Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/225

 Diary of Bev. J. G. Low. 215

others under similar circumstances, we have become accustomed to the shelHng, and there is always some one to crack a joke. We slip in any corner that we can find — every one for himself — while we know not when we may be slapped side the head with a brickbat. Nearly every officer has been struck, more or less, with these little affairs. I have been struck several times — once on the arm with a fragment of a shell, which stung me slightly, but did not even break the skin. On one occasion I was so unlucky as to get a brick side my head, though some say it was in my hat.

There were no casualties to day. Captain Gaillard was slightly wounded in the ankle. I am afraid it will prove more painful than it is even now. I see him on crutches this evening. We have a good many negroes in the garrison for the purpose of rebuilding what the enemy tears down, and several of them were wounded, though not seriously. * * * * * * ^i; H<

Iredell Jones.

Diary of Rev. J. G. Law.

July ijth, 1862. — Spent the day playing chess with Dr. Alexander Erskine. News has been received of the capture of General Curtis and his command by General Hindman in Arkansas ; also of the " debut " of the Confederate ram Arkansas. She passed out of the Yazoo river, running through the Federal fleet, sinking two of their boats and disabling others.

Feel very uneasy about my mother and sisters in Memphis, as nothing has been heard from them since the 12th of June, and Gen- eral Grant has issued an order expelling the families of Confederate soldiers from the city.

Sunday, July 20th. — This morning we had a grand re\'iew of Cheatham's division. General Polk and Governor Harris were on the field. The troops presented an imposing sight as the several brigades passed in review with banners floating to the breeze and bayonets gleaming brightly in the morning sunbeams. There were five brigades on the field. One of our country Captains forgot "Hardee's Tactics" at company inspection, and, growing des- perate, shouted, "Prepare to open ranks — widen out, split," and the boys split, widened out, and the ranks opened. But there was some side-splitting on that occasion, to the great discomfiture of the gallant Captain, who remembered the command, "Order in ranks."