The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-19

my house, is an empty acker-box, set
upon its side, with the open face fronting
me, the inside Of which l have divided
into two apartments, upper and
lower. The lower shelf contains
my bareback" and sOw-belly."
The upper is occupied by my liter
airy requisites. Ny table is covered with
q clean, neat copy Of the "Union," whilst
I an now writing, and an inkstsnd, q
bottle of mucilage, couple of steel pens
aud holders, my spectaeles, (for night
use my smoking pipe, square of India
rubber, q paper of pins and fne-tOoth
comb, (for which have no use, complete
the ola padrIdra. Alongside of my Chin
ney, which is to the left of the door, is 3
small shell, bearing my drinking cup, a
box intended to contain sugar, tin plate,
knife, fork, and spoon, home made cam
die stick; and, underneath this shelf,
stands my little coffee bucket, which is
used for the boiling process. In my fire.
place, which can reach with my hand,
as am now sitting on my bed and wri-
ting on my table, are few dying embers,
as it is now raining, and the unwelcome
fluid intrudes itself down my chimney.
However, | viii throw on bunch OF
dry chips which 1 have stored away un-
der the bed, and l viii soon have 8 cheer
full blaze. My bedstead is covered with
q rubber blanket, an immense number Of
old papers, and . half Of an old shelter
tent. This comprises my bed. For COW
ering / have one-half of wooden blank
ct, and this l retained all summer, 30 IS
to be provided when cold BOreas" arrived.
Ny knapsack, containing an extra pair
Of under ulnlentionables, he shirt, pair
Ct stockings, and my tobacco, is my con-
slant pillow, summer and winter. Ny
house is not very comfortable, as you may
opine; bat its occupant is cheerful, new
ertheless, and cOmpOsedly resigned to his
fate as loyal Union soldier. Though
it is not proof against wind, and rain,
and cold, its occupant knows that it
would prove luxury to his comrades
who are now in tho open field, on the
march, perhaps, without any shelter, and
with bat scanty supply of food. 1t is
G.is oontrast that makes us resigned, al
though our minds will sometimes revert
to the traitors who are reposiDg in safety
and ease at home, when the blood within
US will boil with heated resentment; but
we are again cOnsOled with the thought
that 'every dog has his day"
Well, sir, / have given you q minute
description Of my house, (but don't want
the ladies to see it, as they may charge
me with bachelor procliVities, and | am
young, good-lOoking fellow, and intend
to marry when this cruel war is over,")
and now l will proceed to give you its
situation. It stands in the camp of the
9Th Indiana Regiment. south of Chatta-
nooga, and immediately north of and
facing Missionary Ridge, and to the east
of Lookout Mountain. twenty-five
PAGES from my house you can have fair,
open view of the late battle ground, and
you can also see the spot which contains
the inferred remains of the martyrs to
liberty, who fell on tho 18th ult Should
any good, loyal citizen chance to visit
this place, cordially invite him TO my
house, provided he is willing to share the
1 prefer, which is one half of
u rations of hard bread and side bacon,
with q mouthful of indifferent coffee, TO
wash it down! But my bed is wide
enough for two and l will awaken such
a patriotic feeling in your bosom that
you will not wish to return again until
the war is over. Come one, come aIl!-
and heavy bounty critters"
accepted. You will know my house by its
humble, Indifferent appearance. The
latch is always on the outside lift it and
walk in.
Well, Mr.. Editor, l commenced with
comments on the advent of Christmas,
and now find that have been rambling
III through my house, and have not said |
much about the approaching holiday
season. But Unjust tell you that " Jeems" |
has arrived, after long absence, and he |
Is 'thering me so with his quaint stories
hat l scarcely know what am writing.
lie has been in Indiana, on o recruit |
ing detail, but be says you might
ust as we'll look for hens teeth in q
lhotecary- pop window, as to try to get
men to go and fight, bleed, and die for
their country nOw-a-daysl lie says that
are dying in Indians, who
we're never known to die beforehand all |
IN account Of the coming draft He
thinks the draft will catch some of them.
no; but they exullingly told him that
hey would have the pleasure of spend
ing the coming Christmas at home, at any
rate, while he would be fsasting (or fast
lne) on his short ratiOns. "Alas, for the
reality !" exclaims poor "Jeems"
When your bowl smokes with some
hing reviving and hot, that's the time
10 remember the poor (soldier). So
Jeems" says, and we heartily agree
with him, anxiously awaiting the {" good
lime coming" "Jeems" informs ~ that
he heard many Of the phair sex say that
they were intending to send "Young
Soldier" some Christmas gifts but he
was requested not to make it known to
rs, as they wished to take US by surprise.
30 we shall patiently await the agreeable