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.