for him
is done willingly, but it is far from being like home.

Huntsville, Sunday, March 20. Awoke with bad cough and sore throat.
Attended church at 10 A. M. The Presbyterian Church was crowded to
overflowing by citizens, but few soldiers could gain admittance. I was
up in the gallery. The funeral sermon of Mrs. Jordan was preached, very
effective and eloquent. Jackson Moss and colored Henry were taken to the
smallpox camp this afternoon.

Evening. I am notified to be ready to start in the morning on a five
days' scout, my team going with the left Section. Drew two days' rations
of hard-tack.

Huntsville, Monday, March 21. Reveille sounded at 4 A. M. Fed and
harnessed before breakfast, and prepared for the march, two days'
rations in haversack, three days' in wagon. As soon as it was light,
hitched up on the sixth piece, the caisson to be left behind; seven
cannoneers. It was very cold, windy morning. Waited until 8 A. M. when
the order came to unhitch and unharness, the expedition over, which was
gladly obeyed by all except the recruits, they being yet anxious to
taste the poetry of war. The day continued very cold and very
uncomfortable for the sick, which are daily increasing. T. J. Hungerford
continues very low, yet the doctor speaks cheerfully. He was visited by
the medical director of the Division to-day. A heavy mail received, of
which I received two goodly ones. Corporal Dixon was to-day made
sergeant of our Platoon, vice Hamilton promoted. E. W. Evans promoted to
corporal to fill vacancy, in which capacity he had been acting for over
a year. Sat up with Tommy till 1 A. M., giving him powders every three
hours; stimulants, liquors, every two. All alone, a time for sad
reflections and longing thoughts.

[Sidenote: 1864 Welcome Snow]

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 22. All were surprised this morning upon
looking out to find the ground covered with pure, soft and downy snow,
and the air yet thick with the falling feathers. It continued till 9 A.
M., leaving eight inches on the ground. To the natives it was looked
upon as a strange occurrence in this territory, a phenomenon, but to us
from the stern and living North it was as good as a furlough, a sudden
transition to old Wisconsin. What a calm serenity it spreads on earth in
its pure, spotless white, covering over the disagreeable, the footprints
of suffering and wrongs that are so indelibly imprinted everywhere upon
the fair but wicked South. What a lo