From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd                       JUNE 2D.–We stayed in camp again all day, and I improved the time strolling through the camps, forts and rifle pits, which had been deserted by the Confederates. They seem to have left their quarters rather unceremoniously, [...]

JUNE 2d.—We have a dispatch from Mississippi, stating that on Thursday last Grant demanded the surrender of Vicksburg in three days. He was answered that fifteen minutes were not asked; that the men were ready to die—but would never surrender. This was followed by another assault, in which the enemy lost great numbers, and were [...]

JUNE 1st.—Nothing decisive from Vicksburg. It is said North­ern papers have been received, of the 29th May, stating that their Gen. Grant had been killed, and Vicksburg (though at first pre ­maturely announced) captured. We are not ready to believe the latter announcement. Mr. Lyons has been beaten for Congress by Mr. Wickham. It is [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 1ST.–We stayed in camp all day, much to the enjoyment of the boys. Sergeant Hoover and I got a horse and mule, and rode down to Chickasaw Bayou, where the supplies for our army around Vicksburg are received. I have complained a little of being overmarched, but [...]

MAY 31st.—The commissioners, appointed for the purpose, have agreed upon the following schedule of prices for the State of Virginia, under the recent impressment act of Congress; and if a large amount of suppliess be furnished at these prices—which are fifty, sometimes one hundred per cent. lower than the rates private individuals are paying—it will [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 31ST.–We were aroused by the bugle call, and in a few minutes on the march again. Halted at noon on a large planta ­tion. This is a capital place to stop, for the negroes are quite busy baking corn-bread and sweet potatoes for us. We have had [...]

On the Front Royal Pike at the Shawnee Springs. A fine supply of good cold water. The location was fine and the camp was known as Camp Shawnee. Severe duty began right away. Picket, scouting through the country, working on the fort and rifle pits, with axe, pick, and shovel. The large fort was known [...]

MAY 30th—The newspapers have a dispatch, to-day, from Jackson, Miss., which says the enemy have fallen back from the position lately occupied by them in front of Vicksburg, It adds, that they will be forced to retire to the Big Black River, for want of water. Gen. G. A. Smith, who is here, and who [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 30TH.–Moved this morning at four o’clock back again to ­wards Vicksburg–rather an early start, unless some special business awaits us. A few surmise that there is need for us at the front, but I think it is only a freak of General Frank Blair, who is in [...]

The following material contains wording that may be offensive to many in the world of today. However, the work is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn., May 29, 1863. ‘Tis becoming fiendishly warm in this latitude again; but the delightfully cool nights of which I wrote you [...]

MAY 29th.—A dispatch from Gen. Johnston, dated 27th inst., says fighting at Vicksburg had been in progress ever since the 19th instant, and that our troops have been invariably successful in repulsing the assults. Other dispatches say the unburied dead of the enemy, lying in heaps near our fortifications, have produced such an intolerable stench [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 29TH.–”The early bird catches the worm.” We tried the truth of that adage this morning, but failed to make the catch. A few graybacks were seen afar off, but we failed to get within range of them. Where, O where, is General Johnston and the grand army [...]

May 29, 1863, The Charleston Mercury (CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.) RICHMOND, May 25. Quite a pleasant and unexpected change from the intolerable heat of last week occurred this morning. The dust is laid, the day is cool and humid – fine weather for marching. PEMBERTON’S despatches to the President are encouraging to outsiders. But a [...]

May 29, 1863, Savannah Republican (Georgia)                       The German Ladies’ of Savannah are invited to assemble in Concordia Hall School on Wednesday, 3d June, at 4 o’clock in the Afternoon, in order to form an Association for the benefit of those families whose fathers or [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 28TH.–We did not strike out on the war-path again till three P. M. to-day, having spent the time previous in taking a good rest. To-day we have not marched very rapidly, as it has now become necessary to go more slowly in order to feel our way, [...]

MAY 28th.—There is some animation at the polls, this being election day. It is said Mr. Wickham, who for a long time, in the Convention, voted against the secession of Virginia, is leading Mr. Lyons, an original secessionist, and will probably beat him. And Flournoy, an old Whig politician, will probably be elected governor. A [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 27TH.–It was three o’clock this morning before we camp­ed. A tiresome tramp we have had, and after halting, but a few minutes elapsed before we were fast asleep. We were up, however, with the sun, took breakfast and were on the march again at eight o’clock. We [...]

MAY 27th.—Gen. Beauregard’s statement of the number of his troops, after 10,000 had been ordered to Mississippi, with urgent appeals for the order to be countermanded, came back from the President today, to whom it had been referred by Mr. Secretary Seddon. The President indorsed, characteristically, that the statement did not agree in numbers with [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 26TH.–Up this morning at three o’clock, with orders for three days’ rations in our haversacks and five days’ in the wagons –also to be ready to move at ten o’clock to the rear, in pursuit of Johnston, who was thrusting his bayonets too close to our boys [...]

MAY 26th—Reliable information of hard fighting at Vicksburg; but still, so far as we know, the garrison of the invested city has repulsed every assault made upon it. The enemy’s losses are said to be very heavy. Something decisive must occur there soon, and I hope something calamitous to the enemy. The President and the [...]

May 25th. Again on the march after an early breakfast. Marched in good order through the town, by music of the drum corps. The town is an old Virginia one. Many old buildings, some showing the effects of the war. Reaching the center of town, filed to the right, going west, on the Winchester Pike. [...]

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 25TH.–Pemberton sent a flag of truce to Grant at two P. M., and the cessation of hostili ­ties thus agreed on, lasted till eight o’clock in the evening. It made us happy, for we fancied it was a sign they wanted to surrender–but no such good luck. [...]

MAY 25th.—Dispatches from the West inform us that three attempts to carry the city of Vicksburg by assault have been repulsed with heavy loss. Johnston is on the enemy’s flank and rear, engendering a new army with rapidity, and if the garrison can hold out a little while, the city may be safe. Gens. Ewell [...]

May 24th. After a night’s rest and breakfast I was very much improved, taking my place in the company. We left the camp at 6 A. M. Sunday morning with drums and fifes, to the tune of Old John Brown, which was kept up until we passed through the town. In this town John Brown [...]