The army is filling
up with conscripts, absentees and others, and if we get also the principals of
the substitutes our army will soon be very formidable. Mose Cappock has
returned, although his wound has not quite healed. I believe if we whip the
Yankees good again this spring they will quit in disgust. Their cause is not
just, like ours, and they are sure to become discouraged more readily.
The people of
Richmond have had a great time recently, feasting and fêting General Morgan.
Men who saw him there tell me he is very young, handsome and attractive, but is modest
and has a most pleasing address. I learned that when he passed through Newberry
the people made him come out of the train and let them all take a good look at
him.
An officer in our
regiment was cashiered for forging a furlough, sure enough. I feel very sorry
for him and think he should go to the Yankees the first chance he gets, for he
is ruined wherever this thing becomes known.
The winter has been
unusually severe so far, but I am perfectly comfortable in every way, except
that our diet is becoming anything else but bountiful or extravagant. We draw a
little coffee and sugar occasionally. For breakfast this morning I had a cup of
"Pure Rio," some ham, rice, biscuit and butter, but I have a hankering
for such things as syrup, sweet potatoes, sauer-kraut, and the like. I do hope
it will not be a great while before I can have such things.
Edwin still has some
of the good things to eat which he brought from home in his trunk. His servant,
Tony, stole some of his syrup to give to a negro girl who lives near our camp,
and Ed gave him a pretty thorough thrashing for it. He says Tony is too much of
a thief to suit him and he intends to send him back home. I had to give Gabriel
a little thrashing this morning for "jawing” me. I hate very much to raise
a violent hand against a person as old as Gabriel, although he is black and a
slave. He is too slow for me, and I intend to send him back by Billie when he
goes home on furlough.
I must close, as
Gabriel is bringing in my dinner. I will write to you again in a few days.
