28th. Tended Rowena, my saddle mare, and got rations from the Post Commissary. About noon Bob came. Glad to be relieved. Letters from Lucy R., Ella Clark and Sarah Felton. All very good and quite acceptable. In the evening went to class. After it, beat Capt. N. three games of chess. Boiled eggs. Sleeked up the commissary for Sunday and chopped wood. Unusual.
War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.
27th. Got into Columbus at 1. After a cup of coffee and lunch, walked out to camp. Delivered letters and packages. Wrote hastily to Fannie. Commenced instruction on Outpost and Picket. Got a lesson and recited in the evening. Read some in “Guide to the Savior.” My heart received new life in my visit home with F. and Mother. So anxious for us to do well. May we not disappoint them.
26th. In the morning played battledore with Melissa. Scored 711 and 637. Made us feel large. D. R. and C. G. who came in last night, were down an hour or two. Went to town. Met Minnie. Called on Lucy Randall at the store, then at Mr. Fairchild’s and at Mr. Lincoln’s door. C. G. and I went to F. A.’s F. H. came up. They played for us. Said goodbye all around. Left at 6:30 with C. G. and Mrs. Norton. Tried to be cheerful.
25th. After reading some in the morning, went down to Minnie’s. Heard Ellie sing. Beat Minnie a game of chess. John beat me twice. Stayed to dinner. Did some chores and went down N. P. in the evening. Read and visited. Happy enough. How glorious it will be when war ceases, we victors and peace comes again. F. sang so sweetly.
24th. In the morning did some errands. Played chess with Thede and Melissa. Oysters for supper. Thede goes back tonight. I could see he dreads it—so do we. In the evening went to N. P. (North Professor street—Fannie Andrews’ home). Had such a good visit. Called at N. P. 2 a few minutes. (Fannie Henderson’s home.) Had a pleasant tete-a-tete with F. The more I see her, the greater is my love and admiration. Called on Fred and Fairchild. Thede returned to camp. Pictures. Sweet Home!
23rd. Awakened at 3:30 A. M. Off at 4 A. M. Reached Oberlin at 9:15. So good to see the dear friends. Minnie and Ellie came down. At 11 started for Elyria with Delos. Very muddy. Took dinner with Floy. Aunt Mary looking well, pretty little baby. At 8:15 saw Fannie, the dear girl, good child! Home a little after ten. How hard to return to camp again.
22nd. After morning work, Sergts. Drake and Arnold and Capt. Tod and I rode down to Alton. Very pleasant. Drake is a good boy. Seems to have a heart. After dinner saw Col. Ratliff and got permission to go home three days. Oh what a happy boy. How good it will seem to see Ma and girls and F. Thede has a pass, too. C. G. and Tully (Norton) rode to town with us. Stayed at the National.
21st. John Devlin went down to Oberlin without a pass. Will probably be punished. Took a letter for C. G. and brought another from Fred which C. G. showed to me. Both good. Issued rations for 11 days. After going round with potatoes, felt rather tired. A sore toe, miserable corn.
20th. Issued bread and beef after breakfast. Then got up rations to issue for the remainder of the month. No lesson again. Read some and played checkers. C. G. slept with me last night and did not wake up, so has had to work all day. He received a letter from Fred.
19th. In the morning cared for Rowena and gave out the bread. Read “Thirteen Months in the Rebel Service” by Stevenson, very interesting. No lesson in the evening. Capt. and Lt. Case gone home. Studied mine but did not care much about reciting. Wish I could go home now, too.
