Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 21. Health good. All runs smooth in camp. No startling news. All hands have been working all day. I was under Simonds. Put up the logs of one shanty in the morning, roofed another one in the afternoon. No mail.
Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 22. A very windy day, dust flying, water rising. On guard, first relief. Mail came in the morning but did not bring any from home. All hands busy. The homesick ones of the Company are anxious to know whether they are to be counted in on the next batch of furloughs. Five to go, and I know of some forty-five applications. Benoit and R. Dye are due from last time. Gymnasium pole has been put up to-day, and the muscular systems will be developed.
Chattanooga, Thursday, March 23. Quite a pleasant night to stand guard in last night, but to-day it has blustered very disagreeably, filling our eyes with dust. Did not work to-day.
Chattanooga, Friday, March 24. Wind still continues. Health good. Mail brought me this morning my long-looked-for letters from home. On detail under Sergeant Goodwin all day siding up the stables. George T. Hill started home on sick furlough this morning. Poor man, he has been running down for the last four months. R. Grey's and Bancroft's furloughs returned approved. They start to-morrow. Two returned disapproved.
1865 Camp Gardening
Major Mendenhall is starting a garden for the reserve artillery. Sergeant Hutchinson is detailed to take charge of it. He is to have one man from forty-three different batteries to help him. He is to till about seven acres of land. Sergeant Proctor relieves him in the woods, this being queer work for soldiers.