June 1, 1862

We had a sermon from Mr. Mallory in a grove of pines and we lounged through the day - it was excessively hot - we put up the tent sides and counted take every breath of air. The pleasant places have their annoyances - wood ticks abound - a reddish brown bug, about the size of a bed bug, which plugs its nipper into the flesh and cant be pulled out, you have to cut them off, leaving the nipper stuck in. there are alligators in the creek and these cypress swamps. Whew, what a nice time we’ll have.