1st. Friday. In camp on Cow Creek, 40 miles south of Fort Scott. Two men were killed here by Standwaite some time ago. Poor water. The big twenty-five miles prairie just beyond. Rode with the Sergeant Major. Fooled with him considerably. Good time. Capt. Smith played fool, infringing on the Second Battalion. Major Purington gave [...]

AUGUST 1st.—Vicksburg has triumphantly withstood the shelling of the enemy’s fleet of gun-boats. This proves that New Orleans might have been successfully defended, and could have been held to this day by Gen. Lovell. So, West Point is not always the best criterion of one’s fitness to command.

FLAT ROCK, N. C, August 1, 1862.–Being ill I left Mrs. McMahan’s for Flat Rock.¹ It was very hot and disagreeable for an invalid in a boarding-house in that climate. The La Bordes and the McCord girls came part of the way with me. The cars were crowded and a lame soldier had to stand, [...]

August 1st.–The month was ushered in by the opening of a cannonade, precisely as the clock struck twelve, on our shipping, from the south side of the river. For a short time the firing was very brisk. It was from some batteries of flying artillery which had taken position during the night. They were soon [...]