Tuesday, 29th–I came in from picket this morning in a rain which continued all day. We learned that a boat twenty miles up the river from Vicksburg, burned and sank last night in midstream, with a large number of lives lost. The boat was loaded with provisions for the army here at Vicksburg.

Monday, 28th–I went out on picket today, on the public highway from Vicksburg to Warrington. We have to maintain a heavy picket with strong reserve at all the public highways leading from this place.

Sunday, 27th–It continues quite warm and all is quiet. We had company inspection early this morning, after which those not on duty were free to go about, and I attended services at the Baptist church in the city. It seemed like home to attend a regular church service on a Sunday morning. This church building [...]

Saturday, 26th–There is still some shaking with the ague among the boys, but the health of our regiment is gaining slowly. We have no drill in camp at present, but we are on duty almost every day, our routine running as follows: Picket duty every other day, and the alternating days on fatigue duty either [...]

Friday, 25th–It is quite warm today. I was on fatigue duty, accompanying the quartermaster’s wagons into Vicksburg to draw supplies for the regiment. The bales of hay and sacks of corn taxed our strength in loading them. Some of the boys on furlough returned today.

Thursday, 24th–There is no news of importance. I have entirely recovered and am in good health again. Our regiment, as also the entire brigade, is slowly regaining its strength and increasing in number. The boys from the hospitals are taking their places and those on furlough are returning and bringing new recruits with them.

Wednesday, 23d–The weather is quite cool and the boys are beginning to fix up for winter by siding up the tents and building chimneys. There is some prospect of our brigade having to remain here for the winter. The Second Brigade of our division is still at Natchez. We are raising our tents and bunks [...]

Tuesday, 22d–Everything is very quiet. We learned that Alexander Ragan of Company E died at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, on the 9th of this month. His is the first death in our company since August 3, 1862, when Ebenezer McCullough died at Corinth, Mississippi, on that date.

Monday, 21st–Three companies were sent out on picket today. I was on camp guard today. It is reported that the battle south of Chattanooga is still in progress, and also that our gunboats are throwing shells into Charleston, South Carolina. We hear that there was a riot in Mobile, when six hundred women and children [...]

Sunday, 20th–We had dress parade this evening at 5 o’clock and important orders were read to the command. The first is, that our division is now to be known as the First Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps; second, that on a march we are to carry only nineteen pounds, and third, that we are [...]

Saturday, 19th–Company E went out on the picket line today. The nights are getting cooler and the middle of the day, though warm, is not so oppressive. Since our rainstorm it begins to look like autumn; the trees are beginning to turn various colors and the sun shining over the timbered hills in the late [...]

Friday, 18th–It is reported in our camps that General Rosecrans has taken Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that General Burnside took two thousand prisoners and twelve pieces of artillery without firing a gun. We hope that the report is true, for Chattanooga will afford our army there a strongly-fortified place.

Thursday, 17th–We had a cool rainstorm this afternoon which was quite refreshing. The sick in the general hospital here in Vicksburg are improving and are being sent home on thirty-day furloughs.

Wednesday, 16th–I was on division guard today. There are several negro regiments in camp in the vicinity of Vicksburg; they made a good appearance today for their first time on review. They were reviewed by the commander of the post. As a rule there are inferior officers in charge, and it would be a good [...]

Tuesday, 15th–The weather continues sultry and hot. We have our camp fixed up quite comfortably again. There are not many of the sick in the regiment now, most of them having been sent away, and others of us who were sick are getting stronger. I am on duty again, having been to see the doctor [...]

Monday, 14th–Companies A and B started out with teams on a foraging expedition of three days. A detail of forty men was sent down to the wharf to unload a boat of ammunition.

Sunday, 13th–There was regimental inspection this morning with accouterments on and in full dress. Some of the companies have the appearance of a “corporal’s guard.” Company E, being on picket, was not on inspection, but later they were relieved. The Thirteenth Iowa went down town to act as a provost guard. Our chaplain having resigned, [...]

Saturday, 12th–Company E went out on picket this morning. I did not accompany them, as I had another chill yesterday and was not strong enough to go. The teams brought in our poles, lumber and planks and those of us left in camp worked all day building bunks and putting up the brush shades in [...]

Friday, 11th–We moved our camp to the south of Vicksburg, two miles, just within the fortifications. The ground is low and level here, and the water is scarce. It is not a good place for the sick to get back their health. But there is danger of a raid by the rebels’ cavalry from this [...]

Thursday, 10th–I reported to the doctor this morning for the second time in the space of two years. The doctor thought that I was in no immediate danger, for which opinion I thought he was not very well posted, but he gave me the “Blue Mass” pills, telling me to be sure to take them [...]

Wednesday, 9th–Still more of the boys are coming down with the ague. I had a shake of it myself today, for the first time in my life. I passed through all the degrees of fever and chill. Am thankful tonight to find that I am still among the living.

Tuesday, 8th–Captain McLoney is going home for thirty days and there are still others from our regiment going on furloughs. We have no drilling, dress parade, camp guard or picket duty to perform, nor yet fatigue duty—our whole duty at present is to help care for the sick boys.

Monday, 7th–Things are quiet and there is no news of importance. Our chief concern is taking care of the sick, as the weather is yet quite hot. This is a lonesome day with so many of our company sick in the hospital, while six are home on furloughs and three more are soon to go. [...]

Sunday, 6th–The sick in our regiment were sent away this morning, thirty-one in all. Those who could stand the trip North were given a thirty-day furlough, and the very sick were taken to the general hospital here in Vicksburg. The men whose thirty-day furloughs have expired are returning to their regiments.