So Jim Fleming has commenced going to see Ellen Seely, has he? It will be Willie's turn next. When one of the boys in that family pays his attentions to a girl the rest must all do likewise. Never mind. Let them associate with their "turn-hen rabble." notwithstanding "we were all drunk when we volunteered," when we get home we can associate with better society than they. John, the talk is that Major [Benjamin Dana] Fearing [of Harmar, age 26] is to be Lieutenant Colonel of that new Regiment they are raising at Marietta [92nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry]. If we lose him, the old 77th is about as good as "Gone up." All the drilling of the Regiment has been done by him, and we can boast of a Regiment as well drilled as any in the Division. If he leaves, the Regiment will not probably be drilled once a month, and sickness and demoralization will be the result. Events may turn out differently from what I suppose and I earnestly hope so. What we have left are picked and no better men can be found in the Army. But many of our Officers are at fault and half of them do not know half as much as any private in the ranks. That, sir, is the reason the rebellion was not crushed long ago. Too many ignorant officers in the Army allowed to retain their positions, when they never have drilled their companies once, never have been in battle with their men, nor never intend to be, and are now squandering away their time drinking or in some other foolish way, when they do not know one movement in the manual of arms or company drill.