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diff --git a/old/69151-0.txt b/old/69151-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 848b4bd..0000000 --- a/old/69151-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2516 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The siege of Vicksburg, by Seth James -Wells - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The siege of Vicksburg - From the diary of Seth J. Wells - -Author: Seth James Wells - -Contributors: May Wells Bliss - Sarah Ewell Krolik - -Release Date: October 13, 2022 [eBook #69151] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David E. Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG *** - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - The Siege of - VICKSBURG - - FROM - THE DIARY OF SETH J. WELLS - - INCLUDING - - WEEKS OF PREPARATION AND OF - OCCUPATION AFTER THE - SURRENDER - - DETROIT, MICHIGAN - WM. H. ROWE, Publisher. - - 1915. - - - - - Copyright 1915 - BY - MAY WELLS BLISS - AND - SARAH EWELL KROLIK - - All Rights Reserved - - - - - In Loving Memory - OF - Seth James Wells - AND - Frank Ewell Wells - - - - -Foreword - - -The Diary of Seth J. Wells from June 14th, 1861, to July 9th, 1864, -relates to the every day life of the soldier in camp and field and -records its tramps and hardships cheerfully borne. - -The Siege of Vicksburg is taken from the Diary. - -He was born on April 26th 1842 in Iowa, Des Moines County, near the -village of Rising Sun and was reared in his Grandfather Ewell’s family -on the “Ewell Farms” in Michigan, Macomb County, near the village of -Utica. - -He was wounded in battle and died a few days later in a hospital at -Vicksburg on July 9th 1864. He enlisted on June 12th 1861 and served in -three companies of the United States Army during the Civil War: Company -E, 12th Indiana; Company K, 17th Illinois; Company G, 8th Illinois. The -brothers, Frank and Seth, were together in Company K, 17th Illinois. - - S. E. K. - - - - -The Siege of Vicksburg - - -DUNLAP SPRINGS, NOV. 3, 1862. We have built a snug log house and last -night for the first and probably last time have slept in it; for our -company has orders to move down town and act as city guards. There -are eight or ten regiments here, some of them new ones from Jackson, -Miss. The new regiments, like all new ones, have great confidence in -themselves and think the war is to be settled by them and them only. -There is an undercurrent of jealousy existing between the old and new -troops. The old troops call the new ones “forty dollar men,” “bounty -men,” and “home guards.” Last Friday, Oct. 31, we had general review -from Gen. McPherson who is here commanding the post. There were twenty -regiments, ten thousand men, I should judge, on the field. There is -a great forward movement taking place. All the troops started out on -the Grand Junction road this morning with the exception of the 43rd, -and 17th Ill. The weather is fine, the days are warm and pleasant, but -the nights are very cold and frosty. About once in ten days we have -a northeast rainstorm, followed by cold weather and sleet. We are on -guard every other day, sometimes every third day. - -NOV. 7. We got a buggy shed from the citizens, boarded it up tight, -built a furnace in it, and were just putting on the finishing touches, -(battening up the cracks with cotton) when we received marching orders. -Such is the fortune of war. - -NOV. 8. We struck our tents and started for Grand Junction about 10 -o’clock. The boys are in fine health and spirits. We marched about nine -miles and camped by a clear spring. - -NOV. 9. Sunday. We marched about fifteen miles today and arrived at -LaGrange, three miles west of Grand Junction. It is dry and very dusty. -Sometimes the dust was so thick we could not see the ground. That and -the smoke and heat from the burning fences was almost intolerable. We -passed miles and miles of burnt and burning fences, fired by troops in -advance. Large and fine farms and plantations were laid waste. We met -fully forty teams of four and six mules each, loaded with wenches and -young woolly heads, and all their personal effects, and in fact all -they could smuggle from their masters. Ask them where they are going -and they will tell you, “You folks sent’s to Bolivar, don’t know where -wes goin’ from thar.” I blistered my feet badly on the march. We hear -that Hollow Springs is evacuated. We have very stringent orders in -regard to stealing. Everything has to be paid for by the division when -it cannot be traced to the company, regiment or brigade of the persons -committing the theft. I hope they will be enforced. - -NOV. 14. All quiet. We had brigade drill this forenoon. Our brigade -consists of the 7th Missouri, 8th, 63rd and 18th Illinois, commanded by -Col. Stevenson of the 7th Missouri. Our regiment is the first of the -fourth brigade, third division, of the right wing of Gen. Grant’s army. -Gen. John A. Logan made a speech to the troops this afternoon. - -NOV. 20. Col. Stevenson made a few remarks to us this morning after -drill. He is good natured and jolly, and a fine speaker. He gave us -great praise and said he had the 7th Missouri, 8th and 63rd Illinois, -with the pick of another five or six regiments, among them ours. He -took us and placed us on the right of his brigade in preference to any -other. - -NOV. 21. Our brigade was reviewed by Generals McPherson and Logan this -afternoon. Gen. McKean’s brigade was reviewed today. - -NOV. 24. There was grand review this afternoon. Generals McPherson, -Grant and Logan were the review officers. The weather is fine but the -nights are very cold. - -NOV. 25. On picket one mile southeast of LaGrange, the night was very -cold. - -NOV. 27. We received orders to pack up and be ready to move down town -this morning, where we were to be quartered and remain as provost -guard. We marched down about 8 o’clock and secured our quarters. -Sixteen, including Frank and myself, took a room upstairs in an old -grocery with an old stove. During the day we fixed our bunks and got -some benches from a church close by, and by night had things quite -comfortable. LaGrange comes nearer to being like a northern town than -any other I have seen in the South. - -NOV. 28. I was on guard in front of the Provost-marshall’s office -today. The troop began to move toward Holly Springs long before day -light. While I was in town five batteries and as many brigades passed. -Gen. Grant passed us a number of times. He is looking a great deal -better than when at Inka. - -NOV. 29. The troops have mostly passed out and it is getting quiet once -more. - -DEC. 1. While I was looking out of the window this morning at some -recruits for the 48th Indiana, whom should I see but John Metternich of -our old company. (Co. E, 12th Ind.) He was as much surprised as I; the -last time I saw him, his head was bruised and bleeding as the result -of a spree. This morning a band of guerillas came up within about two -miles of this place, captured a number of mules and burned the cotton -they were hauling. - -DEC. 2. Tuesday. The 109th Ill. came in tonight. - -DEC. 4. I was on guard today. It rained nearly all day, and toward -night we had a real northerner. - -DEC. 5. Late in the afternoon it turned cold and began to freeze and -snow. - -DEC. 6. Ground is frozen quite solid this morning, for the first time -this winter. There is some excitement among the boys of the 17th in -regard to a report that Gov. Yates has ordered home ten of the old -regiments to recruit and fill up their ranks. If any go, the 17th will -probably be one of them, as the company reports only twenty-two for -duty. - -DEC. 7. Sunday. I was detailed for guard this morning and stood before -the provost-marshall’s office. - -DEC. 9. On fatigue. Weather fine. - -DEC. 10. Weather fine. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. - -DEC. 11. Weather warm. I was on fatigue nearly all day, cutting and -hauling wood for the company. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. Just -at dusk the news came in that a guerilla band was to attack us before -morning. Fifty men from our regiment and forty-eight from the 126th -(which is here doing picket duty) were detailed to build breastworks of -cotton, four hundred bales of which lay near the depot. Col. Norton and -Major Bates did the engineering. After they had finished we lay on our -arms during the night, but no enemy made its appearance, and about 7 -o’clock we were ordered back to camp. - -DEC. 12. Quite sore from chopping and rolling cotton. Our Colonel, -Amos Norton, is Commander of the Post, and Rats is provost-marshal, -Col. Smith commanding the regiment. Toward dark a rumor was rapidly -circulated through the camp that we were ordered to Holly Springs, -Miss. No one could tell where it started from, and consequently no one -credited it. - -DEC. 13. Marching orders, sure enough. We drew three days’ rations this -morning, with orders to have two cooked and in our haversacks, ready -to march at 5 o’clock the next morning. I have a new pair of boots -which I expect to break in on the march--or they will break me. We were -relieved this morning by the 126th. I have a very severe cold. - -DEC. 14. Sunday. Reveille sounded this morning a little after 2 -o’clock. We filled our haversacks, got our breakfasts, and by daylight -were ready for the march. We fell into ranks, the regiment was formed, -and then we witnessed an unexpected ceremony which is disgusting -to every true soldier--the drumming out of a fellow soldier for -disobedience and disgraceful conduct. I should prefer death to being -marched between two lines of a regiment by a guard, at a charged -bayonet, with an escort, the band playing the Rogues March, and the -remainder of the regiment standing at charged bayonets; but it was -soon over, the ranks were closed, and the regiment started on the -march. We crossed Wolf Creek, a fine stream one mile from LaGrange. We -passed over a fine country somewhat broken. The army has surely left -its mark here. Miles of fences and scores of houses have been burnt. -From one place we could count seven or eight ruins. The destruction of -property is not countenanced by a good soldier, but every regiment has -its straggling, order breaking reprobates that are a disgrace to the -flag they fight under. We reached Coldwater toward night and camped. I -was on guard. I came across an old cove who helped build dam No. 4, in -Maryland, and knew all the citizens who live there now. - -DEC. 15. We struck tents early, packed our effects as snugly as -possible, and as on the preceding morning, shouldered our knaps. It -rained during our entire march to Holly Springs, the flower city of the -South, and on our arrival there the flood gates of heaven opened and -the rain poured down on our defenseless heads in torrents. We stood it -about two hours before the Colonel could secure quarters. Three-fourths -of a mile up the railroad track we found a very large rebel arsenal, -but were wet to the skin long before we reached this shelter. It -continued to rain all day without intermission. - -DEC. 16. We packed up twice to change our camp today, but the order was -countermanded each time. The arsenal is a very extensive building and -the rebels turned out one hundred small arms per day. We are preparing -it for an extensive hospital. Quartered here again tonight. I went up -to the depot and while there met old Captain Backman, of Co. C, 12th -Ind. Reg. He is now sutler in the same regiment, which is located but a -few miles below here doing picket duty on the railroad. - -DEC. 17. Toward night we received marching orders and started for -Abbyville at dark. We heard that there was great excitement at Jackson, -as an attack from a detachment of Bragg’s men was expected. We marched -about eight miles from town and crossed the Yazoo swamp, where we -camped for the night. The next morning we again packed up and started -for Abbyville. - -DEC. 18. We arrived at the Tallahatchie Bottoms about noon. Bissell’s -engineer regiment is encamped here. It has just finished the railroad -bridge over the river and the cars now pass on to Oxford in advance. -There was a clearing with two redoubts which we passed before entering -the woody bottoms of the Tallahatchie. The teams were halted and we -slung our knapsacks and carried them over the marshy bottoms. We had -advanced but a short distance when the formidable earthworks which the -Rebs had erected, loomed up before our eyes. When we once more struck -terra firma we were halted, unslung our knaps, and when the teams -came up, packed them on the wagons. I started on and entered the camp -of the 12th Ind. Volunteers. Found the old members of Co. E. divided -among two companies--F and I, both gotten up at Warsaw. We arrived at -Abbyville in the middle of the forenoon. The country between LaGrange -and Abbyville is rough and hilly. - -DEC. 19. Jesse Walker and I went out foraging and succeeded in -capturing a shoat. The nigs were left very destitute and there will be -a great deal of suffering if the government does not feed them. There -is a report that Jackson, Tenn., is threatened by Bragg; that there is -fighting there and our communications are cut off, at any rate troops -are on the move, being taken back by rail as fast as possible. There is -a great battle being fought this morning by Burnside’s men. They have -already fought one whole day. Burnie has crossed the river and holds -Fredericksburg. - -DEC. 20. The news came in this morning that Holly Springs was entered -at daylight and captured. The Rebels took over two hundred thousand -dollars and burned the depot with all the stores and the arsenal we -had fitted up for a hospital. After dinner we were set to work building -breastworks of cotton, having captured one thousand bales from the C. -S. A. When we first came here the regiment was scattered along the -railroad, one company in a place extending nearly to Oxford. Companies -G and K were kept here, this being the headquarters of Regiment 1, -Norton commanding the Post. Two companies below were sent up, and -by night we had a complete breast-work of cotton bales, regular old -hickory style. - -DEC. 21. The long roll was beaten at 3 o’clock this morning. The -company was formed and we marched down to our cotton fort where we lay -until daylight, when the other companies marched to their camps, and -we back to ours. Last night a division of cavalry passed, going north. -It was composed of the 3rd and 4th Ill., 7th Kansas and 3rd Mich. Just -before night Generals Ross and McArthur came into town with their -respective divisions. They are moving back for some cause. The weather -is fine but the nights are very cold. It is what people call pleasant -fall weather in Michigan. We have had no more snow since the flurry -in September, and the weather never was more favorable for a winter -campaign. The army is well clothed, having as much clothing as the -soldiers wish to pack. - -DEC. 22. On guard in Frank’s place, he has gone foraging ten miles -below. More troops passed on their way back. - -DEC. 23. Gen. Grant passed through here this morning on the train. The -division of Denver’s, (ex-governor of Kansas, for whom Denver City was -named) passed through here today also. The troops are all coming up -further north. The cars are going north loaded with cotton. I think -this is a cotton expedition. - -DEC. 24. On picket guard today. Got my boots half soled. Gen. McPherson -passed through here, and Logan’s division is coming up and passing -through. Our old brigade (Col. Stevenson’s) also passed. A train came -in a little after dark and was loaded with cotton. The country is -stripped of everything and so we are on half rations. All the hogs and -live stock have been killed. The Negroes are suffering and I think they -would welcome their old masters. There are a great many leaving, a -large carload left today. We have poorer fare than at any time since we -enlisted. - -DEC. 25. _Christmas._ I came off guard duty this morning. We drew half -rations for four days and part of that was cornmeal. Our coffee is rye -and in small quantities at that. The boys have gone out to see if they -can find a stray hog or beef for Christmas dinner. Oh! if I could be at -home today. - -_One o’clock._ We just now received marching orders to be ready -tomorrow morning. Frank, Bill, Buttons and Boggs of our mess, and Ragan -and Doughty of the Peacock mess, fetched in a whole beef, and a few -minutes later Abe, John and Scott brought in a whole hog. If we live on -half rations it will not be of meat, as we have a hog and half a beef. -It is very warm and pleasant today, I lay down and took a nap, but the -flies were so troublesome I could hardly sleep. - -DEC. 26. Warm and raining. We were astir early, cooked our breakfasts, -filled our haversacks with meat and what little bread we had, and fell -in about 7 o’clock. It began to rain and we had gone but a mile or two -when we were wet through. We secured two ox teams, one of six oxen, and -one of four, which hauled our knapsacks. The 12th Ind. is still camped -on the Tallahatchie. Saw Lieut. E. Webster and Tom Anderson, they are -living on quarter rations. Capt. Williams, now Colonel of the regiment, -was at Holly Springs at the time it was captured and he was taken for -the third time. We marched to the Yazoo Bottoms and camped on the -opposite side. It rained and we were completely soaked. The ground was -muddy and I looked around, found a stack of corn, dug down to the dry -stalks, husked out a lot and made a bed for myself. We are within seven -miles of Holly Springs. - -DEC. 27. Warm and rainy this morning. We struck out tents, fell in -about daylight and marched through to Holly Springs, where we saw the -effects of the late raid. - -A long ambulance train, a large hotel and one whole block was burned, -also the whole of the large arsenal building which we had prepared and -were using for a hospital, the large depot and all the supplies that -were in it, two or three engines and a long train of cars. When the -magazines exploded it jarred out nearly all of the window glass in that -part of the town. We camped on the north side in a beautiful grove. As -soon as camp was laid off we killed one of our oxen which had labored -so faithfully in hauling our knapsacks here, and drew one more day’s -rations to finish out our four days. The boys have taken the mills into -their own hands and are shelling and grinding corn, what they should -have done long ago, live off the country. They tell us that we are the -first regiment of the first brigade, sixth division (Gen. Arthur’s) of -Grant’s department. There has been no time to parole the sick. - -DEC. 28. Sunday. We lay here all day, all is quiet. - -DEC. 29. A foraging party went out this morning. One of our boys killed -five hogs and thirteen chickens, and found two government wagons and -two barrels of molasses that the Rebs had taken out from Holly Springs -and hidden. At 3 o’clock we had orders to move in twenty minutes for -Moscow, a small town ten miles west of LaGrange on the Memphis and -Charleston railroad. We marched to the opposite side of Coldwater and -camped for the night. Our brigade was in advance of the division and -our regiment in advance of the brigade. - -DEC. 30. Rained a good deal last night. We were up early. Our regiment -was rear guard to the wagon train today. It cleared off early and was -quite cool, making a fine day for marching. We carried our knapsacks -as on the previous day, and marched about eight miles. Fine country -between Coldwater and Moscow, that is for Mississippi. Most plantations -have fine mansions. There have been but few troops over this road, -consequently cattle and hogs are quite abundant. Our boys drove in -about sixty hogs and most of them are fine, fat ones. When they came -into camp the boys pitched in, each man for himself, and our mess got -half a hog. - -DEC. 31. Last night was very cold. It snowed quite hard. The regiment -formed this morning and guns were fired off. We were formed for muster -at 2 o’clock yesterday. Abe left our mess, also Geo. Scott, both were -ill. - -JAN. 1, 1863. Thursday. Bright and clear, warm and pleasant. How well -do I remember two short years ago today when we took a sleigh ride -and made a regular family visit at Uncle Tim’s. Since then I have -traveled over four thousand miles, five hundred and eighty of which I -marched with gun on my shoulder; have seen more vice and drunkenness -than I ever supposed existed, yet I hope I am morally no worse than -when surrounded by kind relatives and friends. An orderly call beat -immediately after reveille this morning at which time we received -orders to cook our rations and be ready by half past seven. We cooked -our fresh pork and by the appointed time had it in our haversacks, -and our knapsacks strapped on our backs, ready for the march. We went -eight miles and camped close to a small town called Lafayette, situated -on the Memphis and Charleston R. R. As soon as we had pitched our -tents, Chas. Berry and myself went out one mile from camp and killed a -hog. We are now the first regiment of the first brigade, commanded by -Brigadier-General McArthur, of Gen. Hamilton’s corps, of the left wing -of Gen. Grant’s army. We were put in the rear of the brigade today as a -special guard to keep up the stragglers. - -JAN. 2. Struck out tents early this morning and marched to -Colliersville, a distance of seven miles from Lafayette and twenty-four -from Memphis. As soon as we had stacked our arms and broken ranks, -John Cumbersworth and I went out a mile and a half from camp and got -a fine hog. While we were skinning it our orderly-sergeant, Sullivan, -Jesse Walker and Mike Walsh were captured not more than a quarter of -a mile distant, by a band of rebel cavalry. Sullivan turned and ran -and several shots were fired after him, which we heard plainly but we -thought it was the boys shooting hogs. When we got into camp Bob Dew -and Charlie Berry came in with their paroles, they having been caught -by the same company. Five paroled from Co. K in one day. Five such -days’ work will muster Co. K out of service. The 17th Ill. at present -musters about three hundred and fifty men. On guard tonight; storming -fearfully. - -JAN. 3. Quite pleasant during the day, but it rained heavily all night. - -JAN. 4. We had inspection at 1 o’clock. Col. Norton’s tent burned today. - -JAN. 5. Monday. I am on guard at the depot today. - -JAN. 8. Orders are very strict. If caught outside of the pickets the -fine is ten dollars. We get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and stack -our arms. I am on parole guard today. We expect to move in a day or two. - -JAN. 11. The regiment was formed at 4 this morning. In the afternoon -we received marching orders. Our division has been moving up all day. -Logan’s division is here. The stockade fort that the contrabands are at -work on near the depot is almost completed. At 4 o’clock we had dress -parade. Orders were read, fining the absentees from roll call since the -last of December, one dollar each time. - -JAN. 12. We were called up at half past three this morning and were on -the road inside an hour, and by sunrise were four miles on the way. -We arrived at Germantown about 10 o’clock. It is a village. At five -minutes before 12 o’clock we halted for dinner, and started again on -our march at 1 o’clock, our regiment in advance. We reached the edge of -a town at dusk where we learned that we were selected as guard at the -navy yard. As we passed through the town, the little children followed -us and hurrahed for Jeff Davis. We moved to the upper end of town and -encamped on land adjoining the navy yard. Col. Norton bought five -cords of wood for us. He made a speech in which he said Gen. Hamilton -ordered McArthur to send his best disciplined regiment here as guard, -and he wanted us to be strict, orderly, and diligent. He also said the -duty was a kind of secret service (how so I do not understand). The -guerillas crossed over last night, cut around and burned a steamer. We -are very tired this evening, having made the heavy march of twenty-six -miles. - -JAN. 13. We moved into the navy yard this morning. Had seven men -detailed for guard. I was one of them. We were put on camp, or chain -guard. I don’t see where the secret service comes in, for my part. I -was down to see the ex-reb gunboat, “Gen. Bragg,” she was injured at -Vicksburg and is being repaired. There are five or six mortar boats -lying close to shore. - -JAN. 14. I came off guard this morning. It rained very hard all the -latter part of the night. Another boat load of troops came down last -night, making five or six in all. They are from the Kansas Valley -Division of Fremont’s old forces. - -JAN. 15. About six inches of snow fell last night and it has snowed -all day. The citizens say it is the heaviest storm they have seen in a -number of years. By night it was about ten inches deep. The paymaster -paid off all but our company today. - -JAN. 16. We were paid off this morning, after which there was a general -settling up of accounts. I drew $41.00; $25.00 advance bounty, one -month’s advance pay, and $3.00 premium for re-enlisting. I expressed -$25.00 home. It is very cold this morning, not more than five or six -degrees above zero. Towards noon the report came that we were to be -relieved. We were almost frozen, having no chance to fire up and keep -warm. These are the dark days of a soldier’s experience. - -JAN. 17. I was on guard supernumerary in the daytime and stood beyond -Wolf Creek at night. Towards night the sergeant-major came along with -instructions to be ready at 6:30 o’clock in the morning to go aboard -the transports for down the river. - -JAN. 18. We were up early and had our things packed at 8 o’clock, fell -into ranks and marched down to the wharf and on board the “Superior,” -a fine river boat. The 11th Ill., 17th Ill., and part of the 16th -Wisconsin regiments are on our boat. It took all day to load and at -night we went up to the coal yard just above town to coal up. Abe and -I made our bed down on the top of the hurricane deck. About midnight -it began to sleet and rain, and before morning our blankets were -completely soaked. It was about as disagreeable a night as I ever spent. - -JAN. 19. Cold, rainy and windy. We lay here all day coaling up, and -suffered with the cold. Most of the boys kept warm by drinking whisky. -Nearly all have their canteens full. We have details patrolling the -town, picking up the stragglers. Still rainy and disagreeable. At 1:30 -the boats backed off and started down the river. We stopped a few -minutes at the forts, two or three miles below the town. There are -fifteen boats in the fleet, among the principal ones are the “Nettie -Dean,” “Silver Moon,” “Minnehaha,” “Platte Valley,” “Superior,” “Maria -Denning,” “Sunnyside,” “St. Louis,” “Gate City,” “Mary Forsythe,” -“City of Madison,” “Arago,” and “Belle Reora.” Our regiment lost about -fifty men at Memphis, three from our company. At dark we tied up to the -Arkansas shore. It was dreary and cold but I went on shore on purpose -to put my foot on Arkansas soil. We set our pickets and stayed all -night. Abe Van Auken and I slept under Jim Mitchell’s bunk, the same as -the night before and slept fine. - -JAN. 21. The boat shoved off at daylight and started down at 10 -o’clock. We arrived at Helena, a small town, where we stopped about -three hours, and then went on down the river. It is thickly timbered -on both sides most of the way. There are a few farm houses scattered -along. At sundown we tied up to the Arkansas shore just forty miles -above Napoleon, at the mouth of the Arkansas river. As soon as we -halted the “Silver Moon” played several tunes on her calliope. I went -back to a little town of Nig quarters just over the levee, about -one-half a mile from the river and tried to get something to eat, but -they had nothing to sell or give. Everything was eaten up and the -levees were all breaking away and they could not repair them as the -able bodied had run away. Most of the Whites that are not in the Rebel -service have left. One of our boats was fired on today. We passed -Napoleon about 9 o’clock. At sundown we tied up at the Mississippi -shore, eighty miles above the mouth of the Yazoo, and opposite the -state of Mississippi. - -JAN. 23. We started at sunrise as on the preceding morning. The wind -blew quite strong, making it difficult for some of the smaller boats -to keep up. When we were within a few miles of the Yazoo, the flagship -“Platte Valley” halted and gave us the signal to close up. We closed up -in regular order and about 3 o’clock came in sight of a fleet of eighty -transports and gunboats at the mouth of the Yazoo. We halted about one -mile above them, and twelve miles from Vicksburg by water, or eighty -by the short cut on the Louisiana side. The troops here tell us our -boys are working on the Farragut’s canal and are to have it finished -in a few days. We slept in the boat last night, Abe and I in our old -place. The country for over a hundred miles above here is quite thickly -settled by wealthy planters. On some of the plantations the Negro -quarters form quite a town. The trees on the shore are covered with a -long vine-like growth called Spanish moss. It is light green in color, -and gives an appearance of being dead and covered with icycles. - -JAN. 24. Rained all day; slept in the boat last night. - -JAN. 25. Sunday. The regiment was formed early this morning and we -moved back out of the levee into camp. The river is rising, it is on a -level with our camp. It is warm and pleasant, a real spring day. There -was heavy firing this evening down the river. I saw the “Chillicothe” -tonight. There were four men detailed to go down to the ditch tomorrow. - -JAN. 26. Warm and rainy. More boats went down last night, one war boat -and several transports. We heard heavy firing this morning, supposed to -be the gunboats. The river is still rising. - -JAN. 28. Bill Boggs and myself secured a pass this morning early and -started down to the canal. We followed the river bank until we were -about one mile and half from the ditch, when we saw that we were upon -a bayou that ran back up the river about two miles. We had to turn -back, feeling pretty badly sold as it made us four miles extra walk. -Young poplars were so thick that we could not see where we were for a -while. The levee is broken in two places. Our division (6th McArthur) -is repairing the upper one, and the lower division the lower one. -The water is running through here badly. They are planting artillery -behind the levee all along between camp and the ditch. The levee forms -a substantial breast-work. One mile this side of the ditch we came, -for the first time, within full view of Vicksburg. The town lies upon -the west side of a sloping bluff. One large church and the courthouse -and one earthworks could be distinguished quite plainly. The town did -not look more than two or three miles distant, but it is not less than -eight. An officer was looking through a glass, he could see transports -at the wharf, and a crowd collected around someone who was taking -observations. As we passed the mouth of the Yazoo we could look up and -see three or four gunboats and as many rams, while on this side lay the -“Chillicothe” and three rams. As I was going down I was hailed by two -cavalry men who had just passed me. On looking up, whom should I see -but Oll and Dave Hubler, formerly of Co. E, 12th Ind. They belong to -Co. C, 4th Ind. cavalry. They told me that Geo. Hissung is down here. -They are bodyguard to Gen. Smith. Pat Gallegher and Bill Humphrey, our -old first lieutenant and orderly, are here. Nearby is the far famed -ditch. About noon we sat down on its banks and took a good rest. The -boys encamped there say the water has risen one foot today. It is now -five feet deep and has a rapid current. It averages over twenty feet -wide upon the surface. The Mississippi is rising rapidly. I went down -to the lower end of the ditch, it is one mile and one-eighth in length. -There are heavy details at work throwing up a levee on the west side -of it. We have thirty two-pound parrots blockading the river. They -are posted behind the levee here. When we arrived Gen. McClernand was -taking observations. The Rebels are throwing up heavy works below the -mouth of the ditch upon the opposite side. It is about three miles -distant. We could see them moving around, coming up and going away. -We lay there about two hours and watched them. We could see two heavy -earthworks, or forts, and one line of rifle pits. We went from here up -to the head of the ditch. It starts in an eddy and there was a tug, -“The Ivy,” lying in front to keep out the driftwood. It is hard to tell -if the thing will prove advantageous. Large details at work, showing -that the generals still have faith in it. We understand that they -have sent for a dredge. There are encampments all the way between our -division and the ditch. Gen. Steele’s division is below the mouth of -it. We came back to camp a little after dark, tired and hungry, having -traveled during the day about twenty miles, but were amply repaid. -McClernand is a homely man, apparently about forty-five years of age, -with black whiskers and a Roman nose. I saw a fine looking general, -said to be Gen. Steele. - -JAN. 29. This is a beautiful day. I am quite stiff and sore from the -effects of my walk. There was a detail from the sixth division this -morning, mounted on mules and sent out in the northwestern direction -upon a scout. Corp. Si. Livingston and Privates Briton and Schultz -represented Co. K, 17th Ill. They went about sixteen miles to a little -town called Richmond, where they found a detachment of the enemy, but -owing to a large bayou, our boys could not get at them, and had to -leave them in possession of the place. We heard heavy cannonading this -morning. The Rebs had undertaken to cross with about five hundred head -of cattle, but slipped up on it, and they fell into our hands. - -JAN. 30. I was detailed on fatigue this morning. The detail from our -regiment worked on the big break in the levee. We did a good day’s -work, and slightly checked the current. The Mississippi continues to -rise. Uncle Ben, Scott and Patterson returned from their three days’ -scout. They had been up the river after beef and had secured fifty -head. Mail came in last night, Frank received a letter from Rosalie, -dated Jan. 4. Just to think, they have had no snow yet in the north. -Generals U. S. Grant and Ross have arrived. - -JAN. 31. The first news that greeted us this morning was marching -orders. After breakfast we drew four days’ rations, two of them cooked, -put them in our haversacks, and were ready to march aboard the boats. -About 2 o’clock the regiment was formed and we marched aboard the -“Crescent City” and the “Ella,” escorted by a gunboat, or Ram No. 2. We -started in the fore part of the night. Abe and I found a place on the -lower deck on the top of a wood pile, and it is well we did, for it -rained nearly all night. - -FEB. 1. Sunday. We went forty miles last night. This is a rainy day. -Fortune seems to be against us when we float the Mississippi. Our -rations in the bread line since we left Bolivar have been mostly -hard-tack with cornmeal. We occasionally draw flour. The hard crackers -we draw are better now than they have been before. The boats have moved -very slowly against the current today. We arrived at Providence the -middle of the afternoon, landed above the town, and went ashore. Our -company and company F surrounded the town but caught no one. Capt. -Wheeler and three or four of us entered the Post Office and searched -it. We found a few letters and papers. We broke open the ballot box -which was full of tickets voted for Jeff Davis. Abe and I each got us a -set of chess men. I got a six-inch drafting rule, also some pamphlets -giving the object and description of the K. G. C., or Knights of the -Golden Circle. Providence, before the war, must have been a beautiful -town, but now it is almost deserted. A few women and children were -standing in the doors, nearly scared to death. They scarcely knew what -to expect from the long dreaded Yankees. The Post Office is a large -brick building, in the back part of which was the equipment of the -Sons of Malta. We caught no guerillas. We threw out our pickets and -slept upon the boat, Abe and I upon the hurricane deck, as our wood -pile was burned up. It was quite cool for this country, one might say -cold. We lay in the boat until the middle of the afternoon. A detail -from the brigade went out mule-back this morning on a scout. When we -heard that guerillas were out a few miles in the country, our company -and company G were ordered out. Col. Dietzler said there was no use in -going farther as there were none there, but the boys wanted a little -exercise, so they took us about two miles to a nice plantation, where -we killed a lot of chickens. Gus Schultz and I caught eight, I caught -five and found some eggs. John Cumbersworth, also of our mess, got -a frying pan which we needed very much. One of our boys was thrown -from a mule. It commenced raining just as we started back, and before -we arrived at camp we were completely soaked through. We were called -aboard and dropped off below town where we remained until morning. The -night was very cold and the ground was frozen quite solid. This morning -there was a detail of nearly half the brigade for fatigue. We were put -to work digging away the levees to let the water into Lake Providence, -which is one mile back from the river. There was once a channel between -the river and lake in high water, but it is dammed up. The lake makes -connections with Red River through bayous. Providence is equally -divided into three parts, they are separated by the old channel, which -forms a common for the town. The town is a little higher than the -channel, but lower than the levee. The inhabitants are badly scared -and are moving out. It will all be inundated when we get the levee cut -through. The engineers say there are four feet and six inches of fall -between the surface of the river and the surface of the ground below -the levee. We worked until noon, and then another relief came on. The -regiment moved down to the boats and camped on the other side of the -levee. We got a large barroom stove for our tent. This evening there -was a detail sent across the river to a large plantation for Nigs. One -hundred and forty were caught and sent to Vicksburg. We saw peach trees -in bloom today. We met Gen. McArthur and bodyguard when we were coming -out. - -FEB. 11. Boggs, Buttons and I went over the river this morning on an -old flat log. About 10 o’clock Si Livingston and I had permission to -go out and get some chickens. We crossed over on the log, baled out -an old canoe, and took a ride up the river two miles and a half, and -stopped at a beautiful plantation. We could buy nothing. We then struck -back for camp, and stopped on the way at another plantation and got -five chickens. The steamer “Louisiana” came around this morning with -provisions. Two men from company E knocked down an old Negro and -robbed him. It was proven, and Major Peats had them tied up by the -hands, with a card on their backs. - -FEB. 12. The two men were tied all day. We played ball. - -FEB. 13. We played ball again today. It rained last night. Three men of -company G were tied up today for running the pickets. - -FEB. 14. We were ordered back to Providence this morning. Caught a -sheep and brought it along. The roads are very muddy. We met Gen. -McArthur on the way back. One of our brigade went on the south side -of the lake and the other on the opposite side. They are clearing the -brush from the bayou that leaves the lake for Tensa and are stopping up -others. - -FEB. 15. Sunday. We had a big thunderstorm last night. Part of -McClernand’s forces came up on the transports this afternoon. The -supposition is that all are coming up. - -FEB. 16. I was on guard (supernumerary), all day and was not called -out. It was rainy this morning. - -FEB. 17. Rain all last night and all day today. There has been no work -done on the ditch since we came back, on account of the rain. The river -is falling fast. A large wharf boat went down at noon. - -FEB. 18. Cloudy this morning, though not raining. The ground is -covered with water and mud. The old wooden gunboat “Tyler” is lying -here at anchor. - -FEB. 19. Tuesday. Warm and pleasant. Mud drying up very fast. Work on -the ditch was continued today by four hundred Nigs. We draw rations -for twelve hundred Negroes, wenches, children and all. The women and -children will be sent into the cotton fields to work. Men are detailed -to oversee them. - -FEB. 20. Wednesday. Beautiful day. We played ball. - -FEB. 22. Friday. On guard. Stood picket in a large cotton field which -contains five or six hundred acres of cotton, unpicked. I went back to -the cane brake and got a fish pole. The guard of our forage train came -in contact with some cavalry in the vicinity of Old River and routed -them. In the course of the proceedings a Negro teamster hopped off his -horse, drew a revolver and shot a Reb who had just shot one of our -Captains, and took two prisoners. - -FEB. 23. We were relieved early. The day was fine. A fleet of ten boats -landed here this morning, having on board Logan’s division. They landed -and marched back about three miles and camped on the bank of the lake. -John A. Logan looks fine. Colonel Stevenson looks the same as ever. -It is rumored that he is trying to get us back into his brigade. A -year ago today George and I explored the caves under the bluff below -the dam, and one year ago tomorrow we left the dam. Played ball this -afternoon. There are about four hundred Negroes at work on the levee. - -FEB. 24. Played ball this forenoon and in the afternoon were detailed -to extinguish a fire which destroyed the best part of town. The Post -Office, one of the best buildings, was burned. We had dress parade at 4 -o’clock. Gen. Logan’s address to his troops was read to us. Grant and -McPherson were both here today. It is rumored that the “Star of the -West” has been captured. - -FEB. 25. Our division was inspected today by Major Strong, -Inspector-General. Ours was the first regiment inspected. We had a -thunder shower in the afternoon and an awful one last night and this -morning. Our tent leaked like a sieve. The river is rising very fast. -The bank is being leveled to keep the water out of the canal. We had -dress parade this evening. - -FEB. 28. We mustered and had regiment inspection this afternoon. -Major Peats of Co. K complimented the troops quite highly on their -clean guns. The ground is drying off fast. The river is still rising. -There is much sickness, and about two burials take place every day. -The “Rocket” came up tonight, bringing Gen. McPherson. I heard an -adjutant-general say that the Rebs had sunk the “Indianola.” - -MARCH 1. We had company inspection at 12 o’clock and dress parade at -5 o’clock. We then drew clothing, which was needed very much. I drew -three pair of socks and one pair of trousers. - -MARCH 2. On picket in the cotton field today until about 3 o’clock, -when Capt. Wheeler, officer of the day, came around and relieved us. -They have the steam tug on the lake bank nearly ready to launch. - -MARCH 3. We had a short game of ball this morning, but Buttons got mad -and broke it up. Negroes are coming in very fast. We had dress parade -at 5 o’clock, after which a game of ball. To close the scene Bill Lowe -and Ragan had a fight. The river has risen over two inches a day. - -MARCH 4. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. Orders were read for -regimental drill of one hour each forenoon and afternoon. - -MARCH 5. We received the news of the Conscription Act. It passed both -Houses and became a law. It receives the general approval of the -soldiers. Peats drilled us from 10 to 11 o’clock this forenoon, and -from 2 until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We had dress parade at 4 -o’clock. There was an order read from Major Peats awarding a medal, -worth not less than fifty dollars, to the best drilled in the manual, -and the most prompt in the discharge of duty. He gives until the 1st -of May. A dredge passed here today. Some of our boys found four hundred -bales of cotton, a large pile of corn, and about two tons of meat -hidden in cane brake and swamps. - -MARCH 6. Friday. The gunboat “Tyler” came up last night and is lying -here this morning. I helped make out muster rolls today. - -MARCH 7. We had a heavy rainstorm last night. I finished making out the -muster rolls for January and February. - -MARCH 8. Sunday. We had a warm and sultry day which ended in a thunder -and hail storm. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. - -MARCH 9. Helped get out the morning report book in the forenoon. At -noon the company formed and we marched up town and received our pay. -Mine was nineteen dollars. Cold and windy today. At about 2 o’clock -heavy cannonading was heard on the other side of the river in the -direction of Yazoo City. It was continued until after dark, and in the -night it started again and continued for some time. - -MARCH 10. Cold, rainy and disagreeable. We paid old Sampson off and let -him go. We still have our house and cook in it, and are living very -well at present. We draw crackers two-fifths of the time, and flour the -remainder. We use cistern water altogether. The spirits of the troops -are higher than they have been in six months. If old Abe would only -call back a portion of the first volunteers they could soon annihilate -the enemy. - -MARCH 12. Bright and pleasant. About one hundred and twenty-five Nigs -were set to work this morning to open the old levee and let the water -in. We were ordered out of our house this morning. Had dress parade -at 4 o’clock. The sentences of F, Co. A and W, Co. C, were read. The -charges were attempted desertion. The sentence was the forfeiture of -all pay and allowances, and to be confined in the military prison at -Alton, Ill., with a ball attached to the leg by a chain four feet long, -to serve out the remainder of the time of their enlistment, and at the -end of the three years to have “D” branded on their right hips, their -heads shaved, and to be drummed out of service. Some letters were read -from the parents of the boys, counselling them to desert. - -MARCH 13. Clear and pleasant. I made out the quarterly returns. For -some reason they have suspended work on the cut. - -MARCH 14. Bright and clear. Drill forenoon and afternoon. Dress parade -in the evening, the same as yesterday. We had a game of baseball in the -evening. I worked all day on the pay rolls. - -MARCH 15. Warm and rainy. I arose before roll call and took a walk down -to the levee. Vegetation is starting rapidly. Peach trees are just in -bloom, and some are leaved out. Logan’s division came down and embarked -on transports during the day. - -MARCH 16. The long expected opening in the levee was made this evening, -amid the shouts and cheers of the two divisions. The water was let -through in two places, each about two feet wide. The heavy clay banks -melted away rapidly. Along in the night we heard heavy cannonading. - -MARCH 17. Hot and sultry. I got up at reveille and went down to see -how the cut prospered, and found the water rushing through, a perfect -torrent. The channel had washed out about one hundred feet and is still -washing. If it does not succeed, it will not be for want of water. -Captain Bush went through in a yawl this morning. It was a dangerous -experiment, but he came out all right. In the course of the day some -of Co. A went through with the same result. Some of the boys disturbed -the bricks in one of the vaults in the cemetery and exposed a cast -iron coffin, hermetically sealed. The lid was moved and the head and -shoulders of a man who had been dead for eighteen years were visible -through the glass. It is a shame the way this cemetery has been used. -The Nigs are at work putting up a temporary levee between camp and the -ditch, as some of the town is being overflowed. The 11th Ill. and 14th -Wis. of our division went up the river a few miles and we hear they -had a fight. Logan’s division started up this morning. - -MARCH 18. The cut has washed about one hundred feet since yesterday. -The water in the ditch is rising fast. - -MARCH 19. Thursday. Cloudy, looks like rain. Cleaning up and ditching -our camp was the order of the day. I was on the detail to dig a ditch -on each side of the camp. The banks of the ditch are slowly washing -back. It is now about one hundred and fifty feet at the first levee, -and two hundred at the second. Water is slowly rising in both the ditch -and the lake. The President has given deserters until April to report -at a certain depot. Co. K expects about four back. - -MARCH 20. Friday. I was up at reveille as usual and went down to the -ditch. To my surprise I saw a big oak just outside the channel washed -up by the roots. The tree was about three feet in diameter. Another -of nearly the same size washed out before noon. I went fishing this -morning. We can see fish weighing from forty to one hundred pounds, -working up against the current. I threw my spear at them, but they -were too far off. I saw a laughable incident this evening in front of -McPherson’s headquarters. Some of the boys were trying to fasten a yawl -to a tree and float down to where the fish were showing themselves in -an eddy. The first time they missed the tree and went whirling into -the center of the channel and came very near upsetting. They finally -brought it to, and after a good deal of hard work, got it into position -for another trial. This time they were successful, caught a projecting -limb and pulled themselves into the eddy formed by rushing around -the tree. After they had made themselves fast by a long rope, they -undertook to get out of the eddy, which proved no easy job, for as soon -as one end was pushed into the current the boat would whirl around and -back up into its former position. While on the whirl it threw off one -man’s hat. McPherson and officers and nearly the whole regiment were -out watching them, and the cheering was loud enough to raise the dead. -It was nearly dark when they got out of their predicament. I worked -nearly all day on the company’s papers. - -MARCH 21. The water rose in the canal so that it ran up into our camp -in the night. It washed away the trees that were rooted up yesterday. -The channel is smooth and a good boat could go through it. One year ago -today we left Winchester, Virginia, on our march for Manasses Junction. -Part of Providence was burned this afternoon. The few citizens and -Negroes whom the raise of the water had overtaken, were wading in the -streets, waist deep, trying to save what things they had left. - -MARCH 22. We had orders to draw and cook one day’s rations early this -morning. The water rose a good deal last night, and nothing but a -small temporary levee keeps the camp from being inundated, and that is -being washed away. The cattle and mules are all being driven higher up. - -MARCH 23. It rained all night. Our tent leaked like a sieve. We still -remain in camp but it has rained nearly all day. - -MARCH 24. We had a hard storm last night, with heavy thunder. This -afternoon some miserable fellows set fire to some buildings, among them -a church. Such men should be sent to Alton. The channel is deepening -and widening, and the water is rising. It is now about two feet above -our camp. I expect some dark night to be wading out to our transports, -and that right suddenly. The news came last night that a number of -Farragut’s fleet were at the mouth of the ditch, below Vicksburg, -and that he had taken Warrentown with all its ordinance. Gen. Carr’s -division went down on transports today. - -MARCH 27. Yesterday and today Buck and I were at work copying orders -into the company order book. Today they discovered, in Logan’s -division, a girl who had served eighteen months as a private soldier. -They took her to the preacher’s to get her a dress and will send her -north. A good many of our boys saw her. - -MARCH 28. Two large gunboats, both iron clads, went up early this -morning. Troops are passing down. - -MARCH 29. We had a lively time last night. A storm of rain and wind -began about 10 o’clock in the evening and kept up until about 12, -when the wind increased and the rain ceased. Out tent bent and reeled -like a willow. I got up to dress before she went over, but had just -got my legs into my trousers when down she came full tilt. I finally -extricated myself, seized my knapsack and started for dry ground, got -into the commissary and spread down, when to cap the climax the levee -broke through and the water came rushing in upon us. The drums beat, -the boys fell in, and we had a general move up the levee. Most all of -the tents blew down and some of them were whipped nearly to pieces. In -the meantime Captain Bush had his Negro brigade out, filled them up -with whisky, and ordered them into the water waist deep. By dint of -perseverance and hard work they succeeded in stopping the break. I took -up some boards and passed the remainder of the night beside the cotton -pile. This morning the effects of the storm were everywhere present. -One of the boats was blown up on the beach, the smoke stacks of two -others were blown away, and shanties everywhere were blown down and -torn to pieces. It continued cold and windy all day. Charlie Berry came -back last night. This afternoon Gen. Smith’s (John E.) division came -down and anchored here for the night. In the afternoon some of the boys -of the 14th made a break on the sutler’s stock. It was no more than -done when the 17th and 95th Ill., 1st Kan., and 16th Wis. came rolling -over the levee. Canned fruit, boxes of boots, shoes, oysters, oranges, -lemons, bales of shirts, pants, socks, drawers, barrels of soda -crackers and sugar, boxes of raisins, and in fact everything which the -large stock could contain. He had just got in a new assignment, valued -at somewhere near $10,000. The poor old fellow ran around wringing his -hands and wishing he had stayed in “Chicago.” The guard arrived just as -they had him completely cleaned out. I can say that my hands are clear -of such wholesale robbery. At 9 o’clock roll call the companies had -orders to deliver up the contraband articles in their possession. - -MARCH 30. Monday. Cold. The boys have turned over most of the stolen -goods. Gen Smith’s division started on its way down this afternoon. -Gen. Grant is concentrating troops rapidly, the grand issue must be -approaching, and the sooner the better. This afternoon we drew the old -fashioned wedge tents, one for every four men. - -MARCH 31. Tuesday. Frank, Newt, Jim Sweeny and I comprise our newly -established household, and we were busy until afternoon raising and -settling our tent, and building our bunks. We went out foraging last -night and made a raise of boards enough to put up our tent, build our -bunks, etc. This afternoon the little tug came out of the lake into the -river. We are having very cold weather for the place and time of the -year. We hear that Gen. McArthur has acquitted the 17th Ill. of the -raid. One year ago tonight the 12th Ind. was camped at Bristo Station, -and I made my unsuccessful search for Uncle Lebbeus. - -APRIL 1. Wednesday. Last night was cold and frosty. A boat came in -with a load of deserters. There were quite a number for the 17th, but -none for company K. About the middle of the forenoon a steamer passed -up, towing an iron clad. She must have been disabled at Yazoo or at -Vicksburg. - -APRIL 2. At 11 o’clock last night an orderly call sounded and we -received the orders to cook two days’ rations, and be ready at 7 -o’clock, to board the transport for a foraging expedition. The morning -was cool and pleasant. At the appointed time we boarded the steamer -“David Tatum” and proceeded slowly up the river. On the way we saw -where the levee had been cut in a number of places, the water was -rushing through rapidly. All the country back was flooded. We stopped -and took a couple of Negroes and a fine yawl. We arrived at our -destination about 4 P. M. It was sixty-five miles above Providence -Lake. The object was to secure a barge of hay which had been wrecked -and partly sunk the night of the storm. There were six companies of -us, and we were divided into reliefs of two companies each, and set to -loading the hay. - -APRIL 3. We succeeded in getting the boat loaded by 3 P. M., then we -started down and landed fifteen miles below and killed a lot of hogs -and took a large, beautiful, ten oared boat. It was the nicest thing -of the kind I had ever seen. Frank and Doty took some books and got -themselves into trouble. We backed off and started down about dusk. -Peats had four or five men tied up. We met a fleet of thirteen boats -just after starting. After dark there was a light waved on shore as a -signal to come to, but the Captain thought it might be a decoy so we -steered on down and arrived at our camp about 11 o’clock. - -APRIL 4. The paymaster is here and we sign the pay rolls this afternoon -for four months’ pay. Hospital boats are going below and there is every -indication of an approaching engagement. - -APRIL 5. Was detailed and worked all afternoon unloading commissaries -from the “Woodsides” to the “City of Madison,” a commissary boat of the -post. A gunboat went down the river this afternoon. - -APRIL 6. Monday. Today is a great day for the 17th, as it is the -anniversary of the battle of Shiloh. We moved back to the cotton field -this morning, it being much higher and a better camping ground. It -took most of the day to move, raise our tents and settle. - -APRIL 7. Tuesday. A general clearing up of camps which took until this -afternoon. Tom Martin came back yesterday and an order was read at -dress parade returning him to duty. - -APRIL 8. Wednesday. At 11 o’clock this forenoon an orderly call was -beaten and we received orders to be ready in fifteen minutes with -all our arms and all our accoutrements on, to march down with other -brigades of the division, to a large plantation house. Upon the porch -stood Generals Thomas, McPherson, McArthur, Crocker, and a drove of the -“rankest commish,” such as Colonels, Lieut. Cols., and Majors. Gen. -Thomas was a fine stately looking man, tall, with iron gray hair, and -apparently about sixty-five years of age. He was introduced by Gen. -McPherson in a pleasant speech. Gen. Thomas then made a few remarks -in which he expressed great sympathy for the poor enslaved Africans, -and announced the President’s settled policy of arming the Negroes. He -authorized two regiments to be raised here. He said he had authority to -commission officers for said regiments, where the applicants came well -recommended. I like the policy. He also said the object of it was to -protect the navigation of the Mississippi and defend other Negroes who -were at work on abandoned plantations trying to raise their living. -After Gen. Thomas was through, Gen. McArthur was called on. He came -forward and gave a short, good natured speech. He was heartily cheered. -After him came Col. Reed of the 15th Iowa, Crocker, and Captain Chink, -who by the way, is to be Colonel of one of the regiments. When they had -concluded we marched back to camp and Gen. Thomas boarded the steamer -“Rocket” and started up to Logan’s division. When we returned six -applications had been handed in for appointments in the regiments of -color--from Co. K, namely: Hines, Davis, Foxears, Foster, Chesher and -Berry. - -APRIL 9. Warm and pleasant, in fact we have had beautiful weather for -over two weeks. Major Peats is gone and Capt. Moore is in command of -the regiment. Nearly half the company went fishing this afternoon. Buck -got a pass to take us outside the pickets and we caught about a mess. -We had dress parade at 5:30 P. M. Two boats, the “Edward Walsh” and -the “City of Alton” came down with deserters. There were two for our -company. - -APRIL 10. Warm and pleasant. At 10 o’clock we had muster. The whole U. -S. forces are to be mustered today, to find the exact condition of the -army, and the number of conscripts needed to fill the regiments up to -the required standard. We had dress parade this evening in which the -two deserters were returned to their companies by a regimental order. -Our company needs about fifty-four to fill it up. - -APRIL 11. Saturday. A beautiful day. On regimental guard. Most of the -company have gone fishing. We have as easy and fine times now as it is -possible for soldiers to have. Foster got the position of Captain in -the new regiment. They had a Negro meeting this afternoon. Chink, and a -colored man named Frederick Douglas, spoke. - -APRIL 12. We had a hard rain last night. Our new tents did not stand -the storm much better than the old ones. They disappointed us much. -Captain Wheeler succeeded in getting B---- an appointment in the 9th -La., Chink’s regiment. Some of the boys are quite hurt to think as poor -a soldier as he should have the appointment. They went down below on -the “Platte Valley” and brought up a large number of Negro recruits. - -APRIL 13. Rainy and disagreeable. Ross’s division passed below today. -They did not land. - -APRIL 14. Cool and cloudy. I was detailed and went down the river -foraging. It was about six miles and the roads were very muddy. About 5 -o’clock, Hornby’s division came down direct from Yazoo Pass. The “Lady -of Jackson,” the “Duke of Argyle” and other stern wheelers were nearly -ruined in that expedition. They were the nicest boats on the river -when they left here a month ago. The 48th Ind. was aboard. I hunted up -John Metternich and had a long talk with him. - -APRIL 15. Wednesday. Went down and visited with John this morning, -until the fleet backed off and started down. - -APRIL 16. Gen. McClernand and staff went below today. More troops -passed down the river. Some of the troops broke into a sutler’s shop -night before last, and there is an investigation going on, so we are -not to get our pay until it is settled. Capt. Moore spoke to the -regiment tonight on dress parade and offered one hundred dollars to the -man furnishing the most evidence of the guilty parties. We have review -of the division tomorrow, and brushes and blacking are in great demand -tonight The Captain buys it with the company fund and furnishes it to -us. - -APRIL 17. Our brigade was formed at 8:30 A. M. and we marched down -about three miles, where we found the other brigades drawn up en mass -awaiting us. We were reviewed by McArthur and everything passed off -in style. I think we never did better. We returned to camp about 2 -o’clock. Capt. Moore (commanding the regiment) told us he would leave -a paper with the Captains of the different companies, for those not -implicated in the sutler raid to sign. The Negro regiments are filling -up fast. Today I saw one on guard for the first time. There was heavy -cannonading for about four hours last night, and occasionally today. It -is supposed the fleet is trying to run the blockade. - -APRIL 18. Saturday. Warm and pleasant. Our brigade is ordered down the -river for review. It was supposed to be done for Gov. Yates, but he did -not arrive, and McArthur took us through, the same as the day before. I -think we did slightly better than we did the other time. A little after -dark we had an awful storm of wind and rain. I got up and dressed, -thought surely the tent was going over, but it was all right. - -APRIL 19. Sunday. We got four months’ pay today--no pay was deducted. I -expressed home $55 and Frank sent $45. - -APRIL 23. Thursday. On picket at the Negro quarters of the 8th La. -Leavitt volunteered to stand my guard. We got orders this evening to -prepare three days’ rations for a foraging expedition up the river. -Capt. Wheeler went home today. - -APRIL 24. Friday. We boarded the “White Cloud” this morning and started -up to Greenville, where we arrived in the afternoon. A regiment had -just boarded transports and started below. We lay there until after -dark, then started and landed toward morning, about seventy-five miles -above Greenville. - -APRIL 25. Buck took Fox, Boggs and I outside the pickets and we went -up about two miles to a fine plantation where we got a lot of butter, -a knife, some forks, a chicken, and all the sweet milk we could drink. -We found the overseer’s account book hidden in an old chicken coop -with some other things. At night the chickens, goats, sheep and hogs -came in by wholesale, together with a lot of beeves. The object of our -expedition was to obtain Negroes and supplies. - -APRIL 26. Sunday. Twenty-one years old today. How my mind carries me -back to those good old times when I used to welcome this day of all -others, when my sister, aunts, and grandpa composed the family circle. -What a change! That good old man whose memory I revere and cherish, is -gone, and the old place is sold. On picket today. Mosquitoes are very -thick. - -APRIL 27. It rained this forenoon. We started back about 1 o’clock and -arrived at Lake Providence. Found orders there awaiting us, to leave -in the morning for Vicksburg. I took a good wash and went to bed. -The river is rising very fast. The Captain commanding the expedition -did not want us to take off our live stock, but the boys threw them -overboard and secured them as they swam ashore. - -APRIL 29. Wednesday. Making out muster rolls today. We had dress parade -at 5 o’clock. The “Edward Walsh” came up this morning for the 95th -and us. We are to return to Stevenson’s brigade. Stevenson is now -Brigadier-General. We expect warm work shortly. The river is falling -rapidly. It is a number of feet below where it was in the spring when -we first came down here. I was walking on the bank this evening when -whom should I see but Coon, the little Negro who used to cook for Capt. -Williamson. A new iron clad boat and hospital boat went down the river -yesterday. I wrote two letters today, one to Rosalie, and one to George -Butterfield. - -APRIL 30. Thursday. Major Peats returned last evening and at 8 o’clock -this morning, mustered us for pay, after which we boarded the steamer -“Edward Walsh” for Milliken’s Bend. Most of the boys bought what was -called blackberry jam, but it was merely liquor in cans and created -a drunken row in which some were hurt, one officer and two privates. -Arrived at the Bend before dark. The troops have all left, except the -convalescents. They took one tent to each company and loaded the train -with commissaries, hard-tack, pork, coffee, salt and sugar. I took a -towel, one pair of socks, my oilcloth and blanket. This evening we -heard heavy and continued firing up the Yazoo, supposed to be Sherman -attacking Hams Bluffs. - -MAY 1. Friday. Up at 4, and started on our march at daylight, -accompanied by the 95th and a big train of commissaries. A fine road -has been made by Bush’s engineering corps. We passed through Richmond, -a small country town. It is a beautiful country and the planters are -wealthy. The plantations range from six hundred to twenty-four hundred -acres. The land is low and level and the soil is rich. The roads have -been very bad, but are better now. We made a hard march of nineteen -miles. - -MAY 2. Marched fifteen miles, very tired. We passed McArthur’s division -this forenoon. Weather awfully hot. - -MAY 3. Started at 5 o’clock, as usual. The country through which we -are now passing is the most beautiful I have ever seen. The plantation -mansions are grand, and the grounds and outbuildings are fitted up in -fine style. Each plantation has a splendid steam gin, and some have -steam cane-mills as well. The mills must have cost between ten and -twenty, possibly thirty thousand dollars. The inhabitants have but -recently left. They put in their corn crops, and some cotton, before -going. The corn is nearly two feet in height. The boys have destroyed -a number of gins and a good deal of furniture. The roads have mostly -followed the banks of bayous, and alligators, turtles and snakes -abound. The boys have shot a number of alligators. We marched twenty -miles today. I became overheated and completely exhausted. - -MAY 4. We started early and after marching eight miles, arrived at the -landing called “Hard Times,” where we took the steamer “Silver Wave.” -We crossed the river and landed four miles below at Grand Gulf. There -is a high promontory and a range of bluffs here which the Rebels had -forfeited with nine guns. It commanded the entrance to the Black River -as well as the Mississippi. It was a fort of nature’s own construction. -We have had a fatiguing march and a good many have given out. Grant’s -headquarters are eighteen miles back. We hear that Logan’s division is -in advance and has done good fighting, also that many prisoners have -been taken. I should like to hear from home very much just now. - -MAY 5. Gov. Yates and Adjt. Gen. Thomas are here. We are detailed -to remain here and do fatigue duty. The burning barges loaded with -provisions came down this evening. The town of Grand Gulf is entirely -destroyed. I didn’t know there had been a town there until told. - -MAY 6. We hear that McClernand’s troops are advancing. One hundred and -twenty-eight prisoners came in this morning. We are having a very cold -snap for this time of the year. - -MAY 7. Thursday. Very cold again today. Had to stand around the fire to -keep warm. Seventy-four more prisoners came in today. A good many of -our boys found old friends or acquaintances among them. They have been -very poorly dressed and fed. There is general activity today, Steele’s -division is crossing over--also Tuttle’s. Gunboats and transports are -engaged in the work. - -MAY 8. Friday. All quiet. Sherman’s corps moved out this morning. An -exorbitant price is demanded for everything. A sheet of paper and -envelope are five cents each. Twenty-five cents for a lemon; six -dollars for a canteen of whisky; milk costs a dollar a quart, and other -things in proportion. At 5 o’clock we boarded the “Empire City” for the -lower landing, fifteen miles below, to protect the hospital and bring -off the wounded. - -MAY 9. Saturday. We disembarked early this morning and went back in the -country three miles where we found about three hundred of our wounded -in a splendid country mansion. The books show that the house cost over -one hundred thousand dollars. We lay here in the shade during the day -while the ambulances were carrying the wounded down to the river. - -MAY 10. Sunday. We were awakened last night at 11 o’clock and ordered -to fall in with all possible speed. We hurried back to the river and -returned to Grand Gulf, which was supposed to be in danger of an -attack. Flats and transports brought down shipping teams which sent -food to the front. Cumbersworth, Hagan and Hunt each got a barrel of -flour last night when they were on extra duty, burying a soldier. - -MAY 11. Monday. Made out muster rolls this forenoon. Blair’s division -came down this afternoon. - -MAY 12. Tuesday. On brigade guard. Jim Chester and I went outside the -pickets and picked dewberries and mulberries, all we could eat. - -MAY 13. Wednesday. I made a raise on commissary last night. Boggs, -Schultz and I ran the pickets and got some mulberries this morning, -and brought back four quarts of which we made pies this afternoon. -McArthur’s division is coming in. Hooker is fighting a great battle in -the East. We cannot get the particulars. - -MAY 14. Thursday. We got orders this morning to be ready to move at a -moment’s notice. We hear that Grant has had another battle. The “Gen. -Price” came up this morning from Red River. We were ordered on the -march at 8 o’clock. It rained just enough to lay the dust and make -good marching. We marched ten miles and camped on a small stream. The -country is rough and hilly. The roads follow the ranges of hills, so -there are few to climb. Every patch of ground that is tillable is -tilled and planted to corn. - -MAY 15. Friday. Marched twenty miles, saw some fine fields of wheat -that are just turning. We heard the cheering news today that Richmond, -the Rebel capital, is captured, and also that Jackson, Miss., is -taken. The country is the same as yesterday--rough and hilly. - -MAY 16. Saturday. We had a hard march of twenty-five miles today. We -passed through Utica and camped at Raymond. We heard cannonading in -the direction of Big Black Bridge. A battle is supposed to be taking -place. The hills have gradually disappeared and the face of the country -is quite smooth. I saw wheat nearly ready for the reaper. The boys are -tired tonight. I keep up fine. We passed a number of hospitals filled -with the wounded and also passed a large number of prisoners. - -MAY 17. Sunday. We started for Big Black Bridge early. Nine miles out -we came upon the road leading from Jackson to Vicksburg, and were upon -the battle ground of yesterday. The horrors of war were everywhere -visible. The dead and wounded were scattered around over the ground. -Here we came upon Bill Stafford, who said McPherson’s corps took -seventeen hundred prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery, but were -badly cut up. They are burying the dead. It is rumored that Pemberton -was killed. In one place the horses of nearly a whole battery were -killed. We marched five miles, joined our old brigade, and camped -on Black River. Our advance has reached the bridge, and taken three -thousand prisoners, and seventeen cannon. McPherson says we have taken -seven thousand prisoners and sixty-eight pieces of light artillery -since crossing the Mississippi. We saw Stevenson and Logan this -afternoon. I saw Quimby when we stopped for dinner. A number of fellows -swam the Black River and captured chickens, pigs, etc. The Rebels have -chosen their own ground and have been badly whipped each time. We draw -_scarcely any rations_. Engineers are bridging the river. - -MAY 18. Monday. We lay in camp until 1 o’clock, when the bridge was -completed and orders came to advance. We crossed in the rear of Blair’s -division and marched to within six miles of Vicksburg. The country is -nothing but a succession of hills. Sherman’s corps was in the advance. -The roads were very dusty, but we marched six miles before we bivouaced -for the night, tired, hungry. - -MAY 19. Tuesday. Arose early and advanced three miles and formed our -line of battle, our brigade on the left of Smith’s. We held this -line until afternoon. On the right they fought a little, some balls -passing over our heads. About 1 o’clock we moved up and formed a line. -Shells passed over our heads, one man in our regiment was wounded -and three horses killed. By this time our batteries were planted and -the cannonading became general. It lasted until 3 o’clock and then -slackened and we moved to the right about half a mile. McPherson, Logan -and Stevenson are in the thickest of it. We hear that Sherman’s right -rests on the Mississippi, and McClernand’s left, below. If so they -have them completely surrounded. All praise to Gen. Grant. The country -is rough and hilly, and the hills steep and rugged, and run in ranges -parallel around the town. At 1 o’clock we moved still further to the -left and a little forward. Wounded men are being brought in rapidly. We -lay here till morning. - -MAY 20. Wednesday. We were astir early and took breakfast. Cannonading -began at daylight. We were ordered back to our brigade and moved up to -the road. Shells were thrown over, so we moved to the right and were -drawn up. Here we were protected by a hill, and awaited orders. We were -soon ordered to the left, and advanced about half a mile or more, and -lay under the brow of a hill which protected us from the enemy’s fire. -Their line of works are but forty rods in advance. - -10 o’clock--Batteries on our right have opened and there is a regular -artillery duel going on over our heads. There is an occasional -premature burst, one of which seriously wounded Dare. Doty and Shaw -each got a slight rap. Our line of skirmishes are on the hill above. -I went up and skirmished a while and fired fifty-nine rounds. While -there, word was brought me that Frank was slightly wounded. The ball -hit a pocket, which was full of things, broke a looking glass, the -handle of a toothbrush, and a thick letter from Cousin Sarah. It -merely broke the skin, making a bruise. He had not fired a single -shot. Seven of our regiment were wounded today. We lay here all -night. A singular incident happened during the night. We struck up a -conversation with the Rebels. One of our boys, after talking a long -time, found he was talking with an old friend. Inquiries were made for -mutual acquaintances, and they had a real social time. Finally they -laid down their arms and came together. The line of fire that followed -the shell from our gunboats and mortars sent over that ill-fated town -was a grand sight. - -MAY 21. Thursday. At daylight the implements of death and destruction -were opened once more. I saw some splendid work done by our artillery -and there were many little incidents worthy of note. Three shots came -very near hitting me, one went between Doty’s head and mine, which were -about a foot apart. Brisk fighting all day. Bill Stafford came here -and I wrote a few lines home and sent them by him to mail. At dark the -firing ceased and a lively chat was again opened by the contending -parties. It looked singular to see men fighting with deadly aim during -the day, and then spending the night in friendly conversation. I slept -in the same hollow. Gunboats and mortars fired at regular intervals. - -MAY 22. Our line of skirmishes opened at daylight as usual. 7 -o’clock--Scaling ladders are being brought around. 10 o’clock--Deployed -for the charge. Terrific cannonading going on over our heads. Shells -are prematurely bursting, wounding our own men. Night--The day has -finally passed away. The 81st Ill. and the 7th Mo. made the charge -and were repulsed. Charging was done along the whole of the lines, -but it was not a concerted movement and proved a total failure, owing -probably to the nature of the grounds. Our boys charged up to the works -in splendid style but were not supported. The Confederates raised and -poured deadly volumes among them and swept their ranks with grape. We -left a good many killed and wounded upon the field. Among the officers, -the Colonel of the 81st was killed and Humphries of the 95th. Our -regiment made no charge, but advanced close to the works and acted -as sharpshooters, and when our charging column was repulsed, we were -ordered to retreat. J. R., fool-like, gave the order loud and distinct, -and as we fell back they poured the musketry and grape among us. We -finally returned to the old camp, having lost eighteen, killed and -wounded. The Rebel works extend as far as the eye can see. They are a -succession of forts and rifle pits. - -MAY 23. Saturday. Rainy. How I wish I had a clean shirt or time to wash -this! We were up in good time and moved toward the scene of action. -We again acted as skirmishers. No charges were made today. We lost two -men. As soon as it was dark, Sweeny, Chester and myself dug a fort on -the brow of the hill, and also a line of retreat. While we were at work -the Rebels struck up a conversation. They were lively and sociable. -They wanted to meet us half way and have a sensible chat. They appeared -quite confident of holding the place. They made a great many inquiries -after old friends and acquaintances. They are tired of war, generally -and said they wish old Abe and Jeff Davis had to fight it out. They -said they would give anything for a little coffee. The conversation -became too general and our batteries opened and put a quietus on it by -sending over a few quiet reminders. - -MAY 24. Sunday. Up early and took our position behind the works. I had -fired but one shot when we were relieved by the 80th Ill., and returned -to camp for a day’s rest. Toward noon Grant issued an order for each -man to wash and clean up. The order was quickly and gladly obeyed. -Captain Wheeler’s company returned today. Bill was here but a short -time when he was wounded. Two of our men were wounded. The rumor is -afloat that Joe Johnston is coming up in our rear. It had the effect -of closing up a lot of miserable stragglers. We have a line of rifle -pits dug within five or six rods of the Rebel works, running parallel, -from which the 20th Ill. is trying to undermine the main fort. The -Rebels are no doubt suspicious of their intentions, for they began to -rain down grenades upon them. About this time a sad accident happened. -One of the thirty-two pound parrots threw a shell among the 20th, which -took off the legs and an arm for one poor fellow, a leg and an arm for -another, killed two, and wounded several others. This double attack -was too much for them and they fell back. This encouraged the Rebels -and they rose and poured a heavy and continued fire upon us, which was -finally silenced by our sharpshooters and artillery. Lavonan’s division -has been sent back to take care of the rear. We are confident of -success. I stood one hour picket tonight. - -MAY 25. Monday. A good deal of firing and some cannonading up to 3 -o’clock, when a flag of truce came out. I was over the hills after -plums at the time. There was a cessation of firing along the whole -line. Dispatches were sent to Gen. Grant. Logan went down to the Hollow -where he met the Rebel Colonel Montgomery, a major and a number of -other officers. Hostilities were suspended till 8 o’clock and we went -over and buried our dead of the day of the charge. They had lain three -days in the sun and had turned black. Firing had no sooner ceased along -the line than the contending parties mingled like a flock of sheep. -A great many found friends and relatives, and two or three found -brothers. The Rebels were very anxious to exchange for coffee. They -are, taken altogether, the finest looking lot of Confeds I have seen. -We mingled to such an extent that their officers ordered them back, I -think that they were afraid to trust them, for a good many did desert. -When they turned back they bade us good-bye and said it was hard to -open hostilities again. Frank is around. I got a letter from home. - -MAY 26. Tuesday. Very little artillery firing this forenoon. I went -down to Cook’s quarters, got some paper for Buck, and wrote home. They -are connecting headquarters with telegraph wires. One man was wounded -this afternoon. One brigade from each division is moving back to the -rear. They moved about 11 o’clock at night, under the command of Gen. -Frank Blair. Heavy details are at work entrenching. - -MAY 27. Wednesday. Moved back to the next hollow in the night. This -morning Brophy was wounded. The day was mostly spent in fixing up cane -brake shanties or shades. Toward night, Wood of Co. A was killed. - -MAY 28. Thursday. We were ordered sharpshooting this morning. Nothing -extraordinary happened. Dick Stephens was killed this afternoon--shot -through the head. I was on guard last night. They threw three or four -shells over us. Were busy all the fore part of the night issuing -rations, and bringing water from the river. Col. Smith came back today. - -MAY 29. Friday. We were relieved and returned to camp early this -morning. Jim Chesher was wounded. The ball passed through our shanty -and over me. Our artillery along the whole line opened this morning and -it was a grand sight. The Rebels dare not reply. They did not show a -piece. We fired one hour this morning and one this evening--giving them -their daily rations, also opened in the night pouring hundreds of shot -and shell among them. - -MAY 31. Sunday. Today ends one month of active campaign, which has -so far been successful, and I do not see why it should not end more -brilliantly than it has begun. I hope to Heaven it will. Bill Stafford -brought over the news this morning that Joe Johnston is fortifying -Jackson. Our knaps came in from Young’s Point today all right. The -weather is hot and sultry. Some artillery firing. I went upon the hill -this evening to see the mortars shell the town. The sight is beautiful, -but it is sad to think of those deadly missiles so faithfully doing -their work of destruction. Many a family tie has no doubt been severed. -We hear that a great many women and children have been killed. Surely -the instigators of war ought to suffer. - -JUNE 1. Monday. A terrific cannonading was opened and kept up a long -time from our line last night. I think it must have awakened some of -the Rebels from their slumbers. Rumors are afloat this morning that -the Confeds tried to cut their way through but were driven back. We -had inspection of arms this morning, by Reynolds, at 10 o’clock. The -artillery are getting a heavy supply of ammunition ready at their -batteries and are preparing for operations. The weather is hot. We have -a well dug in the quarters, which furnishes good water. - -JUNE 2. The mortar boats were unusually active last night, and part -of the town was burned. It made a grand illumination. Towards morning -infantry firing opened, also artillery. We were immediately formed for -action, not knowing what was coming, but we thought it was the Rebs. -It finally died down and we lay ready to fall in at a moment’s notice, -but were not disturbed until morning. We were up before the sun, -preparing to be out sharpshooting. Our artillery opened the middle of -the afternoon and poured a perfect torrent of shot and shell over us. A -good many burst among us. One man was wounded and we thought ourselves -very lucky that no more were hurt. At night our boys tried to strike up -a confab with the enemy, but not a word could be drawn from them. They -were as silent as their works. - -JUNE 3. Wednesday. We were relieved early and returned to camp. Quiet -during the day. Siege guns are coming up and heavy details are at work, -entrenching and fortifying. About 8 o’clock, just as I had gone to bed -and gotten to sleep, after a good wash, we were awakened by the boom of -musketry, and ordered to form our line of battle immediately. We did -so. Co. K and one or two others were held in reserve while the others -were at work digging rifle pits. The firing gradually died away as it -did the night before, and we lay down at 2 o’clock in the morning, -dressed and equipped so as to be ready to fall in at a moment’s -warning. It was rumored that the Rebs were making a desperate effort to -cut their way through the net Grant completely enclosed them in, but -the rumor proved false. - -JUNE 4. Thursday. All quiet. Heavy details were made to work on -fortifications. One detail was at work digging a magazine which caved -in and killed one man and wounded another from our regiment. I was on -the detail that worked on the big fork of the road. I worked for over -an hour in plain view of the Rebel sharpshooters on the right. They -were not more than one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards distant. -I expected a ball every minute, but for some reason they didn’t fire -until our relief came on and then they sent a volley over. The work -we are constructing here is on an eminence not more than twenty rods -from the main Rebel fort. From here one can see the river, town, and a -large hospital camp, also three lines of works, mostly rifle pits. We -have heard that the fire in town the other night was their commissary -depot and that the citizens set it on fire to end their sufferings, -which were beyond their power of patriotism and fortitude to endure. It -is rumored that they first requested Pemberton to cut out or surrender. -The Rebels called over the line the other night for us to look out as -they had a new General. We asked who it was and they replied: “General -Starvation.” Blair’s expedition is returning from the rear; they went -within sixteen miles of Yazoo City, but old Joe was nowhere to be -found. A division has just come down from above. I wrote home today. - -JUNE 5. Friday. All quiet today, I went out with Boggs and picked some -blackberries. At dusk I went up to look at the fort, and after dark got -over to look at the “land gunboat” as it is called. Frank went over to -the Point after some of the Captain’s things. - -JUNE 6. Saturday. There was a little skirmish last night on the left. -Drove in the Rebel outposts and captured one prisoner. A number of -deserters came in today. Six siege guns are coming up from the river. -Today is the quietest we have had since we took up our position before -the town. - -JUNE 7. Sunday. Up early, regiment formed and went out skirmishing. -The Rebels command a hollow which we were obliged to cross. They poured -in quite a fire, but no one was hurt. The regiment came across all -right. - -JUNE 8. Monday. The company formed before daylight and we crossed the -exposed hollow before light, leaving three men at the rifle pits. -Artillery firing tonight. Boggs and I went up to the big fort. It is -progressing finely. We were fired at from there. After dark they had -a regular moonlight skirmish and in the fracas our “land gunboat” was -burned. We succeeded in running it nearly up to the fort. - -JUNE 9. Tuesday. Went back about one and one-half miles with Doty and -Boggs, got three quarts of berries, and took a good wash. Very hot and -dusty. We are anxiously looking for rain. Our eighty-four pound siege -gun has arrived. - -JUNE 10. Wednesday. We had not more than finished our early breakfast -when the flood gates of heaven, with all its artillery opened. The -rain poured down on our houseless heads in torrents. We covered up -our things with oilcloths as best we could and sat on them to keep -them dry. Some of the boys were located in the ditch, but they were -doomed to a complete rout. The water came sweeping down in torrents, -bearing shanties, rails, and every obstruction before it. The ditch was -no sooner filled than it overran the bottom, sending the occupants -skadaddling to higher ground. It rained all day in showers, not giving -us time to dry our blankets. It has most effectively laid the dust. The -Rebs have taken advantage of the rain and tried to plant a battery, but -our artillery poured in round after round, slightly deranging their -plans. We have our eighty-four pounder mounted. Was detailed for guard -at the ammunition magazine just before night. We had another heavy -shower after dark. - -JUNE 11. Thursday. It cleared off in the course of the day but the -ground is muddy. We had another man wounded today, making thirty-nine -in all. Our big gun threw over some shell and did splendid work. Our -division has about forty cane breakers, none from our regiment. They -have to work at fatigue. There is talk of working them into a pioneer -corps. It is reported that Grant has gone up the Yazoo and left -McPherson in command. McPherson is gaining the good will of his corps -rapidly. He is almost universally liked and esteemed. We were relieved -early and returned to camp. I exchanged my minnie for an Enfield. - -JUNE 12. Friday. Some artillery along the line. The old gun -occasionally sends over its dirt disturbers. We have had a beautiful -day. The Rebs sent over a few shells, one of which burst over our -regiment, but hurt no one. Doty, Schultz and I went after blackberries -this morning. I got five or six quarts. Troops are coming up the -landing and going up to the Yazoo. Huron’s command went up yesterday. -They had an engagement at Milliken’s Bend. Negro troops were in action -and are reported to have done well. Frank Bishop was killed. - -JUNE 14. Sunday. Another fine day. Rebs unusually active, throwing -shell. They have one gun that is causing us considerable trouble. It -is back in the rear and our artillery cannot disturb it. I wrote home -today. - -JUNE 15. Monday. We were aroused at 3 o’clock this morning. The company -was formed and went out sharpshooting. The enemy were rather quiet, -but they had a piece of artillery or mortar directly opposite from -which they sent over shell all day. It was out of sight, but we had our -artillery loaded and ready and as soon as we could see the smoke from -their guns the shells were put in from all directions. A number burst -prematurely. They killed Milligan of Co. A, and wounded three others. -Boggs got a slight rap. It hit his gun first and spoiled that, and then -hit him on the arm. As soon as it was dark we struck up a conversation. -Uncle Ben and four of the others went down and met an equal number of -Confeds. They had quite a chat, but could get no satisfaction from it. -They say they have lain in rifle pits nearly a month. The 36th Miss. -is opposite us. They all tell us the Tenn. and Mo. troops are kept in -the rear because they cannot trust them on the outposts. Two or three -deserted and came over to headquarters last night. They showed three -days’ rations, it would have done for one meal, such as it was--a small -strip of thin pork and a chunk of bread baked out of peas. They came to -the conclusion they would rather die cowards than martyrs. - -JUNE 16. Tuesday. Up at 5 o’clock and returned to camp. Doty and I -started for blackberries. I picked a gallon. Davis got an order for -flour and sugar. Ragan baked pies. Frank and I got a letter from home. - -JUNE 17. Wednesday. Cool and pleasant. Rebs threw over a good many -shell from their guns. We always knew when it was coming for it was -heralded by six or eight shots from our batteries. I helped make out -muster rolls today. - -JUNE 18. Thursday. I worked at muster rolls almost all day. About noon -I was agreeably surprised to be accosted by Pat Gallegher and George -Hissung. Pat is Captain, and George is about to be Second Lieutenant. -I was extremely glad to see them. They both look the same as ever and -are bodyguards of Smith, who is on our left. Frank got a pass and went -over to Hovey’s division to find A. B. Knight, but he was wounded at -Champion Mills, caught and paroled by the Rebs and sent north, and I -expect by this time he is at home. He was a good soldier. - -JUNE 19. Friday. We were called from our slumbers by bursting shells -and they continued to come at regular intervals all day. They were -shrapnel filled with a handful of small balls, which rained down in a -perfect shower among us, but fortunately no one was hurt. Their guns -are in hollows and used as mortars out of range of ours and we can do -no better than let them shoot. A good many of our boys are burrowing -into the hillside. We received the melancholy news last evening of the -death of Dare. Poor fellow! he was a good soldier and a true patriot. -One shell from the Rebs’ old mortar fell directly into the tent of -Stolbrand (chief of artillery on Logan’s staff) bursting in the ground, -tearing everything to pieces, and scattering dirt on the writing desks -in other tents, but strange to tell, no one was hurt. Stolbrand was out. - -JUNE 20. Saturday. Last night deserters came in reporting another -massing of troops, and about 2 o’clock in the morning our brigade -formed and were ordered up to the rifle pits. The pits were filled -without Co. K, and we marched back to camp as reserve, so I lay down -and slept until morning. About 4 o’clock Logan’s old whistling Jack -sent over its eighty-four pound messenger. This was the signal for -the whole line to open. From six to eighty-four pounders now united -in pouring over a perfect shower of shell on doomed secession. This -continued until 10 o’clock, six long hours. When we were through they -opened their old mortar and another gun. The shell from the small -gun burst over our brigade, throwing numberless pieces among us. One -shell struck on the left of the 7th Mo., in the midst of a crowd -standing around a well. They immediately fell down and rolled away. -The shell burst, tore up the ground, and hurt no one. Such accidents -are constantly occurring, but the boys are not always so fortunate. We -partly expected a charge today. Sappers and miners are digging into the -fort; we can see them from above. Gen. McClernand is relieved and O. E. -Ord takes command of his corps. - -JUNE 21. Sunday. We were ordered out at 3 o’clock for skirmishing. We -had a six pounder planted between Co. C’s pits and ours. Johnny Moe, -1st Lieut. Co. C, was shot through the leg, and had it taken off. The -Rebs continue to be quite active and use their mortar considerably. One -of their shells struck one of our big guns, beside which one of the -Generals was standing. It glanced down the side opposite him, battering -the carriage, but hurt no one though it exploded. There is a place -between picket post and camp where five or six Red sharpshooters have -a fine range. Mail came in early this morning. I received letters -from Uncle P., Aunt C. and Rosalie. Papers also came in, and with them -the report of another invasion of Pennsylvania. Report said the Rebs -were already at Chambersburg. I got a pass and went over to Smith’s -division to see Hissung and the boys. I found them all well but Bill -H. I had a good time and returned to camp the middle of the afternoon. -Two men were wounded in camp today. We had roll call this evening. Gen. -Johnston has at last crossed the Black with a force variously estimated -at from thirty to seventy thousand. Divisions, brigades, and batteries -are being detached and sent to meet him. It is reported that Grant and -McPherson have gone to the rear in person. If the Rebs wrest Vicksburg -from us now they must pay dear for it. - -JUNE 23. Tuesday. Sweeny and I went to work remodelling our shanty this -morning and at 11 o’clock were detailed on fatigue to fix Gen. Logan’s -bomb-proof underground cellar. We finished it about noon. I took a -knife from his culinary department. The regiment was called on for -numerous details of fatigue duty today. - -JUNE 24. Wednesday. I was awakened about 10 o’clock last night by -the roars of artillery and musketry. An incessant fire was kept up -for two hours. We learned today that the Rebs made a sortie but were -driven back. They wanted to hinder us advancing our lines but did not -succeed. Day before yesterday I saw some of the cavalry bring in ripe -peaches and green corn. - -JUNE 25. Thursday. We hear the forces in our rear have had a slight -engagement. Our forces fell back until they had their position and then -repulsed the Rebs and drove them back in confusion. The cheering and -acceptable rumor of the capture of Port Hudson has reached us. It is -said to be official. The latest news from the east is that the Rebel -raid is rapidly progressing and they are within forty-seven miles of -Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. Lee and his generals are -surely adopting Napoleon’s tactics. It yet remains to be seen whether -they have the genius to carry out the bold and fearless plans. It is -now 2 o’clock. The artillery is getting busy, and it is rumored that we -shall have work before night. The brigade was formed in rifle pits at -the brow of the hill. Gen. J. Leggett’s brigade was formed in the rear -of the fort. We lay here an hour before the explosion took place. It -was followed by four others that we could see, and a general opening -of artillery along the whole line, and also the mortars and gunboats -and fleet. As soon as it occurred, regiments filed up parallel with the -fort and poured a close and deadly fire into the enemy’s face. Hand -grenades were freely used on both sides. We lost severely and did not -accomplish our object. The fault must have been the engineers’. The -fort was not destroyed, the concussion was not near what we expected -it would be. We lay there all night. The throwing of hand grenades was -kept up. At dusk I went and drew a new gun. - -JUNE 26. Friday. We were ordered out on picket early this morning. The -Rebs on our front were very shy. I only caught an occasional glimpse -of them, but fired fifty rounds, mostly at their port holes and works. -A good many shells and pieces came among us, but no one was hurt. Our -boys at the fort had warmer work and finally fell back. - -JUNE 27. Saturday. There were a number wounded this morning and -ambulances continually passed through camp. The day is hot and sultry. -At dusk Doty and I went within a few feet of the Rebels’ fort. We have -sunk another shaft and are again undermining their works. We climbed -the observatory and took a good look at Vicksburg, the river, and its -surrounding works. - -JUNE 28. Sunday. Hot and sultry. Went after blackberries alone this -morning and picked four quarts. Had a good wash and returned to camp. -Johnston gradually closing up. - -JUNE 29. Monday. Hot and sultry, and very dusty. Rebels unusually -quiet. News from the east very meager. Hooker has ordered a seal to -be put on the press, but from what we can hear a terrible battle is -imminent. May the great Ruler of the Universe grant us success. - -JUNE 30. Tuesday. Hot and sultry. Our regiment was paid this morning. -I received twenty-three dollars. A stoppage of three dollars for the -premium which Phelps paid me at Memphis was detached. Co. L, 2nd Ill. -Vol. Artillery came in this evening with rifles and James guns, direct -from Memphis. It is the same battery which was sunk in the river this -side of Grand Gulf while crossing over. They had occasion to stop below -Lake Providence and shell a squad of Rebs. Our regiment is not in as -good health as a week ago. This evening we were ordered out for picket. - -JULY 1. Wednesday. Regiment out on picket, but I worked at pay rolls. -The brigade was formed and preparations were made to blow up the fort. -I went over the hill and up the hollow to watch for the explosion. I -waited a moment before the shock of the explosion was felt, and it -looked as if the whole inside of the fort was torn out. It threw out -several people, one Negro was thrown a hundred and fifty feet, lighting -on his head and shoulders, scarcely hurting him. He attempted to run -back, but a half dozen leveled muskets brought him back. He and others -were digging on the inside to weaken the blast, which it did to a -considerable extent. No charge was attempted and all resumed the old -quiet again. The regiment returned from picket after dusk. - -JULY 2. Thursday. Mail came in late last evening. Got a letter from -Father, Mother and Rosalie. I went after blackberries and picked a -gallon. I had a good wash. Nothing of interest, but a good many shells -which the Rebs threw over. - -JULY 3. Friday. There was a brisk skirmish on our left last night. The -Rebs came out of their works and attempted to drive in our picket, but -were driven back with a loss of nearly one hundred men whom they left -on the field. At 10 o’clock a flag of truce came out and the bearer was -escorted to Gen. Grant’s headquarters. As to the object, every one has -his own opinion. I hope to Heaven it is to propose terms of surrender. -Most of the boys think it is to bury the killed of last night. Neut. -Davis and I took advantage of the cessation of hostilities and crossed -the hill to the old fort. We slipped the guard and reached the far end -of the works within a few yards of those of the Rebels, who lined their -parapets as far as the eye could see. We stood face to face with them, -almost near enough to shake hands, yet not a word was spoken on either -side until their officers ordered us down as we were inspecting their -works too closely. Gen. Leggitt ordered us to go outside the guard and -their officers drew off their men. Hostilities were suspended until -2:30, when a few shells came over and burst, banishing for a while our -fond illusions. But at 3 o’clock! Hail Columbia, Happy Land! Vicksburg -is ours! General rejoicing along the line. Gen. Grant and his cavalry -are to go in and capitulation commences. Thus ends one of the most -brilliant campaigns the world has known since the days of Austerlitz. -No one but Napoleon has equalled it. It has resulted in the complete -destruction of the Rebel army at Vicksburg. They have lost without -doubt about forty thousand men. The boys are beginning to think Grant -is a Napoleon. He has completely wiped out his Shiloh affair. Papers -of the 29th in camp show very discouraging news from the East. The -Rebs are throwing heavy columns into Pennsylvania, and are threatening -Pittsburg, Harrisburg and Baltimore. Northern papers give no account of -the army movements. Hooker has been superseded by Gen. Meade of the 5th -Army Corps. - -JULY 4. Saturday. The sun rose bright and clear to usher in this most -eventful day to the American people, but a sad accident happened early -in the morning, which served to mar in no slight degree our rejoicing. -A shell which had been lying around the quarters for two weeks with -the cap taken off and most of the powder knocked out, and some of the -time filled with water, was put in a post fire with the intention of -scaring a certain shaky individual, and had been forgotten. Dreggs of -Co. E lit it and watched the post fire burn for a while and then he -picked it up and carried it and threw it over into the quarters. It -no sooner touched the ground than it burst, and as good luck would -have it, only one man was hurt. Brown, of Co. E, a fine fellow and a -good soldier, was hit in the side, it going through and tearing off -part of the lung. He lived but a short time. At 10 o’clock terms were -concluded. The Rebs are to be paroled and the officers are to retain -their side arms and personal property. Between 10 and 11 o’clock the -Rebs marched outside and stacked their arms, after which they returned -to camp. At 2 o’clock the troops on the left began marching in. At 3 we -formed, and after marching a while in the broiling sun and suffocating -dust, our division moved in and up to the courthouse. We passed a large -number of Confeds. They are as good a looking set of Reb. troops as -we have seen. Most of them are glad they have surrendered. Only a few -look sober and sullen. They had holes dug into the side hill to protect -them from our shells. They look as if it were a sorry 4th of July for -them. Their burial grounds in the different hollows testify to the -number they have had killed. The ground back of their camps is badly -torn up by our mortars, the trees are all marked up, and the limbs cut -off by our shot and shell. Minnie balls, whole shells and pieces, and -solid shot cover the ground. They have defended the place bravely and -I say “All honor to them.” We marched around the courthouse, stacked -arms, and lay there about three hours. Citizens had nice little caves -dug into the banks where they took their families and lived during the -siege. The mortars have nearly destroyed the town. Large buildings -were torn to pieces, each by a single shell. Some went straight -through, and some exploded inside and tore them. A few citizens were -killed. Citizens are moving back to their ruined dwellings. They look -down-hearted and sad, I suppose that in their hearts they wish that -the ordinance of secession had never been passed. Two shells struck -the courthouse. One took a pillar from the observatory and just nicked -the roof as it descended. The other passed down the roof, burst, and -killed eighteen. Some of the boys, together with several Confeds, -broke into a store and stole a large quantity of tobacco and some -other things before the guard came around. A number of gaily dressed -Confed officers passed us, among them being Col. Montgomery, chief of -Pemberton’s staff. The Confeds and our boys mingle together like old -friends and have apparently forgotten that but a short time ago they -were engaged in deadly strife. About 6 o’clock we were formed and -marched back and camped inside the works, close behind where their -old mortar had been fired. Also where their big siege gun had been -planted and was afterward dismounted. The ground around the two pieces -is all torn up by our shot and shell. I went up to the right and saw -a beautiful English gun which our boys used to call “Whistling Dick.” -It is a Whitworth and some of the Confeds told us it was the gun they -had at Fort Pemberton, that sunk the Chillicothe. The works are full of -artillery, most of which they never fired. I saw between the Whitworth -and the fort, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, twenty-eight -guns. Just at dark I was detailed to go over to camp and help fetch the -supper. The Rebs have been living on one-fifth rations and are nearly -starved. They mingled with us freely and we have divided our rations -with them. They tell us they hope we may never know want while life -lasts. Some of their regiments actually had mule meat issued to them on -the morning of the 3rd, and it was in market at fifty cents a pound. -We saw a shoulder of it dressed. Details are at work picking up small -arms and accoutrements, of which they had a large number. Each man had -two guns, one new Enfield (drawn since coming here) for long range -and sharpshooting, and the other loaded with cartridges of their own -make and fifteen buckshot, of which each man had forty rounds. If we -had charged we should have lost heavily. We found glass bottles filled -with powder and balls, with fuses in the ends, which were used as hand -grenades. Grant dispatched Sherman’s and part of Ord’s corps to the -rear this evening. - -JULY 5. Sunday. Buck and I took a stroll over the works to the fort -that was blown up this morning, returning about noon. While we were -gone the regiment moved camp down to the hollows. We walked around the -works with the Rebs. They told us where their best shots were fired, -also where the most annoying ones came from. They are very friendly and -our boys treat them well. I believe they will hate to fight us again. -They are very anxious to get home. Frank and I went out and got a fly -to put over our cook shed this afternoon. The boys are gathering tents, -flies and cooking utensils from the different camps. Our tents and -dishes came up from the river this afternoon, and the evening was spent -once more in arranging a camp and digging a well. - -JULY 6. Monday. I wrote home this morning. At 9 o’clock our regiment -was ordered out on picket. We have a strong picket guard around the -works to keep the Rebs in. Our company was out at the big fort which -was blown up. My post was on the parapet beside it. This fort commands -a view of the works on either side as far as the eye can reach. In -the afternoon Boggs and I went over to our old camp and took a good -wash. Nothing of importance happened until about 5 o’clock, when a -thunderstorm passed over. It was preceded by an awful wind which nearly -blew me off the parapet. Rebs drew rations. - -JULY 7. Tuesday. We were relieved about 9 o’clock and returned to camp. -The day was very hot and sultry. The Rebs are very anxiously awaiting -their parole so they can go home. We had news of a skirmish in our -rear; there were about two hundred prisoners brought in. I saw the -Reb today who fired the grape and canister at us when we were behind -the log on the 22nd. He is a fine fellow and gave our boys credit for -making some good shots. He was anxious to know if he had hurt any of -us. He said we had actually dismounted some of their pieces with our -musketry. It weakened the spokes so that they would not stand the -reaction when fired. The pieces are all dented up by Minnie balls. The -top of his gun had been knocked off. He is from Tennessee. He gave -me the name and rank of each of the generals we had captured at this -place. They are: Gen. Pemberton, Tenn.; Maj. Gen. Smith, Va.; Forney, -Ala.; Brigadier Generals Hober, La., Lee, Va., Green, Mo. (killed), -Reynolds, Ga., Taylor, Ky., More, Ky., Wauld, La., Bowen, Mo., Vann, -Tenn., Barton, Ala. - -JULY 8. We had quite a rainstorm last night and today it is cool and -pleasant. The Rebs are around trading the company sugar for coffee and -preparing to leave. Just after tattoo, orders came around to be ready -at 4 o’clock tomorrow morning, armed and equipped. - -JULY 9. We were up and stacked arms early this morning and awaited -orders but none came. News came into camp this evening of a fight in -Helena. Gen. Price attacked the place with sixteen thousand troops and -came very near taking it, but with the assistance of the old wooden -gunboats the Rebs saved the day and drove him back, taking over a -thousand prisoners. Price left his killed and wounded on the field. The -Negro troops are said to have fought like tigers. The news from the -East is fair. Meade met the enemy at Gettysburg on the 3rd and they are -still fighting. It is reported that he repulsed two of the grand army -corps under Longstreet and Hill. Rosencrans has advanced and occupies -Tallahoma, Bragg’s stronghold. - -JULY 10. Friday. We had another rain last night, and the water ran into -our tent. Doty and I ran the blockades this morning and went over to -see our blackberry patch. I stopped at our old camp on the way back and -took a wash. We had our berries baked into pies. Capt. Wheeler bought -a keg of beer this afternoon for the boys to celebrate the victory. -Nearly all of Co. K are drunk. Columbus Patterson started home on his -furlough today. - -JULY 11. Saturday. We were aroused from our slumbers at an early hour -this morning, (between 3 and 4 o’clock) with orders to be ready to move -at 5 o’clock. Breakfast was over and we had our canteens filled and -accoutrements on at the required time. The brigade moved up the road to -the main entrance and deployed in line. The Rebs were formed in their -different camps and marched between our lines, were halted, brought -to a front, and ordered to unstring their knapsacks. Our commissioned -officers, except one to a company, were set to work examining paroles -to see if they were genuine, and the baggage to see that it contained -nothing contraband. A number, when they saw this, slipped out from the -ranks and threw away packages of powder. Our company picked out of -the ravine a dozen packages or more. Our company was on guard along -the line. We had a guard to stop Negroes. It was a touching sight to -see some of them part from their masters--they loved them sincerely. -Very few besides the officers had them. A few women passed out. The -officers carried their swords and revolvers slung by their sides. I -saw Gen. Pemberton, Maj. Gen. Bowen, Brig.-Gen. Hebay, of the C. S. A. -pass out. We passed out some four or five thousand on this road. The -weather is hot and sultry. A sick surgeon came out and while they were -examining the regiment he became worse. I brought him some fresh water -and he asked me to call on him, as he was carried back to a small tent -on the hill in plain sight. I did so after we were relieved, and took -his Nig to camp with me and sent him back with warm cakes and tea. -About 3 o’clock I was on a detail which was sent up the road to relieve -a guard who had been out since morning. We had been on post but a few -moments when we were relieved, and I returned to my protegee. He had -been in all the eastern engagements, from the battle of Winchester -to that of Antietam, he having been with Stonewall Jackson. He was -perfectly familiar with all the country around Winchester, Bunker Hill, -Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Harper’s Ferry. He was an assistant -surgeon in Gen. Ewell’s division hospital, and helped amputate Gen. -Ewell’s leg above the knee, at the second battle of Bull Run. He -complimented our eastern troops quite highly, and also Gen. McClellan. -He said he heard Jackson and Lee say that McClellan was the man they -feared most. He was speaking of what a cruel thing this war was and -remarked that most of his friends and relatives were in the North, his -mother was in Warsaw, Ind. There I halted him, as a matter of course, -and let him know our Indiana company was raised in that identical -place. He made a good many anxious inquiries, but I was not enough -acquainted in that city to give him any satisfactory information. He -afterwards spoke of Havana, Ill., and said he had practiced medicine -in that town. He was greatly surprised when I told him our company was -from Havana, Mason County, Ill., and he was acquainted with a good -many of the boys as I named them over. I bolted off for the company -and sent up Boggs, who was much surprised to hear that his father’s -old partner was a prisoner in our hands. Papers of the 7th came in -this evening, bringing enthusiastic accounts of a great battle and -victory of Gen. Meade’s army over the Rebs under their gallant General -at Gettysburg. Gen. Meade’s dispatches proclaim a great victory and -the utter rout of the Rebs, with heavy losses of prisoners and colors. -A boat came up from Port Hudson this evening, bringing news of the -surrender of the place and garrison. Hurrah for Banks! - -JULY 12. Sunday. After dinner, roll call. I mounted a mule which -the boys had caught and saddled, and started for town. The place is -very quiet. At the wharf you can see transports as far as the eye -can reach in either direction. The river is quite low. I came around -the Rebel works and in coming back was surprised to see so little -artillery commanding the river. Only four guns and one mortar, and a -one hundred and twenty-eight pounder, manufactured in Richmond, Va. In -the land defenses from the river to the English Whitworth gun there -are twenty-six pieces, making in all from Fort Hill around to town -fifty-nine guns. Most of the troops have gone to the rear and there is -less than an army corps here at the present. - -JULY 13. Monday. Our forces in the rear are gradually closing up and -skirmishing near Jackson. - -JULY 14. Tuesday. The paymaster is here, working on the pay rolls and -quarterly returns. - -JULY 15. Wednesday. A heavy detail from our regiment was dispatched to -work on Fort Hill today. They are gradually changing the looks of that -once important fort, from a rude, unshapely mass of dirt to large neat -and substantial works. This afternoon our boys, in filling up the hole -made by the blast, dug out a number of bodies. They had been crowded -into the hole and covered up. Heavy details are at work repairing the -old line of Reb works, also in filling up and destroying our old ones. -The famous covered way from the White House to Fort Hill is nearly -destroyed. It seems too bad to destroy the works that we spent weeks of -hard labor and exposure to construct. It seems to us that they should -stand as monuments for future generations to look upon, but still we -have implicit confidence in the good judgment of Gen. Grant. - -JULY 16. Thursday. I am on duty again today. The duty is very heavy -now as all the troops excepting two divisions have gone to the war. I -helped unload ammunition today without any relief and was tired out -when night came. They are running a large supply of ammunition back to -the rear as rapidly as possible. - -JULY 17. Friday. Early this morning we moved our camp over about one -mile nearer town. We tore down some houses to get boards for our table -and to fire up our mess quarters. About 1 or 2 o’clock we were paid -again. I received forty-five dollars and fifty-five cents. Frank and I -expressed home fifty dollars each. Stafford was around and gave me a -Secesh song written in the ditches. - -JULY 18. Saturday. On duty at Fort Hill carrying gabion baskets. Our -old covered way is nearly destroyed. I got some peaches and apples -today and we had some pies. I also had an ear of corn, but it was too -hard to be good. Couriers came in today with the news that Joe Johnston -had cut through our lines and was retreating. We get no late news from -the East, and are on the tiptoe of anxiety. I wish Grant was on the -Virginia side of that river for a short campaign. Papers on the 11th -are here but no news only that Meade is concentrating. - -JULY 19. Sunday. Hot and sultry. Had inspection at 10 o’clock. The -order has come for granting furloughs, two go from our company--G. Ross -and A. J. Van Auken. Got a Free Press but no letters from home. Dress -parade this evening. A funny incident took place. One of the poor, -half-starved horses that overrun the camp, preceded the band as it led -the regiment, just in good kicking distance. We got the New Orleans -Sun the evening of the 15th. It has the particulars of the surrender -and occupation of Port Hudson with five or six thousand prisoners. - -JULY 20. Monday. Very hot and sultry. On fatigue, digging a well for -headquarters. Got a number of papers which I culled from a cartload -of them. Two months ago today the siege of Vicksburg began and was -continued through forty-seven long, dreary days, and ended that -glorious old day, the 4th of July. - -JULY 21. Tuesday. Boats came in last night and brought Northern papers -of the 14th. No particular news from the East, only Meade concentrating -at Hayes. John Morgan is making a raid into Indiana. I hope he will -succeed in arousing the people and then get himself captured. No news -today from the rear. Jim Chesher came in this morning. - -JULY 22. Wednesday. The furloughs have come this evening, approved. I -send this north to be mailed by D. D. Ross. Our regiment registered two -hundred and ninety men at the beginning of the siege. The day of the -charge and other days while skirmishing and sharpshooting, our loss, -killed and dead from wounds, was fourteen, forty wounded, making an -aggregate of fifty-four, over seventeen per cent. - -The order of the different divisions of Grant’s army besieging -Vicksburg from the right to the left, June 28, 1863. - -Under the command of Gen. Ord--Herron’s, Lammaris’, Hovey’s, Osterhaus’ -(gone to the rear) Carris’, A. J. Smith’s. - -Gen. McPherson’s Corps--J. E. Smith’s, Logan’s, one brigade of -McArthur’s. - -Gen. W. T. Sherman’s Corps--Blair’s, Tuttle’s, Steele’s. - -Rear--Herron, Lammaris, Hovey, Osterhaus, Covy, A. J. Smith, J. E. -Smith, Logan, McArthur, Blair, Tuttle and Steele. - -JULY 7. The Generals captured are: Lieut.-Gen. Pemberton, Maj.-Gen. -Stevenson, Tenn.; Smith, Va.; Forney, Ala., and Bowen, Mo. Brig.-Gen. -Hebert, La.; Lee, Va.; Green, Mo.; (killed inside works), Reynolds, -Ga.; Taylor, Ky.; More, Ky.; Wauld, La.; Vann, Tenn.; Barton, Ala. - -Different army corps and commanders: - - 1st--Maj.-Gen. Reynolds. - 3rd--Maj.-Gen. D. Sickles. - 5th--Maj.-Gen. Meade. - 6th--Maj.-Gen. Sedgwick. - 9th--Maj.-Gen. Burnside. - 11th--Maj.-Gen. Howard (formerly Siegel). - 12th--Gen. Stoneman (cavalry). - 13th--Maj.-Gen. O. E. Ord. - 14th--Maj.-Gen. G. H. Thomas. - 15th--Maj.-Gen. Sherman. - 16th--Maj.-Gen. Hurlburt. - 17th--Maj.-Gen. McPherson. - 20th--Maj.-Gen. McDowell McCook. - 21st--Maj.-Gen. Thos. Crittenden. - -[Illustration] - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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