Thus we toiled for eight weary weeks without rest, except as the Sabbath—­the blessed day of rest—­gave us some relaxation.  My observation, even so early in my military life, convinced me that the observance of the Sabbath is no less a physical necessity than a religious duty—­though I can not say that our regiment kept it with a very intelligent view of its sacred character.  Our chaplain, Father Daly, celebrated mass in the morning, preached a sermon in the afternoon, and in the evening settled the drunken rows—­which were entirely too numerous to recommend to a Protestant youth the religion of which the priest was nevertheless a very favorable representative.  His influence was vastly important as a governing power, and he wielded it wisely and kindly.

The idleness of the Sabbath was a great evil, as there was nothing to read, and card-playing and cock-fighting were the chief amusements.  This was also our wash-day, and the ration of soap issued for six men was only enough to wash one shirt; hence this was given by lot to one of the mess, and the others were content with the virtue of water alone.  While our regiment was often commended for its ability in building fortifications, no one ventured to compliment its cleanliness.

Soon after we camped at Randolph I was appointed third sergeant, and after serving a few days as such was promoted to orderly sergeant.  This position, of course, exempted me from actual labor in the trenches, but I had to oversee a squad of workmen.  During these two months we, with three other regiments, built Fort Wright, an irregular fortification, inclosing about thirty acres.  The fort had no spring of water within the line of intrenchment; and after long deliberation about some means of supplying it with this indispensable article,—­during which time we carried every bucket of water used from the river,—­the engineers erected a small wheezy second-hand steam-pump on the bank of the river, which was intended to force the water up the bluff into a large cistern that had been constructed for that purpose.  The cistern held about a week’s supply for two thousand men; but they never seemed to think that a single cannon-ball could smash up the pump and cut off our supply of water.  If this defect had been remedied, and the fort had been well armed and manned, it would have been hard to take; but it never availed any thing to the Confederate service.  We built four batteries on the bank of the river, three of them mounting three guns each, and the lower one six guns.  These guns were 32 and 64 pounders.  Three miles further up, above the mouth of Hatchie river, another battery of three 32-pounders was built.

Our rations at this time were neither very lavishly given nor very choice in quality, yet there was no actual suffering.  For the first month whiskey was served, and the men were satisfied to work for the promise of forty cents a day extra pay and three drams.  In the fifth week the drams were stopped, and the extra pay never began.  I am letting that little bill against the Jeff.  Davis government, and some larger ones, run at interest.  The reader will agree with me that they are likely to run some time.