On picket. Weather springlike. Well here I am on picket post looking out for Rebs. The Vedettes are posted out in front, one standing directly in front of me. The picket line runs East from my post. We are posted 5 miles from Murfreesboro on the Salem pike. Lt. Montgomery is in charge of this position of the guard. Lt. Murson in charge of the other. Capt. Branch officer of the day. Out in front are large plantations with numerous negro quarters. They present the appearance of a small town. (One of the arguments used in favor of slavery well fed, well clothed and good houses to live in. All but the feed clothes and houses.)
Sunday Feb. 15
Weather cloudy and damp. Rained by spells all night. I was on post 5 times. Conscripts and contrabands were coming in all day. Took breakfast with an old Secesh lady who has lost three boys in the army. Rec1d letters from home this morning. Good news from home. Good news for me!!!
Monday, Feb. 16
Weather in the morning cool and cloudy. Began to rain in the afternoon. Several Rebels were brought in about 10 o'clock. KKK Had a splendid game of ball on the open field in front of where we are camped. Bates and Cherry chose sides. While playing the assembly was sounded. We fell in not knowing where we were going, but we soon found out we were going out after forage. We went out some three miles, got 4 loads of corn and two loads of charcoal. Got back to camp at 3 o'clock. Dr. Hanson has returned to the regiment and I hope Dr. Lackey will also return. All quiet on our front. Pratt got some meal ground. We had some hasty pudding. It was splendid.
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