f the rebellious Charleston.

[Sidenote: 1865 The "Higher Law"]

Chattanooga, Sunday, March 5. A most beautiful day, too good to lay in
camp. Attended church. Joined the Bible class in chapel of Christian
Commission, where we had a spirited discussion as to whether we are ever
justifiable in disobeying the divine law in order to conform with the
law of the land. Most took the old Abolitionist view of it. After class
listened to good sermon. Text, "What is Man", by one of the agents. Met
Lieutenant Silsby, very sociably inclined. Returned to camp to enjoy a
soldier's dinner. Wrote to John and read a sermon of H. W. Beecher, much
better than the delivered one.

Chattanooga, Monday, March 6. Quite cold and windy. Health is excellent.
Sergeant Hutchinson and five men left this morning to go to the hills,
and stay a week chopping timber for quarters and stables. Busy in camp
also, hewing logs and putting them up. One completed, six logs high, and
12 x 18 feet. Myself and two others sent with axes to Major Mendenhall,
commanding reserve artillery, to chop his fire wood. Worked about an
hour and were relieved.

There is but one source of discontent in camp, and that is short
rations. Bread does not near hold out, although I think that we get the
prescribed rations full. A day's rations is always eaten in two meals,
and as all are out of money to buy extra, it is severely felt. I
urgently recommend to Congress that it speedily rectify the mistake they
made when they reduced the soldiers' rations and raised his pay. But our
mess have plenty by selling sugar which we do not need and buy bread
stuff. Griff got a peck of meal to-day.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 7. A gray, cheerless day, and my feelings
were very much the same. Somehow or other a feeling of sadness and
seriousness settled upon me, that in spite of all my efforts I could not
shake. I am very severely troubled with such, and feel as though I ought
not to, but I suppose the great cause is the non-arrival of mail, none
having come in since Friday.

Bridges swept off north of Stevenson by the flood which is making sad
work here also. The Tennessee has risen above its high and rocky banks,
and throws its watery arm clear around Chattanooga, leaving us on an
island. Inhabitants on the banks have to flee to the hills for safety.
Where a week ago we could see four extensive saw mills erected and used
by the government, throwing out thousands of feet of lumber an