[64] regiments in the Army of the Potomac. These outside movements will be like pictures in the one-day-to-be-written history of the war. . . . . December 4.—How does the old Academy flourish? I hope for the Allens' sake, excellently well. I must resign my secretaryship of the Board. Tell Ned he must be my successor, and he must enter my military rank in the records somehow. It will be the first instance of such a record among the Quakers. I won't resign my trusteeship, however. . . . . January 16, 1863.—Every day this week I have been attending a court-martial, . . . . and it is a great nuisance; for it takes me from my regiment, and I am losing the invaluable opportunity of making myself a good commander. You can't imagine how it galls me. There is no escape, and it may last a month. .... February 4.—None did so well as the Thirty-eighth; we did not make a single mistake. Were twice complimented by General Emory. First, when we passed in review, he said, “The Thirty-eighth is doing finely.” This to his staff; and subsequently in the drill, when we were the only regiment which went through an important movement all right, in a tone to be heard all over the field, “Very well done, that Massachusetts regiment on the left.” These are little things, to be sure, but they are gratifying to officers and men. One great thing we have gained, and that is in the gratification experienced by the men, who have their regimental pride stimulated immensely. . . . . February 9.—We had made up our minds to a lively enterprise with danger in it, but one likely to be successful, and give us a little reputation; and now, after a week tied up to the levee, we are on our way down to Carrolton .... February 23.—I find plenty to do in camp, and am never so contented as when attending to my duties here. As to the absurd twaddle about “the Union as it was,” I am astonished that men of sense can indulge in such ridiculous nonsense. It is infernal humbug, all of it. People may argue and speechify as much as they please, they can't help it. This is a revolution, and must result in a complete reorganization of social systems, and all the old fogies in Christendom can't prevent it. . . . . Lord, how I wish I could put a few hundreds of the stay-at-homes into a regiment, and put them on knapsack drills whenever they opened their mouths to say a word on public affairs. . . . .
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