It appears to me that the Confederates possess certain great qualities as soldiers, such as individual bravery and natural aptitude in the use of firearms, strong, determined patriotism, and boundless confidence in their favorite generals, and in themselves.

June 1st, 1863 - Each regiment carried a 'battle-flag', blue, with a white border, on which were inscribed the names 'Belmont', 'Shiloh', 'Perryville', 'Richmond, Ky.', and 'Murfreesboro'. [Review of Confederate troops at Bellbuckle, Tenn.]

June 20th 1863 - ... I observed an enormous pile of excellent rifles rotting in the open air. These had been captured at Chancellorsville; but the Confederates already have such a superabundant stock of rifles that apparently they can afford to let them spoil.

June 22nd, 1863 - The Confederates are now entirely armed with excellent rifles, mostly Enfields. When they first turned out they were in the habit of wearing numerous revolvers and bowie-knives. General Lee is said to have mildly remarked "Gentlemen, I think you will find an Enfield rifle, a bayonet and sixty rounds of ammunition, as much as you can conveniently carry in the way of arms." They laughed and thought they knew better; but the six-shooters and bowie-knives gradually disapeared; and now none are to be seen among the infantry.

June 22nd, 1863 - The colors of the regiments differ from the blue battle flags I saw with Bragg's army. They are generally red with a blue St. Andrew's Cross showing the stars. ... Most of the colors in this Division [Pender's], bear the names Manassas, Fredricksburg, Seven Pines, Harper's Ferry, Chancellorsville, &c.

June 23rd, 1863 - At no period of the war, they say, have the men been so well equipped, so well clothed, so eager for a fight, or so confident of success ...

June 25th, 1863 - The knapsacks of the men still bear the names of the Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey or other regiments to which they originally belonged.

June 25th, 1863 - They marched very well [Semme's and Barksdale's brigades], and there was no attempt at straggling; quite a different state of things from Johnston's men in Mississippi. All were well shod and efficiently clothed.

July 1st, 1863 - ... I saw, for the first time, the celebrated "Stonewall" Brigade.... In appearance the men do not differ from other Confederate soldiers, except, perhaps, the brigde contains more elderly men and fewer boys.

July 2nd, 1863 - The Southern troops when charging, or to express their delight, always yell in a manner peculiar to themselves. The Yankee cheer is much more like ours [British]; but the Confederate officers declare that the rebel yell has a particular merit, and always produces a salutary and useful effect upon their adversaries. A corps is sometimes spoken of as a "good yelling regiment".

July 6th, 1863 - I particularyly observed the marching today of the 21st Mississippi, which was uncommonly good. This regiment all wear short round jackets, a most unusual circumstance, for they are generally unpopular in the South.

July 9th, 1863 - The Confederate has no ambition to imitate the regular soldier at all; he looks the genuine rebel; but in spite of his bare feet, his ragged clothes, his old rug, and toothbrush stuck like a rose in his button-hole*, he has a sort of devil-may-care, reckless, self-confident look which is decidedly taking. * This toothbrush in the buttonhole is a very common custom, and has a most quaint effect.