[135] August 20.—I began to appreciate how little an officer has to eat on the march. It is rather ridiculous. August 23.—We were aroused by the pleasant process of having our wood shelled by the Rebels. I must confess it was highly disagreeable .... We could not raise anything to eat but a few unripe apples. August 24.—Last night one of the officers said he wished he was dead, or a prisoner, or with the wagon train, he did not much care which; and I think we all felt pretty much the same way then. Now that we have feasted on mutton, we feel better! August 25.—We then, after an ear of corn apiece, sought our couch on the grass. This marching without knapsacks, sleeping on the ground without blankets, and starving, is beginning to tell very severely on men and officers. August 26.—Joy of joys! Two wagons arrived, one with rations and one with officers' bedding. I suppose you know that letters are cut off. The Waterloo of this war will, I think, be fought in a few days in this neighborhood. You have no idea how heartsick one feels at a mail's arriving with nothing for one in it. I am very much struck with the difference of the feeling about the Rebels here and at home. I hear no bitterness of feeling expressed towards them by officers or men. They want to thrash them in order to end the war and get home, but do not seem to hate them in the least. September 2.—Completely used up: could n't have marched a mile farther. This starving takes a man's strength down awfully.On the same day Mills was detailed as Acting Adjutant. He wrote:—
I should as soon have thought of being ordered to act as Major-General. It is a very arduous and important post. One advantage is, that I have a horse,—an immense blessing on the march which we shall have to-morrow.Mills had now suffered whatsoever of hardship a campaign
