102                                HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

profusely; all the sutlers in the Brigade taking each other's tickets. In consequence of having no other money, we are at a loss to buy the newspapers, which come through our camp every day. When offering the chips for papers the reply is, "They are played out," which is the case when any other can be had.

           The health of our regiment is good, generally speaking, but for Company E I can testify for certainty; only one being sick and he is fast recovering, which I think is good considering the season – Company F buried two last week; and yesterday Company H one. The weather we are having now is rather curious, the days being warm and the nights very cold, which you know is apt to bring on sickness.

           Our Brigade, as well as the other Brigades in the Division, were reviewed on last Monday by General Grant, in company with McPherson and Logan. It was short, but he seemed well pleased with the troops. On the ground were several of the Northern fair sex, who attracted a great deal of attention; it is not often we soldiers get a chance to see them, but I thought they looked natural. There were also quite a number of correspondents on the ground, taking notes of things that passed. If your readers wish to get a fuller description than I can give, they can probably do so by getting the Commercial or Chicago Tribune, as they both have correspondents traveling with this command. Good bye.

Yours truly,

      TYPO.

CAMP NEAR OXFORD, MISS., Dec. 8, 1862.

MR. EDITOR: — As I was interrupted while writing a communication to you at Holly Springs, by the startling words, "fall in!" and having a little leisure time now, I will try and finish it. Whenever the bugle sounds to "fall in," everything has to be stopped, and everybody in line as quick as possible, for there is no telling how soon we will be needed.

           Well, the morning we left Lagrange, which was the 28th ult., old Sol was shining forth in all his splendor, and every one seemed to be in good spirits at the prospect of a forward movement South. It was some time before the army could get in motion, we having to stand and lie around nearly all day before we could get under way. We had only got three miles from our camp at 4 P. M. The reason of our delay was, I believe, that General Hamilton's forces from the Junction were to come in ahead and take the advance, but were too late in starting, and we had to keep back until they passed.

           When we got fully under way we went it like troopers, having good roads to travel. We passed the Mississippi line at dark, but had to travel on until about 9 o'clock before we could find water, so we could encamp. Water in some places is very scarce, the inhabitants having to haul it two and three miles in barrels. It was fully 10 o'clock before we got settled so as to get our "grub" and beds ready. That night was the first we passed within our little shelter tents, they having been issued out to us the morning we started. In some instances they might be considered a good institution, and again they might be considered worthless. I don't think the inventor was blessed with an overplus of

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