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

secessionism. It ought to have been done long ago, for it is one of the leading Northern journals among the secesh. It always finds a ready sale in Memphis.

           To-day Lieutenant Roberts left us to join the Signal Corps, which is being re-established in Grant's command. Ever since we left Lagrange he has been acting as Aid on Colonel Leggett's staff, and was missed by Company E very much, for he was always considered an efficient officer by all the company, and made a No. 1 Lieutenant. Yet he was often with us; but now he will be entirely taken away from us. May he be successful in his new career.

           Company K is considered the flower of the regiment. The principal part of them have been on a "bust" ever since we came to Memphis. A good deal of whisky is smuggled into camp by the apple women. Company E can "hold her own," but I don't think it can touch K in that particular.

           As Valentine Day is near at hand, I wonder if the pretty misses of old Morgan will think so much of the poor soldiers as to send them mementoes, that they may carry them through the great trials and struggles they will have to endure in the future.

Yours truly,

TYPO.

CAMP NEAR MEMPHIS, TENN., February 19, 1863.

           MR. EDITOR: — Our "marching orders" have come at last, and our doom may now be considered sealed. Orders were received last night to have ten days' rations drawn, three of them cooked and in haversacks, and be ready to leave at any time after six o'clock this morning; but orders afterward came that we need not cook our rations until to-day.

           Now this looks something like leaving, but it is nothing more than we have been looking for ever since we came here. To-morrow will make one month since we landed at this place, and it may be some days yet before we take our departure; still, we are under marching orders. Our destination, no doubt, is Vicksburg, or some point on the Mississippi river; so that we can take part in the great movement that will shortly occur against that formidable place. I do not believe there are any of us overly-anxious to make a cruise down there at present; but if it is necessary, (and no doubt it is) you will find the Seventy-Eighth ready and willing to do their part. If it should be our lot to get into an engagement, your readers may expect to hear of them winning honors, and of the "rebs" getting "fits."

           The news from below indicates that everything is in motion, and that the great decisive move will take place before long, which will eventually put Vicksburg in our possession. Victory is bound to be ours. It is thought by some (our expedition being so formidable) that an evacuation will take place before everything which is intended can be brought to bear upon that devoted place. So mote it be.            The best thing that has yet occurred was the passing of the rebel batteries by the ram Queen of the West and the Indianola, of which no doubt your readers are apprised before this. It will be the means of cutting off the river communication between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and will, in a great measure, affect their supplies. In the undertaking I

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