A cloudy day of rain this afternoon. Lt. Foster Co. E returned from home - brought me a letter from John. He came on the Cossack which brought us a large mail. I had a letter from Em Hayes and one from [?] & Hummel acknowledging his receipt of the $60 we sent for the purpose of getting the body of Lanig home. Old Christ the sutler was very particular in weighing some cheese for John Miller this evening. Miller told him he was as particular as old [Pehoch?]. How’s that. Why he would brush the flies’ feet when they came out the sugar box for fear they’d waste it. Charley Shriner, after whom the “Shriner guards” Co. E are called sent them a demi john of whisky, & this evening, Co. E feels good on this glass of grog. There seems to be preparations for a march. We are ordered to report our effective men for a sharp march - the reliant ones number 578, though I could report bare 30 rank & file. We were ordered to have 60 rounds of ammunition each. I think it is merely precautionary. We have papers to the 25th,but they are bare of the news we wait for though they tell us of victory at White River & its sad accident on the Mound City. Did not we know that the rebels lie so, we would fear a repulse at James Island. No. 6. We have sent all our sick to the hospital.
