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 acquaintancesamong 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 onextra 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 seventhousand 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 drawscarcely 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 thickestof 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 daylightas 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 underminethe 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 threefound 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 issuingrations, 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 wasopened 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 earlyand 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 mainRebel 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 formedand 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, sendingthe 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, Schultzand 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 pitsnearly 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 ChampionMills, 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 wasthe 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. Mailcame 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 tohinder 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 musthave 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 Rulerof 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 itand 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 ourshot 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 earlythis 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 hadour 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 warmcakes 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 goodmany 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 goodkicking 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’sarmy 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: