I have neve in my letters dwelt so long on this subject but I may as well work off my wrath while I am at it.  I don't like this stand still & do nothing idea -  Here we are now & have been for 6 or 8 weeks some 10 Regiments of us.  I have never done any thing but frighten away two or three thousand "Butternuts" from Pitmans Ferry.  We only got a glimpse at their retreating rear guard.  & one more demonstration of the same kind at Dalles.  In each case as soon as they ran we turned around & came home.  & the newspapers call them victories, such warfare don't suit my notions of what war ought to be.  I would follow them & either anihilate them or drive them clear out of the country, but that would not be carrying on the war scientifically.  My plan always was if I had any thing to do to do it & quit.  This may look to you as though I was out of humor, the only excuse I can give for it is that last nigh I eat butter cakes fried in grease & I may have eaten to many of them for they were a rarity & I was hungry, & it may have somewhat deranged my digestive organs, for I remember that in my dreams I passed through many of my boyhood scenes - I was all over the Cedar Cliffs on Fall Creek & fell off a time or two, & climbing into the top of the old cherry trees & large apple trees in Grandfathers old orchard, & my! how high they were, I thought several times the ground would catch me!  But to day I have been dieting on potatoe soup & feel first rate this evening.  I must go to roll call  good night - Lyle
