crowned their labors. We left them alongside of
a long line of captured napoleons.

The town was under strict military order, and patrols busy picking up
all those found without a pass, so I did not have a chance of going
around. Had a strong desire to visit Lieutenant J. Silsby's Battery, but
I could not. Returned to camp by 5 P. M. Wrote on T. L.'s letter till
dark, when we were assembled for pay at the Captain's tent, it being for
the months of September and October. Clothing accounts settled. I was
$12.86 behind, therefore did not draw but $19.15, better than some who
did not draw any. Turned $15 over to J. Lester, to be expressed home,
leaving me but two dollars pocket money.

IN WINTER QUARTERS

[Sidenote: 1863 Scant Rations]

Enroute, Thursday, Dec. 3. Moved for Bridgeport, Ala., 7 A. M. All the
serviceable horses reported to Lieutenant Harlow of the 12th Battery and
were put in the teams. E. P. Dixon took "Reb" for a saddle horse, giving
me a pony instead, which exempted my team. Emptied my valise into E. W.
E.'s knapsack. My blanket on saddle, Evie's blanket in valise, saddle by
my side, and we started in rear of 12th Battery. Double quicked it for
the first two miles after which we came into muddy roads and moved slow.
Walked about seven miles, taking railroad. Had to wait three or four
hours for Battery to come up at South Sides coal mines. A steep stony
hill ahead of us, and a long wagon train loaded with artillery horses
stuck on it. The Battery did not get started until after sundown. The
horses were entirely jaded out, no feed and hard work. Nearly every
piece stalled and obliged to double teams. Tired of waiting and
standing in the mud, cold and cheerless we pushed on through the brush
until we reached the valley below. We unharnessed and tied to the trees
our faithful but hungry steeds, scraped our haversacks for the last
crumb, after which we laid down all alone and no "grub" for the morrow,
but it worried not