"Mr. Tubbs said he called on you before he left and heard you play, and praised your music extravagantly. I hope you do not neglect your practice, as I want you always to be able to play as well as when we were married. He spoke of what a pleasant home I had; it made me want to be there. I was much moved at father's last letter in which he said I was always in the thoughts of the folks at home; that the little ones talked about me every day. How I wish I could be at home with them again to enjoy the company of the little ones, of my own Alice and the rest."
After three weeks of waiting, recuperation, and reinforcement, General Halleck began the movement of his grand army against Corinth in the last days of April. General Grant places its number at 120,000. I reported this movement in my letter of May 3 as having already begun, and in anticipation of another battle I seek to quiet my wife's fears:
"I wrote you of our change of camp, going four miles away from the river beyond Shiloh Church toward Corinth; and we are now under orders to proceed to Monterey, five miles from this camp, so that to-morrow night we hope to be thirteen or fourteen miles from the river, and five or six miles from Corinth. But I think we shall not have a great battle for some days yet, for I think the enemy will wait for us to attack them in their intrenchments.
"You must not be too solicitous if you hear of a great battle, or be too credulous of telegraphic reports. I will try to do my duty, and we will leave the result to our Heavenly Father, who has kindly been my shield and protector thus far through terrible dangers."
On the 7th of May I write:—
"We are all packed up in camp under marching orders to go two miles farther to the front, and are quietly waiting for the orders to move, so while we are waiting I will try to pencil you a little note at least."
For the first time since I entered the army, with the exception of temporary colds, I report a slight illness:—
"I have been a little unwell for two or three days past, but we are having very pleasant weather to-day, and I shall soon be well again. I cannot afford to be sick at this time; I must wait at least till we get the enemy out of Corinth or wherever we meet them. I see by the papers that the reporters have got the enemy out of Corinth. It may be so, but we don't know it here."
May 8 I note the arrival at the camp of Alexander McFerson:—