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plication, and General Lee was exceedingly kind and complimentary. The order is to take effect as soon as the present campaign is ended, which, General Lee says, cannot extend beyond December I.
Let me but get away from these "West Pointers." They are very sociable gentlemen and agreeable companions, but never have I seen men who had so little appreciation of merit in others. Self-sufficiency and self-aggrandizement are their great controlling characteristics.
My friend, General Garnett, was not killed, but is commanding Mahone's brigade, in which are the Athens Guards.
Winchester, October 10, 1862. I have been appointed president of a court-martial, which is sitting here. The town is so crowded that for thirty-six hours I could not find K lodging place. Yester- day I took the streets in desperation, determined to ask a shelter in every respectable lodging-house until I found one. At the second house an elderly lady a Mrs. Seevers cordially welcomed me. General Banks made this house his headquarters, when he was occu- pying the same room I have. My hostess gave me an amusing account of how the Yankees scattered when old Stonewall attacked them here. General Williams dropped his hat in the retreat, and would not stop to pick it up, but galloped out of town bareheaded.
October 13. I went down to camp to-day. Stuart has gone into Maryland with 1,000 troopers. He sent for 150 of my men, but Jackson had them all out scouting. General Lee has taken pains to show and express his confidence in me as an officer, and personally he has been as kind as I could ask or desire. He has ordered me to take command of Howell's brigade on a march this morning. My impression is that we are about to fall back towards the Rappahan- nock.
October 20. The returned prisoners give a glowing account of their treatment in Baltimore. They came back loaded with presents from the ladies and clothed anew from head to foot. I still hear some news of our casualties in battle. Ben. Mell was not killed, and is still alive. He was severely wounded, and is in the house of a clever family in Maryland. I do hope he will recover. Reuben Nisbet was not killed, as reported; only slightly wounded.
McLaws told me his report of Howell's Brigade in the fight at Crampton's gap would be satisfactory to him. The truth is McLaws didn't know there was such a gap until after the battle.
October 27. Harry Jackson came to the camp to see me to-day. He is a fine youth, intelligent, quick, brave and frank, and made a
