Huntsville, Ala., April 3, 1864.
Thunder, lightning and rain are having a little time by themselves outdoors to-night. No audience, but guards and government mules, but that don’t seem to affect the show. We have a right good hotel here, a rather lively party, and have spent a pleasant, highly gaseous evening, Colonel Oglesby, Dr. Morris and Captain Wilkinson of our division. We came down on two days’ leave, principally to see the place, but all having more or less business. Found Will Trites this a.m.; dined with him, and this afternoon four of us have been riding. I enjoyed it very much. Had good horses, and ’tis a beautiful town. I think the finest I have seen South; but nothing near what Decatur, Bloomington, Quincy and a dozen other Illinois towns promise to be when they have half its age. In the cemetery there are as many really fine monuments as there were in the Chicago cemetery in 1859, and should think it not more than half the size of the new Canton graveyard. Our soldiers have been registering their names on the finest of the monuments. It looks so sacrilegious, and fully as ridiculous. They have a beautiful custom here of placing wreaths of flowers and bouquets upon the graves. This p.m. (Sabbath) nearly every grave had one or more such offerings. I attended the Presbyterian church this a.m., and certainly never heard the English language so abused before. The minister was a citizen. Did not by a word allude to the war in sermon or prayers. Most of the ladies wore mourning. Very full attendance of them. All who refused the “oath” here, have been sent across the river. Saw General McPherson at breakfast this morning looking as of old. We were paid four months last Thursday.