Saturday,11th–The Eighth Iowa passed down the river today. We had no drill this afternoon, but were ordered to clean up for inspection. April has been warm and pleasant every day, but today we had a high wind.
Saturday,11th–The Eighth Iowa passed down the river today. We had no drill this afternoon, but were ordered to clean up for inspection. April has been warm and pleasant every day, but today we had a high wind.
Friday, 10th–William Mills, secretary to the president of the Sanitary Commission of Iowa, visited our regiment today. He is down here among the different Iowa regiments distributing the sanitary goods donated by the loyal people of the State. The health of the Eleventh Iowa is very good, and the boys are feeling fine. Our regiment [...]
Thursday, 9th–The Eleventh Iowa received four months’ pay today, I receiving $3.00 a month here and father drawing $10.00 a month at home. The boys of our regiment send a large amount of their money home every pay day.
Wednesday, 8th–General Townsend, of General Halleck’s staff, from Washington, D. C., made a speech to the Sixth Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps today, on the question of arming the colored men. He urged loyal men to accept commissions as officers in colored regiments. General McArthur, commander of our division, spoke also, and the boys [...]
Tuesday, 7th–The sanitary goods were issued to the different companies of the regiment today; the boys are pleased with the many good things that came from Iowa. Received orders to clean up for inspection.
Monday, 6th–Four loads of sanitary goods from Iowa were landed today for the Eleventh Iowa. Colonel Hall arrived this morning from home and the boys were glad to see him. One year ago today he commanded the Eleventh Iowa at the battle of Shiloh. The boys are all in fine spirits. The Sixteenth Iowa received [...]
Sunday, 5th–We had company inspection at 10 o’clock this morning and regimental inspection at 5 p. m. I did not go out on inspection, having to prepare an elaborate dinner (some of that codfish), and after dinner I had a good many dishes to wash—tin plates, cups and knives and forks. I read the following [...]
Saturday, 4th–Nothing of importance. The weather is getting very warm, but it is pleasant. I wrote another letter to Jason Sparks.
Friday, 3d–The Eleventh Iowa signed the pay rolls for four months’ pay. Boats loaded with troops are passing down the river every hour of the day. Our entire division is again drilling four hours a day. We have a fine drill ground.
Thursday, 2d–Weather warm and pleasant. No news.
Wednesday, 1st–It continues warm and pleasant. All is quiet. I went up town to the division quartermaster to buy provisions for the officers, the captain giving me the money with the order to purchase ten days’ provisions. When I returned the captain noticed among the items of the bill “20 lbs. codfish,” and exclaimed, “Why, [...]
Tuesday, 31st–Warm and pleasant today. More troops passed down the river. I commenced cooking for the captain and officers of our company.[1] I was considered a pretty good cook at home, but having so few utensils here, I fear there will be quite a contrast. [1] It seems that Private Downing was to get $5.00 [...]
Monday, 30th–A cool wind again today. Several boats loaded with troops went down the river today bound for the vicinity of Vicksburg. I am in hopes that they will do something.
Sunday, 29th–We had a heavy rainstorm last night, blowing down several tents. Today it is quite rainy with a cool wind blowing. Being off duty today I remained in camp and read through the Book of Psalms.
Saturday, 28th–No new developments today. We had orders to clean up for inspection. I went to the commissary headquarters and drew a hat and a blouse, costing $4.78.
Friday, 27th–We started down the river at daylight this morning and landed about three miles below Lake Providence. We pitched our tents on the lawn of a fine plantation, some distance from the house. We found plenty of boards with which to build our bunks. We are situated about ten feet lower than the water [...]
Thursday, 26th–It is very warm and pleasant, and the mud is drying up fast. We have no need for camp guards at this camp. We drew six days’ rations. The Eleventh and Fifteenth Iowa Regiments received orders to move at once down the river. We immediately struck our tents and by 10 o’clock p. m. [...]
Wednesday, 25th–A division of troops passed our camp going down the river, while General Logan’s Division came back again going on up the river.
Tuesday, 24th–It rained all night and day, and our camp is almost covered with water. The report in camp is that we will go down the river in a day or two.
Monday, 23d–It rained nearly all day and our new camp has become very muddy. Today I read the two books of Chronicles in the Bible, sixty-five chapters in all. Our picket duty here is very light at present.
Sunday, 22d–I worked all day setting up our tent, my two tent mates being on duty. General Logan’s Division started for Vicksburg today. It commenced to rain this evening.
Saturday, 21st–The Eleventh Iowa received new guns, the Enfield rifle, and everyone is pleased with the exchange. Receiving orders to move camp, we struck our tents at 3 o’clock p. m. and moved two miles and went into camp in a cotton field close by the levee just above the town of Lake Providence. On [...]
Friday, 20th–Nothing of importance today. We have drill twice a day. I received a pass and went to Lake Providence. The water is already in the streets and the army sutlers occupying vacant buildings will have to move out tomorrow. I purchased a tin plate and spoon for thirty cents.
Thursday, 19th–I was again on duty today. Company drill at 9 o’clock and battalion drill at 2 o’clock. The troops which were in camp at the south side of the lake are on the move, going aboard transports to go down the river to find higher camping ground.
Wednesday, 18th–We now have company drill four hours a day. The fatigue duty at this camp has not been very laborious, as the officers put negroes to work, very few of our men working any toward the last. The lake is still rising and already overflowing the bottom land at places. We are expecting to [...]