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my arrival, struck one of them with a rock.
He would have been bucked and gagged but
for Benson's intervention. Poor fellow! What a
pang this news will give to his father and mother!
He has made a bad impression on his company— They
seem to be disappointed in him and to regret his
election as Orderly. I shall hold a tight rein on
him, but he is hard to govern. While I was writing the
last sentence, Capt. Williams of Heard came in to see if
I would take his company and two men from Carroll
into our association for a Regt. I feel great embarrassment
in answering him. My Battalion consists
of 7 cos. but I have heard (indirectly) that the Columbia
Co. will not arrive. I incline to believe this report
for they have limits which do not embrace the present
field of service, and I suspected from some
droppings at my house, that they were inclined to be
off. If they were out, these other three would just
complete the Regt, for the Greene county Cavalry co. has
joined us since our arrival here and is now in
camp with us. If the Columbia Co. comes, then
they would make one too many, and the three
want to go together. If they dont come to me they
will probably go to Judge Floyd who has 7 Cos. and
has been soliciting these three to join him. I have
not solicited them nor anybody else.

Co. was to take a vote on the bounty question and
the Captain was to inform me of the result. He has
not done so, and under these circumstances I have
explained it all to Capt. Williams and answered
him that we would take his three cos.. He
then wanted to know about what appointments I
would make. I told him I would make no pledges
as I had made none. He expressed his approval
of that course, and then said he would see the other
cos, and let me hear from them definitely this evening.
My position on the "appointments" may scare them off.
Speaking of appointments, my old class-mate Robert J.
Henderson of Covington desires promotion to a Brigadiership
He has eighteen months experience as a Colonel, and he
is a man of character and education) without any decided
natural ability. (I have no doubt he would
make a better Brigadier than many we have. He
and his Rgt. were among the Vicksburg Captives. I
told him what rule you had adopted in relation to
military recommendations, but that I would lay his case
before you with a request that you would do for him
what you could consistently with your views of
right and propriety.) My sick man White is better
and will go home this evening on furlough provided
Gen. Cobb will approve it as I have little doubt he
will. (He is very agreeable and courteous to me as

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