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directions from this place. There has been three Cav. reg.s camped here during the winter and there has been a battalion more or less out nearly all the time notwithstanding the bad weather and muddy roads. The first battalion of this regiment, (that is companies A, G, D & K) were out on a two days scout. We took a circle around pretty nigh to Hollysprings and captured two secesh officers and one that wasent an officer but who made it his especial business to skulk about and pop over unlucky cotton buyers and rob them, he may be summarily dealt with. There is a great activity at present in the removal of infantry from this place and other points along this railroad line. They were going all last night and still continue to go. While I write I can hear iron horses running, wheezing and whistling and now and then a train loaded with soldiers rattles off as if the old scratch was after it. The troops are going by rail to Memphis but I don't know where they go from there. It is my opinion that every thing is in readiness at Vicksburge for the grand assault and that all the available troops are being drawn from the various points to participate. Whether there will be any use for cavalry at that place or if there is whether or not this regiment will be called upon I cannot say. This place may be entirely abandoned and it may not. The ways of those in command are inscrutable and past finding out. I have quit makeing conjectures as to the probable termination of the war but we are certainly nearer the end than when we first began. I suppose the copperheads in Illinois would rejoice to hear of our being defeated at Vicksburg but there will be a day of reckoning for those vill traitors. But I am not going to comment upon their evil doings words don't reach their case. Like a passionate man that I once knew from whom the most trivial vexation would call forth a torrent of oaths he was upon a certain time hauling turnips up a steep hill when the end gate came out of his wagon and the turnips tumbled out and rolled to the bottom of the hill. He looked at the spectacle a moment