1861 October 8

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

it rain part of the
night last but we
slept first rate all
night but we did
not like damp beds
I was up simons
creek to day to get
a chicken for my
patient he is getting
better fast now for
the flux has changed
on him and he
can eat something
to day we will
get some beef this
evening or tomorrow
we got some sweete
potatoes for to eat
they go pretty good
boiled there was a
fellow slept all night
with a snake under
his head it was a
viper he said it snored
like a man he
killed it in the
morning it was
a bout 2 feete long
I had at lot of chesnuts
to day the are geing ripe

MSS 13405