was given an indefinite leave of absence.  There was wrangling, too, among the Brigadiers in Hood’s Division, Jenkins, Law, and Robertson.  Jenkins being a new addition to the division, was senior officer, and commanded the division in Hood’s absence by virtue of his rank.  Law had been in the division since its formation, and after Hood’s disabilities from wounds, commanded very acceptably the balance of the days at Gettysburg.  For this and other meritorious conduct, he thought the command should be given to him as senior in point of service with the division.  Robertson had some personal difficulty with General Longstreet, which afterwards resulted in a call for a courtmartial.  The advanced ideas and undisguised views of Longstreet himself were considered with suspicion by both the President and the General commanding the army, and had it not been for the high prestige and his brilliant achievements in the East, the unbounded love and devotion of his troops, the loyalty and confidence of General Lee in the high military ability of the old War Horse, his commander of the First Corps, in all probability his official head would have fallen in the basket.  But President Davis was strong in his prejudices and convictions, and as usual, tenacious in his friendship and confidence towards his favorites.  Bragg, in President Davis’ estimation at least, was vindicated, but at the expense of his subalterns, and was, therefore, retained in command in the face of overwhelming discontent among the Generals and the pressing demands of public opinion for his recall from the command of the army.

General Lee in the meantime had sought to relieve the pressure against Bragg as much as possible by making a demonstration in force against Meade, forcing the Federal Army back behind Bull Run, thereby preventing a further reinforcement of Rosecrans from the Army of the Potomac.

I digress thus far from the thread of my story, that the reader may better understand the conditions confronting our army—­the morale, and esprit de corps of the officers and troops composing it.

On the 19th of October General Rosecrans was superseded by Major General George B. Thomas, in command of the Union Army, with Grant, who was rapidly climbing to the zenith of this renown, marching to his relief as commander of the department.

A considerable commotion was caused in camp about the last of October by the news of a large body of Union soldiers making a demonstration against our left flank and rear.  It seems that a body of troops had embarked on board pontoon and flat boats in Chattanooga, and during the night had floated eight miles down the river and there were joined by a similar body marching over land on the north side.  This formidable array was crossed over to the south side and moved in the direction of our rear and our line of communication under cover of the hills and mountain ridges.  Jenkins’ and McLaw’s Divisions were ordered to intercept them and drive them off.  A night