Sunday, 24th–After company inspection this morning, I went to church down in the city; went again in the evening. They have regular church services and Sunday school every Sunday.
Sunday, 24th–After company inspection this morning, I went to church down in the city; went again in the evening. They have regular church services and Sunday school every Sunday.
Saturday, 23d–Warm weather. Still lying in camp and all is quiet—no news.
Friday, 22d–The weather is quite warm and it looks almost like spring—grape vines are beginning to start.
Thursday, 21st–All things quiet in camp and no news. The weather is pleasant, though a little frosty every night. The army could stand a long siege, for we have plenty of wood and the quartermaster has in storage a large supply of provisions. This is fine soldiering.
Wednesday, 20th–The Thirteenth Iowa was today sworn into the service for three years as a veteran regiment.
Tuesday, 19th–The weather is quite pleasant. No news. On picket again and all is quiet. We see nothing of the rebels about here.
Monday, 18th–It cleared off and turned quite cool. Nothing—nothing new; still lying in camp. The men are becoming restless and anxious to move on to another place, and to accomplish something.
Sunday, 17th–We had an all day rain. Company inspection early this morning. The Eleventh Iowa received their muster rolls and the boys are anxious to be sworn into the service and start for home on their thirty-day furloughs.
Saturday, 16th–The weather has been warm and pleasant for a week. We have our regular daily drills and dress parade. It came my turn to go on the picket line again. The Thirteenth Iowa received their muster rolls, and when they are filled out, the regiment will be sworn into the United States service as [...]
Friday, 15th–Camp and picket duty are becoming very light as compared to one month ago. Some of the regiments sent to Minnesota and western Iowa to drive back the Indians, are returning to camp. It is reported that the Sixteenth Army Corps will soon return from Chattanooga. We hear also that General Sherman will command [...]
Thursday, 14th–There is a rumor that our army has taken Charleston, South Carolina. Some of our guard early this morning stole a big fish from a fisherman who was taking a load to market. It weighed forty pounds and was divided among the boys. I took a piece to my tent and cooked it, but [...]
Wednesday, 13th–I was on patrol down town. Things are quiet there, but the streets are quite muddy. The patrols have strict orders to arrest all soldiers found down town without passes, as well as citizens who are caught on the streets without passes. It is not a very pleasant duty, this thing of stopping everyone [...]
Tuesday, 12th–It is cloudy but warm, and the ice is still coming down the river. Our duties here in camp are lightening up some. All is quiet and there is nothing of importance.
Monday, 11th–The weather has been very warm for several days and there was a heavy thunderstorm last night. All is quiet in camp, but the men in the old regiments, having re-enlisted, are becoming restless and want to move, for remaining in camp will never bring the war to a close.
Sunday, 10th–We had company inspection this morning. A brigade from here was sent up the river on transports to Greenville, to rout the rebels who have set up a battery there, blockading the river and stopping navigation.
Saturday, 9th–I was on picket guard down town and all is quiet. The ice floe is running quite strong in the Mississippi and has been for some days, which is rather a new thing to the people of Vicksburg. They say the like has never been known, at least in such large quantities, and that [...]
Friday, 8th–I was on fatigue duty, hauling wood for the picket post out in an open field. General Hunter reviewed our brigade today and inspected Company E. It is reported that he is to take command of the Seventeenth Army Corps. All of us hope that it is a false report, for we do not [...]
Thursday, 7th–Pleasant weather again after several days of cold. Our brigade now provides the provost guard for the city, which takes each regiment down town every fourth day. The work is thus becoming heavier for our brigade. All is quiet in camp.
Wednesday, 6th–The time for re-enlisting with the bounty expired last night at midnight. The boys who re-enlisted are now looking forward to going home on a thirty-day furlough in the spring.
Tuesday, 5th–The Eleventh Iowa went in today as a veteran regiment, for three years more if needed. Our brigade will also go in as a veteran brigade. It is quite stormy, with a wind from the northwest. I went on picket again, down on the river bottom, two miles below.
Monday, 4th–An order was issued by the War Department cancelling the previous order giving the large bounties to soldiers for re-enlisting, but it is not to go into effect until midnight of the 5th inst. Re-enlisting is going on at a lively rate. Company E today secured the necessary number entitling it to be a [...]
Sunday, 3d–It cleared off this morning and it got quite cool. I was at my post this morning, standing in water a foot deep. When our relief came they had to go back almost to town before they could cross the swollen creek to reach our post. The “Veteran” excitement was raging when we got [...]
Saturday, 2d–I was detailed for picket again this morning, and the post I drew stationed me on the bottom land. It began to rain late in the afternoon and continued into the night and I was soon standing in water. I tell you, it is poor comfort on picket. The commanding officer banished three women [...]
Friday, 1st–This is a cold New Year’s Day, but things are quite lively in camp, the boys being in fine spirits. I got a pass to go down town this afternoon and found the stores all closed for the day. This is the beginning of the year 1864, and this cruel war still continues to [...]
Thursday, 31st–The weather has been generally mild this month, though changeable, but today it capped the climax. There was a strong gale from the northwest, accompanied by rain and snow. This is regular muster day. The Eleventh Iowa was mustered at 10 o’clock, and we all had to fall in line by companies, and march [...]