I dare not yet hope that the promise of the President's Proclamation will be kept.
For myself I can be indifferent, for the experience here has been its own daily and hourly reward; and the adaptedness of the freed slaves for drill and discipline is now thoroughly demonstrated, and must soon be universally acknowledged.

But it would be terrible to see this regiment disbanded or defrauded.
January 12.
Many things glide by without time to narrate them.

On Saturday we had a mail with the President's Second Message of Emancipation, and the next day it was read to the men.

The words themselves did not stir them very much, because they have been often told that they were free, especially on New Year's Day, and, being unversed in politics, they do not understand, as well as we do, the importance of each additional guaranty.

But the chaplain spoke to them afterwards very effectively, as usual; and then I proposed to them to hold up their hands and pledge themselves to be faithful to those still in bondage.