"We have no news of special importance. I don't have very much to do
in my post command, am comfortably situated in quarters, and have
about enough business to keep the time from being dull. Captain Otis
and his wife and I are the only members of our mess, and we have a
very pleasant table. When General Rosecrans was in command here he
established a large hospital garden, worked by the convalescents in the
hospitals. It is now producing large quantities of vegetables, and our
table is very liberally supplied from it with green corn, tomatoes,
beets, cucumbers, potatoes, squashes, etc. We also enjoy plenty of milk
and butter, with ice to cool them. The general left his servant here,
and he has nothing to do but take care of my room, black my boots, and
brush my clothes, etc. There are a number of officers' wives here, and
we have frequent company in our parlor of these and occasionally of
rebel ladies. So you see the hardships of the poor soldier's life at
present being undergone by me are such as I may be able to endure with
safety to my life!"