Tuesday 19th  We have Just finished a good dinner.  Buiscuit - Butter Coffee - Boiled beef, stewed apples - & sweet cakes-. & the beauty of it all is that we were all able to do the dinner Justice.  The arms & Equipments of the 23 were inspected to day & every thing looks as if we were to start on an expedition to the interior.  The men are drawing clothing - blankets - shelter tents amunition &c.  Gen Dana is in command of the expedition & sent an order around to day - "that this expedition is expected to fight on foot & not on wheels" as though the 13th Army Corps had been acustomed to do our fighting on wheels.  This army has no confidence in its leaders & will never stand the hardship it would under more favorable circumstances - We will try & do our duty faithfully but the 23 will never be driven.  We have as a Reg - won a name that we prize & we know that the people of Iowa appreciate our efforts - & now after all our hardships - & in view of the noble dead of our comrades we are about entering on a campaign fraught with toil & danger led by men we have no confidence in & that the soldiers all hate.  What can be expected of us under such circumstances?  more than all this - we are to go on foot - officers & all except the Generals & their staff & the field officers, Cols &c, we will have to carry our valises & blankets & clothing &c.  This is a rather gloomy picture & I wish it was not so & I must repeat a request I have made before, viz - that you keep all such communications such as reflections on the conduct of the officers in the army - as much to yourself and tried & true confidentials as you well can.  I might be considered hard to please, but this is the general feeling pervading the entire expedition
