Homeward Bound. Sunday, 12th.—Left Vicksburg 10 A. M. Had everything examined at the ditches. No one could pass out without going between two guards and showing his parole; all was right; Crossed Big Black at dark, and then camped after marching twelve miles. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

July 12.—The enemy is again before Charleston. Lord, have mercy on the efforts of our people! I am miserable about my poor little J. P., who is on board the Chicora, in Charleston harbor.

JULY 12th.—There is nothing additional this morning from Charleston, Mississippi, or Maryland. Telegraphic communication is still open to Jackson, where all was quiet again at the last accounts; but battle, then, must occur immediately. From Charleston we learn that Beauregard had repulsed every assault of the enemy. It is rumored that Lee’s account of the [...]

Saturday, 11th–The Eleventh Iowa started at sunup this morning for Jackson, Mississippi, as an escort for two hundred and forty-five wagons loaded with provisions and ammunition for General Sherman’s army. By night we were within one mile of Clinton, where we went into bivouac, closely corralling the wagons. We rode on the wagons a part [...]

11th. Started at daylight. Thede, Steve and I went ahead to town. Several met us with “Have you been to breakfast?” “Come with us.” We accepted an invitation of a gentleman, but a Mr. Lyon insisted on Thede and me going with him. Very pleasant people. Wanted to do everything for us. A girl, Emma, [...]

July 11th. Commences with light winds from the westward; at four forty-five A. M. got under way and steamed down the river; at nine ten went to general quarters; at nine thirty anchored off Donaldsonville; at ten fifty went to general quarters once more, and prepared for action; fired the forward Parrott rifle at the [...]

Saturday, 11th.—Went out and bought Yankee canteen for 60 cents in greenbacks. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

July 11.—Vicksburg was surrendered on the 4th of July. The terms of capitulation seem marvellously generous for such a foe. What can the meaning be? General Lee has had a most bloody battle near Gettysburg. Our loss was fearful. We have heard of no casualties except in general officers. General Richard Garnett, our friend and [...]

Friday, 10th–News came that there was fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, General Sherman having pushed Johnston back to that point. Troops are passing on to the front to reinforce Sherman. News came also that General Lee was making a raid into Pennsylvania.[1] Colonel Chambers returned from Vicksburg today, and has again taken charge of our brigade. [...]

10th. Moved out at 4 A. M., our brigade in advance. Reached Corydon, 17 miles, before noon. Passed the barricade where the militia fought. Made of logs and rails, very good. Made little resistance, afraid of cannon. 350 taken prisoners. Many home guards went on with us. All the men, women, girls and children out [...]

July 10th. Shall I cry, faint, scream, or go off in hysterics? Tell me which, quickly; for to doubt this news is fine and imprisonment, and if I really believe it I would certainly give way to my feelings and commit some vagaries of the kind. My resolution is formed! I will do neither; I [...]

July 10th. At six o’clock this morning we hove up anchor, got under way, and steamed up to the batteries at Port Hudson, the Albatross in company with us. Came to anchor off same; hove up anchor and shifted our berth on account of eddies; some of our officers left the ship to visit the [...]

Friday, 10th.—Some better. Suppose we will start Sunday, but know nothing definite. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Whiskey Rations. July 10. This being an isolated post and several miles from any commissary or sutler, the officers feared it would be terribly infected with malaria; having regard for the health and welfare of the men, they prevailed on our assistant surgeon, Doctor Flagg, to order whiskey rations. Up went the order and down [...]

 JULY 10th.—This is the day of fate—and, without a cloud in the sky, the red sun, dimly seen through the mist (at noonday), casts a baleful light on the earth. It has been so for several days. Early this morning a dispatch was received from Gen. Beauregard that the enemy attacked the forts in Charleston [...]

July 10th. Continual skirmishing going on with the rebs between Sharpsburg and Hagerstown, Maryland. Reported that General Lee is trying to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. We are either skirmishing or changing our position most of the time so that we are kept on the go about all the time and most of the [...]

Thursday, 9th–There is no news of importance and we have had no chance yet for newspapers. We have scant news while out here in the woods, sometimes getting no mail for eight or ten days at a time. All our teams went to Vicksburg today for provisions. The forces of Sherman and Ord are still [...]

9th. On at daylight. Advance reached Brandenburg on south bank of Ohio River, just as the last boat of rebels crossed the river. He set the Alice Dean on fire. Burned to the water’s edge. One propeller came down at 1 P. M. and commenced ferrying. Fed corn and looked about town. Before dark, 12 [...]

July 9th. At one A. M., received despatches from General Banks, and half an hour afterwards ordered the transports to get under way and report at Mount Pleasant Landing. Colonel Smith came on board, a bearer of despatches form General Banks, with orders to report for passage to Vicksburg. At three thirty A. M. the [...]

Thursday, 9th.—Reported that Johnston and the Yanks have been doing some hard fighting. Drew five days’ rations. Think we will start pretty soon. Very unwell. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

JULY 9th.—The sad tidings from Vicksburg have been confirmed by subsequent accounts. The number of men fit for duty on the day of capitulation was only a little upwards of 7000. Flour was selling at $400 per barrel! This betrays the extremity to which they had been reduced. A dispatch to-day states that Grant, with [...]

Wednesday, 8th–I came off guard duty this morning at 9 o’clock. There was a hailstorm last night and everything looks nice and green, notwithstanding the fact that there has been no rain for two months. But it is hot and the corn has suffered a great deal. All the fields are planted to corn, as [...]

8th. Breakfasted and moved out about sunrise. Boys found amusement reading our brother soldiers’ letters which Morgan had feasted upon. Morgan reported near Elizabethtown. Find he turned off towards Brandenburg on the Ohio Road, over the hills. Reached Garnettsville before dark. Some fun with a girl who thought I looked like her former sweetheart–now dead. [...]

WILLIAMSPORT, MD., July 8, 1863. My Dear Mother: As I think there will be an opportunity of sending off a letter in a day or two, I believe I will drop you a few lines to let you know of some of my adventures since I last wrote you (Winchester). We have had rain every [...]