It. R. Cobb. 295
July 30. Large reinforcements are being sent to Stonewall Jack- son, and I shall look anxiously for news of an engagement with Pope. Would it not be glorious if God would so order that this man of faith should be our chief deliverer?
August 4. To-day, as General McLaws and I were about to in- spect the camps, General Lee rode up. I asked him to accompany us. He replied: "Colonel, a dirty camp gives me nausea. If you say your camps are clean I will go." I said: " Using the words of a better man, come and see." The legion's camp was very nice. The 24th Georgia was swept as clean as a parlor, and the others were very good. General Lee was high in his praises. Returning to headquarters, I found a jug of buttermilk which had been sent me. Taking the jug, I told the General that it was said drinking was the curse of the army, and I supposed I must fall in and offer him a drink. The old fellow laughed and drank a tumbler full. While we were riding I had a singular conversation with General Lee. He commenced by saying he relief on Howell and me more than any two officers in the civil part of the army. He then asked me why I did not raise my legion to a brigade that he was trou- bled at its separation, but it was impossible to keep it together, and he would be delighted if I would raise it to a brigade. I listened to him, but shook my head and said: " General, six months ago I did that very thing under authority of President Davis, and he repu- diated it. I cannot go through that again." "But," said he, " there is no objection now. There was a difficulty then Governor Brown claimed your regiments. The President told me so." I re- plied: " General, the President was not candid with you. My regi- ments went into the Governor's camp by his express permission. The President did not give you the true reason. He gave me a very different one. It was my brother's appointment." The con- versation was interrupted here and was not resumed.
August 6. The Yankees have retaken Malvern Hill and the ob- ject of this expedition seems to be to drive them away. General Lee and General Stuart have both written very complimentary let- lers about the manner in which my cavalry behaved.
August 7. Last night we were ordered out to advance on Malvern Hill. We were on the right flank and our column was the only one which engaged the Yankees. They soon skedaddled and we took possession of the hill. There were 20,000 of them on the hill. They left in such a hurry that our men found a good quantity of crackers which is all they have had to eat in two days.
