War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

28th. No letters for poor me. Read the latest papers. Rode over with Nettleton for the mail. The boys set the prairie on fire in several places, making one of the grandest sights I ever saw. Slept last night out of doors on the ground with Nettleton.

27th. News came that the staff would be paid off. All went to the Fort to sign pay-rolls. Returned to dinner. Rode the Major’s horse. Saw a tame buffalo. Quite a curiosity. Sergeants receive only $17 per month—a joke on their extra stripes.

26th. Played several games of chess and read. Helped in the Q. M. department.

25th. Commenced reading Scott’s “Ivanhoe.” Delighted with its principal characters, Rowena and Ivanhoe.

24th. New recruits came, so I moved over to the Major’s quarters. Played chess with Nettleton.

23rd. Read the papers received in the morning and wrote home. No preaching.

22nd. A report circulated that we are to be among the regiments disbanded. Hope not true—prefer to see the thing through without re-enlisting. After all would like a short furlough. Dealt out the bacon. Got a good piece of beef for myself. Heard the wolves howl during the night.

21st. Went out with a detail of twenty privates and two sergeants to cut wood for the regiment. Had twelve mule teams. Drew twenty-two loads. Saw a long overland train bound for Humboldt with crackers. Another train coming loaded with nine yoke of oxen. One wagon had 17 yokes stuck fast in the mire of the creek. California Overland Route.

20th. Found the books in use, so busied myself in writing to Fannie Henderson.