"We are having as usual a quiet Sabbath. My present term of service
is so very different from that which I have heretofore been used to.
Before it was all activity, bustle, battles, pursuits or retreats.
But now it is all the quiet monotony of camp life, broken only by the
routine of drill. Heretofore I seldom had a quiet Sunday. Now I can
read my Bible and religious papers regularly, write to my dear one,
and attend Church services. But with all these privileges there is no
day in which I miss home so much."
Taking advantage of our quiet camp life, I obtained leave to visit
Knoxville, where I had spent so many pleasant days the year before. My
letter of the 13th of August gives some account of that visit:--
"Does it look natural to you to see this letter dated from Knoxville?
I left Murfreesboro day before yesterday, woke up in the morning
and found myself across the Tennessee River and in the midst of the
mountains. The scenery is quite romantic and attractive. I felt at
once that I was in East Tennessee. There is nothing in scenery like
the mountains. In a little while we came in sight of Lookout Mountain,
stretching far away with its range into Georgia, and jutting up with
its bold promontory into the Tennessee River, and far above the mist of
the river rose the spur so celebrated as Hooker's Battle of the Clouds.
Soon we came into Chattanooga, bristling with its many battlements,
and alive with the hurry and bustle of that great army dépôt. It is
astonishing to note what a vast machinery it requires in the rear to
support and keep supplied a large army.
"The run up to Knoxville was quite pleasant, where we arrived at
half-past five in the evening. On my way up to the hotel I met an old
Tennessee acquaintance who acted as a guide for me in my raids last
autumn. He would listen to nothing but that I must be his guest, so I
went around and stopped with him. I came down in town in the evening,
and called on some of my old friends who showed much pleasure in
seeing me again. To-day I have been busy in calling on other old
friends, and took dinner to-day with Mrs. Locke, who was very glad
to have me again at her house. I am to take supper with General
Tillottson, commanding the post. I have found a number of the old
Sixty-fifth and of my staff here on detailed duty.
"They are organizing an expedition for a raid into upper East
Tennessee, in my old route of campaigning, and, to be frank, I have
been very much tempted to go up with them, as they are anxious to
have me. But it would detain me beyond my leave, and I might expect a
scolding from my dear little wife. So I will leave in two or three days
and return direct to Murfreesboro."
As the term of enlistment of our regiment was drawing to a close, a
movement was set on foot to have me continue in the service. The Union
men of western Kentucky were very anxious to have me return to that
district and drive out the guerrillas, who had been very troublesome
after I had left that region. They had been in conference with my
older brother George, who took a great pride in my military career and
was very ambitious for me. The plan was to have me made a brigadier
general, and given a special command of western Kentucky. When this
was made known to me I answered my brother George that if the command
was tendered me without any effort on my part I might take it into
consideration, but only on the express condition that my wife would
consent to it. It is to this plan I refer in some of my letters to her.
In the one of July 31 I say:--
"The expiration of our term of enlistment is drawing near and a strong
effort will be made to get our regiment to reënlist for one, two, or
three years. What do you say,--must I go in for it? They are also
writing me from Kentucky urging me to come back there and clear the
guerrillas out of my old field of operations. I must confess the latter
proposition is something of a temptation to me. I would like to spend
three or four weeks there in chasing out the guerrillas, and then I
really do believe I could come home and stay there in peace."