A Secesh preacher, who was elected to a captaincy in the Home-Guards at Chattanooga, hearing they were likely to be called out, sent in the following note: "dear curnel i beg to resind my commishen. Being a disciple of Krist i can not take up the sord." A LACONIC SPEECH. An amusing sword presentation took place one day in camp. The 78th Pennsylvania presented a sword to their colonel, William Sirwell. Captain Gillespie spoke as follows: "Here _we_ are, and here _it_ is. This is a bully sword, and comes from bully boys; take it, and use it in a bully manner." Colonel Sirwell replied: "Captain, that was a bully speech. Let's all take a bully drink." CHAPTER XX. Union Men Scarce -- How they are Dreaded -- Incidents -- The Wealthy Secessionists and Poor Union Widows -- The John Morgans of Rebellion -- A Contraband's Explanation of the Mystery -- Accident at the South Tunnel -- Impudence of the Rebels -- A Pathetic Appeal, etc. Camp near Gallatin, Tenn., _November 20, 1862_. A trip from the tunnel to Gallatin, and back, is a good day's sport, for it behooves all to be on the alert, to avoid being captured by citizen guerrillas. A number of this brigade have already been "gobbled up," while out hunting luxuries at farm-houses. This became so frequent that the General in command issued an order prohibiting the boys from leaving camp without special permission. Folks at home have frequently heard of the strong Union sentiment pervading Tennessee, but, "cuss me" if I haven't hunted in vain for the article during the past two weeks, and, with no exception whatever, save among the laboring class, have I found an out-and-out Union man. They answer with a "double meaning," when questioned, and are _professed_ Union men while the army is here, and strong Secessionists when the rebel army can protect them. The fact is, all the true Union men have been driven by the merciless foe into the woods--at any rate from their homes. Acts of the most fiendish barbarity have been committed, and the aiders and abettors are within a few miles of this camp, unmolested, enjoying the comforts of a home, while the true patriot, driven from his family to the hills of his native State, is "Unsheltered by night, and unrested by day; The heath for his barracks--revenge for his pay."