Sunday, 15th–We had an all day rain. I was relieved from guard at 9 o’clock a. m. We see very little of our chaplain at this camp, for he is seldom here and we have no one to occupy the regimental pulpit. Two brigades of General Quimby’s Division boarded the transports and left today for [...]
Saturday, 14th–I was on guard at Colonel Crocker’s headquarters in the old Sparrow house and had a fine room to stay in over night. The Sixteenth Iowa got two months’ pay today. Major Wilson of the Thirteenth Iowa left today for his home in Iowa on a thirty-day furlough, and I sent $35.00 home by [...]
Friday, 13th–The weather is quite pleasant and all is quiet. There is nothing of importance.
Thursday, 12th–The Eleventh Iowa received two months’ pay, I receiving $26.00. We commenced to cut the levee today, but shortly after we got started the order was countermanded.
Wednesday, 11th–All is quiet. The commissioned officers of our brigade had a meeting at brigade headquarters for the purpose of considering ways and means for arming the colored men, since they have been declared free. The plan is to put them under good officers for garrison service, thus relieving that number of men for the [...]
Tuesday, 10th–We heard again that Port Hudson was taken, and also that Rosecrans had a battle, but can learn nothing definite. A squad from our regiment mounted on mules and horses had an exciting experience while out scouting, about twelve miles from camp. Seeing some chickens in the yard of a farm house, they thought [...]
Monday, 9th–We were relieved from picket at 9 o’clock this morning. The Thirteenth Iowa had battalion drill this afternoon. Hear some heavy cannonading in the direction of Vicksburg.
Sunday, 8th–Company E went on picket this morning. Had a fearful hailstorm late this evening.
Saturday, 7th–It is quite showery and things are growing fine. Farmers throughout here are putting into corn most all the land that is not flooded. There are few white men here and most of the able-bodied negro men are forming companies and regiments for the army of the North, to be under white officers.
Friday, 6th–I was detailed to go on picket with Company D. Had quite a thunderstorm this evening.
Thursday, 5th–We had regimental and camp inspection this morning at 10 o’clock, conducted by a major of General McPherson’s staff. We came out in splendid order. The officers of the Eleventh Iowa met at 6 o’clock this evening to draw up resolutions demanding the hunting down of all Copperheads in the North. The steam tug [...]
Wednesday, 4th–The engineers finished calking the steam tug and with ropes attached to it some five or six thousand men succeeded in pulling it overland to the lake where it is to be launched. I crossed the lake in a skiff to the south side to buy some notions of a sutler with the Fourth [...]
Tuesday, 3d–Everything is quiet. I went down town again this afternoon. Our men have pulled a steam tug up on the bank and the engineers have a force of a thousand men re-calking it.
Monday, 2d–Being off duty I got a pass this afternoon and went to town. The quartermaster drew wedge tents for the regiment and clothing for some of the men. I drew a new haversack costing fifty-six cents. Our army is in good condition in equipment, provisions, clothing and munitions of war, and the health of [...]
Sunday, 1st–We had regimental inspection by the colonel at 2 o’clock, and our regiment showed itself in good trim. Boats are passing daily, loaded with troops for Vicksburg. I was on camp guard and the evening seemed to be very long and lonesome. It put me in mind of the long evenings just before the [...]
Saturday, 28th–Our regiment was mustered for pay at 9 o’clock this morning, and at 10 o’clock we had general inspection with all accouterments on, by the inspector general of the Seventeenth Army Corps, General William E. Strong.[1] I got an order today from the captain on the sutler for $1.50. [1] Iowa may well be [...]
Friday, 27th–We received orders to clean up for general inspection. Captain Beach of Company H of the Eleventh Iowa having been appointed to go after and bring back any deserters from our brigade, left for Iowa to get all such found in the State.
Thursday, 26th–We reached our camp this forenoon in a rain which continued all day. General Quimby’s division just went into camp here, from up the river. The regimental quartermasters are bringing in large quantities of cotton every day.
Wednesday, 25th–We arrived at Greenville at 9 o’clock in the morning and reported to the commander of the post, who informed us that he did not need reinforcements. He had just defeated a force of three hundred with a battery of six light guns and lost but three men. We remained, however, during the day, [...]
Tuesday, 24th–There was quite a fire today in the town of Lake Providence, burning several vacant houses. In the excitement our men found two rebel flags. The Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa received orders to embark with three days’ rations, and taking passage on the “Marie Deming” left for Greenville, about sixty-five miles up the river, [...]
Monday, 23d–General Logan’s division arrived today, accompanied by the Seventeenth Engineers’ Corps with pontoon bridges. They bring the news that our men are still throwing shells into Vicksburg, and that the rebels are vacating the place. Our quartermaster went out into the country with the teams and brought in nineteen loads of cotton.
Sunday, 22d–Dress parade was dispensed with today on account of the smallpox scare. One case of smallpox was discovered in Company K. Instead of the regular inspection, the doctor vaccinated all who could not show a scar less than a year old.
Saturday, 21st–Yesterday was clear and warm, but today it rained all day. We have had full rations ever since leaving Memphis. Today we received eight days’ rations with an extra ration of desiccated potatoes. Orders came to clean up for inspection.
Friday, 20th–There is some talk of our having to move our camp again. News came that our gunboats were throwing shells into Vicksburg, one every fifteen minutes, driving the rebels back, and that our mortar boats were damaging some of their water batteries.
Thursday, 19th–I was off duty today and went to town to have my likeness taken.[1] We now have five hundred negroes at work cutting the levee at Lake Providence, and Captain Elrod of the Thirteenth Iowa has about one hundred negroes at work picking cotton–last year’s crop left in the field. [1] Upon inquiring of [...]